Beer from the Future — Greig McGill from Brewaucracy

"I don't think it's going away and nor should it... what I don't like is when there's five taps and three of them are the same thing... it's just not giving people what they want, it's giving people what they think they want." Greig McGill on the over-saturation of hazy beers. In this fantastic episode, Martin finally makes the journey to the "city of the future" - Hamilton - to sit down with Greig McGill at his brewery, Brewaucracy. The pair crack open a beer and dive right into the history of their nearly 20-year friendship, reminiscing about the early, wild days of the New Zealand craft beer scene. They swap stories about the formation of SOBA (Society of Beer Advocates), and the sheer passion that united a small group of enthusiasts before "craft beer" was a mainstream concept. Greig talks about who came up with the SOBA name - in the interview he couldn’t remember the surname of Brendon McKenzie, but I’m happy to rectify that in these show notes! The conversation then shifts to Greig's personal journey into the brewing business. He shares the story about what drove him to leave a long, stable career in IT to launch Brewaucracy: extreme burnout. Describing himself as feeling completely drained and unfulfilled, Greig sought a radical change, deciding to turn his long-time passion for homebrewing into a full-time, commercial reality. However, he initially started the brewery (with longtime friend Phil Murray) as a side project, contract brewing out of Shunters Yard without the serious intention of turning it into the full-scale, dedicated taproom it is today. Finally, the duo discusses the current state of the New Zealand beer market and what the future holds for craft brewing. They candidly address the decline of the "haze craze," with Greig predicting that while hazy IPAs aren't disappearing, the market is oversaturated, and the days of endless, identical hazy releases are fading. The episode ends on an optimistic note, with both Martin and Greig expressing a strong hope for a true resurgence in traditional English styles, like bitters and milds, emphasizing that the true mark of a great brewer is the ability to craft a perfect, low-ABV classic. If you’re looking for Greig’s YouTube beer reviews, you can find them here. If you enjoy this episode please like, subscribe and comment on your favourite podcast platform. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions for future topics/guests feel free to drop us an email at [email protected] or [email protected].