PRESS RELEASE
The Pub with no beer ……
This is worse
West Coast Brewing CEO Paddy Sweeney is tearing his hair out. His brewery has run out of beer.
“We knew we would be close on this but its hit us way sooner than we expected.” He said from Christchurch today.
The West Coast Brewery has run out of Green Fern Certified Organic lager, its flagship beer.
“We have sold all the Green Fern we have produced and won’t have more until the beginning of January” Sweeney said.
“What’s been happening is that Green Fern has been getting more and more popular all year, not only in New Zealand but
also in Australia, Taiwan and Hong Kong. It really hits the spot with drinkers and they keep coming back for more.”
“Last year Green Fern was top in its class for Premium Lager at the New Zealand International Beer awards and it
signaled a growth path that has all but spiraled out of control.” Sweeney said.
“The fact that it’s organic has some impact but what we have been finding is that people who couldn’t care less about
organic beer are driving sales. Pure and simple it is the taste that people love and can’t seem to get enough of it.
To solve the problem two 5000 litre tanks arrived in Westport on Monday, the first of six that will increase the
breweries capacity significantly.
A new Chiller to accommodate the six 5000 litre tanks has been ordered and will be in place in January to ensure the
problem does not happen again.
It won’t solve the problem permanently but should see us ok through to next spring.” Said Sweeney.
“People taste it and want more and we have bottle shops, restaurants, pubs and five star hotels ringing up for it every
week as their customers just keep asking for it and many have never even heard of it” Said Sweeney.
“Its right up the top end with pricing and we don’t do deals. You want it, you have to pay for it, it’s as simple as
that. You get a drop as good as this the last thing you want to do is be discounting it. We leave that to the big bad
brother overseas owned breweries with their flash named international drops that are full of sugar and chemicals. You
won’t get crook on Green Fern like the other drops that dehydrate and shrivel up your internal organs.”
“We never set out to knock them off the arrogant bastards off their perch, but the way this stuff is rocketing out the
door, they may well have cause to be worried. Between them they don’t have a beer that can hold a candle to ours when it
comes to taste. Said Sweeney.
The company recently completed a $2million capital raising with an extra million in over subscriptions and it is well
advanced in getting its second prospectus of $5 million finished and is due for release in March 2009.
“We get enquiries every day via our website from folk putting their names down wanting a copy of our next investment
information. This global meltdown might be affecting other industries; however the brewing industry has been proven to
be a stalwart for investors. Over the great depression and many recessions brewing shares tend to prosper. Folk either
celibate their prosperity or commiserate the tough times. Either way beer is the winner.
After the caning from the fiancé industries investors are much more gun-shy and prudent, and that’s evidenced by the
enquiries we are getting for our next prospectus. Sweeney said.
The company went from one employee in March 2007 to now having over 50 on the payroll.
Its latest venture is the first of what is anticipated to be a chain of bottle shops around the country is opening in
Christchurch on Monday.
“The chain will have the apt name of “The Thirsty Bloke” and will open in Victoria Street in Christchurch just up from
the Casino. It is in an old service station and because of its high visibility, great parking, and on a main road is
probably the best site in Christchurch.” Sweeney said.
The companies West Coast Bar and Grill in Papanui in Christchurch continues to trade well and is enjoying increasing
turnovers every month as too is The Good Bastards Bar in Woolston Christchurch also continuing to do well with its best
week ever two weeks ago.
This week sees the 2008 Bullshitting Championships being held at the Good Bastards Bar and Sweeney promises it will be a
hoot.
ENDS