8 Wired Barrelworks, Matanaka, New Zealand

8 Wired Barrelworks, Matanaka, New Zealand

In September 2008, Soren Ericson decided to quit the biochemistry at the University of Auckland and upscale to commercial brewing.

It wasn't until 2008 that thought really took shape though. He did a road-trip through the USA and stopped by every brewpub we passed. This is where he decided that I wanted to give pro brewing a shot when he got back to New Zealand. For all you Non Zealanders, No 8 Wire (it was the 8th type of wire in the catalogue) is a specific gauge of wire originally used for electric fencing. In New Zealand it's use is much more widespread than that though, Kiwi's have used it to fix just about anything, from cupboards to cars, because it was versatile and readily available. Over the years it has become a symbol of the kiwi ingenuity, their ability to fix any problem no matter how limited the resources.