Steam Brewing Company

Steam Brewing Company is a New Zealand microbrewery based in Ōtāhuhu, Auckland. It was established in October 1995 to brew beer for the Cock & Bull brewpub in East Tāmaki, an Auckland venue that subsequently developed into a wider chain of Cock & Bull taverns. The brewery’s role expanded from serving an associated hospitality business to supplying beer for multiple pubs, bars, retail channels, and contracted beverage customers. The company is closely associated with the Cock & Bull chain, brewing beers for its taverns and supplying draught products to related and independent hospitality venues. The chain has operated locations in Auckland and Hamilton, while Steam-branded beer has also been supplied to venues including Foundation Bar & Restaurant in Hamilton and Szimpla Bar & Gastro at Auckland Airport. The brewery previously produced bottled beer for the Loaded Hog pub chain, with that arrangement ending in March 2005. Steam increased its production capacity in response to the growth of the Cock & Bull business. In August 2004, it purchased Auckland Breweries, and the acquired site included a high-speed glass packaging line capable of filling approximately 200 bottles per minute. The line could be used for beer as well as other cold beverages, including juice, cider, energy drinks, and ready-to-drink products. The original East Tāmaki site was decommissioned in September 2004, and the Auckland Breweries acquisition formed part of the company’s transition to a larger production and packaging operation. Steam has also played an important manufacturing role for brands that became independent. In October 2007, it sold Epic Brewing Company and the Epic brand to Luke Nicholas, who had been Steam’s head brewer and general manager. Epic beers continued to be brewed by Steam after the sale, making the transaction a separation of brand ownership and brewery production rather than an immediate end to the manufacturing relationship. The brewery’s portfolio has included Cock & Bull beers, Steam-branded draught products, Epic Pale Ale for retail sale, and contract beers such as TaaKawa Ale. Its beers have received recognition in New Zealand and Australia. Monk’s Habit won the Supreme Champion award at the New Zealand International Beer Awards in 1999 and 2001 and was also judged best in class at the 2005 Australian International Beer Awards. Epic Pale Ale was named Supreme Winner at the 2006 New Zealand International Beer Awards. These results reflect the company’s participation in the development of New Zealand’s modern craft-beer sector, while its business model has also depended on brewing, packaging, and contract production for hospitality and beverage brands.

Steam Brewing Company began operations in October 1995 in East Tāmaki, Auckland. It was created as the brewing operation for the Cock & Bull brewpub, providing beer for an associated hospitality venue rather than beginning primarily as a retail-focused packaged-beer company. As Cock & Bull expanded from an individual brewpub into a chain of taverns, Steam’s production role broadened with it. The company’s brewing activities included beers for the Cock & Bull pubs and, for a period, bottled products for the Loaded Hog pub chain. The Loaded Hog production relationship ended in March 2005. By 2005, Cock & Bull had opened five taverns, increasing demand for reliable brewing and packaging capacity. Steam responded by acquiring Auckland Breweries in August 2004. The acquired facility provided a substantially larger industrial platform and included a glass packaging line capable of filling about 200 bottles per minute. Although primarily relevant to beer production, the line was also suitable for juice, cider, energy drinks, ready-to-drink beverages, and other cold products. The original East Tāmaki location was decommissioned in September 2004. The Auckland Breweries site therefore became central to the company’s expanded manufacturing capacity. This change illustrates Steam’s development from a brewpub-linked operation into a brewery capable of serving hospitality customers, retail brands, and contract clients. Steam’s brand history is also connected to Epic. Epic Pale Ale was among the company’s retail beer offerings, and the Epic brand was later separated from Steam’s ownership. In October 2007, Steam Brewing Company sold Epic Brewing Company and the Epic brand to Luke Nicholas, then serving as Steam’s head brewer and general manager. Steam continued to brew Epic beers after the transaction, preserving a manufacturing relationship while transferring brand ownership. The company has supplied beer to Cock & Bull pubs in Auckland and Hamilton and has also supplied Steam-branded draught beer to Foundation Bar & Restaurant in Hamilton and Szimpla Bar & Gastro at Auckland Airport. Its known contract-brewing work has included TaaKawa Ale. This combination of hospitality supply, retail beer, and contract production has been a defining feature of Steam’s business. Steam’s beers have received awards in both New Zealand and Australia. Monk’s Habit won Supreme Champion at the New Zealand International Beer Awards in 1999 and 2001 and was judged best in class at the 2005 Australian International Beer Awards. Epic Pale Ale received the Supreme Winner award at the 2006 New Zealand International Beer Awards. These achievements place the brewery within the history of New Zealand’s craft-beer movement, while its production infrastructure distinguishes it from a small brewpub-only operation.

• 2007

  Epic brand sold to Luke Nicholas

  [1]Steam Brewing Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Steam sold Epic Brewing Company and the Epic brand in October, while retaining a brewing role for Epic beers.

• 2006

  Epic Pale Ale wins New Zealand Supreme Winner

  [1]Steam Brewing Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Epic Pale Ale was named Supreme Winner at the New Zealand International Beer Awards.

• 2005

  Monk's Habit recognized in Australia

  [1]Steam Brewing Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Monk’s Habit was judged best in class at the Australian International Beer Awards.

• 2004

  Auckland Breweries acquisition and East Tāmaki closure

  [1]Steam Brewing Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Steam acquired Auckland Breweries in August and decommissioned its original East Tāmaki location in September as production was consolidated and expanded.

• 2001

  Monk's Habit wins a second New Zealand Supreme Champion award

  [1]Steam Brewing Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Monk’s Habit again won the Supreme Champion award at the New Zealand International Beer Awards.

• 1999

  Monk's Habit wins New Zealand Supreme Champion

  [1]Steam Brewing Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Monk’s Habit received the Supreme Champion award at the New Zealand International Beer Awards.

• 1995

  Steam Brewing Company is founded

  [1]Steam Brewing Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Steam was established in October as the brewery for the Cock & Bull brewpub in East Tāmaki, Auckland.

Auckland-based craft brewery combining house and hospitality-focused beer production with contract brewing and packaged beverage manufacturing.

• Craft beer

  Monk's Habit

  A Steam-associated beer that became one of the brewery’s most decorated offerings. Monk’s Habit won Supreme Champion at the New Zealand International Beer Awards in 1999 and 2001 and was later judged best in class at the 2005 Australian International Beer Awards.

• Retail craft beer

  Epic Pale Ale

  A retail beer associated with the Epic brand and brewed by Steam during the relevant period. Epic Pale Ale was named Supreme Winner at the 2006 New Zealand International Beer Awards. The Epic brand was sold to Luke Nicholas in 2007, while Steam continued to brew Epic beers.

• Contract-brewed beer

  TaaKawa Ale

  A contract-brewed beer identified as part of Steam Brewing Company’s manufacturing work. Available information establishes Steam’s production role but does not provide further product specifications or ownership details.

• Hospitality beer · 1995

  Cock & Bull beers

  Beers brewed for the Cock & Bull chain of taverns. The relationship originated with the East Tāmaki Cock & Bull brewpub and continued as the hospitality business expanded to locations in Auckland and Hamilton.

• Draught beer

  Steam-branded draught beer

  Draught beer supplied under the Steam name to hospitality venues including Foundation Bar & Restaurant in Hamilton and Szimpla Bar & Gastro at Auckland Airport.

• 2007

  Sale of Epic Brewing Company and the Epic brandM&A

  Background

  Epic had developed as a beer brand associated with Steam and its head brewer and general manager, Luke Nicholas.

  Action taken

  In October 2007, Steam sold Epic Brewing Company and the Epic brand to Luke Nicholas.

  Aftermath

  Epic beers continued to be brewed by Steam, allowing the brand to change ownership while maintaining a production connection with the brewery.

  Source

• 2004

  Acquisition of Auckland BreweriesM&A

  Background

  Steam needed additional production capacity as Cock & Bull expanded its tavern network and demand for beer increased.

  Action taken

  The company purchased Auckland Breweries in August 2004. The acquired facility included a glass packaging line with a stated capacity of approximately 200 bottles per minute and capability across several cold-beverage categories.

  Aftermath

  Steam’s original East Tāmaki location was decommissioned in September 2004, while the acquired operation supported broader brewing and packaging activities.

  Source

1. 1Steam Brewing Companyen.wikipedia.org