Who Will Win The Coveted Rare Beer Crown?

Unusual brews made with seafood, foraged botanicals and barrel-aged ales are just some of the entries vying to win a new city-wide beer competition.

Eleven Wellington-based brewers will take part in the inaugural Rare Beer Challenge next month to raise awareness of the 300,000 New Zealanders living with a rare disorder for Rare Disease Day 2021.

“Inspired by the great work of Rare Disorders NZ, Fortune Favours has challenged other Wellington brewers to create their own unique brew to showcase less common techniques and flavours,” says Shannon Thorpe, founder of Fortune Favours brewery.

In 2020 Fortune Favours brewery and Rare Disorders NZ (RDNZ) partnered to create a Rare Beer to raise awareness and funds for RDNZ, the connector hub and collective voice of the rare disorder community.

This year they’ve expanded the concept to a city-wide Rare Beer competition. The 11 breweries have been challenged to use weird and wonderful ideas, along with rare ingredients and brewing techniques, to produce their version of a rare beer.

These unique brews will be judged by a prestigious judging panel including Craft Beer College’s Stephanie Coutts, Hannah White from 8 Wired, journalist Patrick Gower and Chair of RDNZ James McGoram.

There are more than 6,000 known rare disorders which collectively affect around 300,000 New Zealanders – more than those diagnosed with diabetes.

“It’s awesome to have the support of these 11 breweries to create a beer that can bring people together, as travelling this journey of rare disorders can be isolating, exhausting and frustrating,” says RDNZ CE Lisa Foster.

“Buy a pint, spare a thought and spread the word that Rare is Everywhere,” says Lisa. “A donation from each beer will go to our organisation to help us continue to improve the wellbeing of people living with a rare disorder and their whanau.”

Rare Disease Day takes place annually on the last day of February, and is a global day of recognition for this community. Worldwide, 300 million people are affected by a rare disease.

All eleven Rare Beers will be available for craft beer fans to enjoy at Fortune Favours on launch day, plus each brewery will have their own unique brew available to sample at their own venues.

Rare Beer Challenge
Friday 26 February 4pm / Rare Beer Crown designed by Hills Hats awarded at 9pm
Fortune Favours, Leeds Street

Breweries involved: Whistling Sisters; Choice Bros; Heyday Beer Co; Parrotdog; Baylands Brewery; Graphic Brewing; Mean Doses; Waitoa Beer; Boneface Brewing Co; Abandoned Brewery; Fortune Favours

About Rare Disorders NZ

Rare Disorders NZ is the connector hub and collective voice for patients and families affected by rare disorders. Rare health conditions affect 6% of New Zealanders, around 300,000 people.

Rare Disorders NZ, and the support groups we represent, are calling for acknowledgement and awareness of the common challenges faced by people living with a rare disease, along with a commitment to address these challenges through the development of a New Zealand National Rare Disorder Framework.

Sign and share our petition to Reform our healthcare system to include all New Zealanders living with a Rare Disorder: https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/reform-our-health-system-to-include-all-new-zealanders-living-with-a-rare-disorder

www.raredisorders.org.nz

About Fortune Favours | Be Bold, Be Brave, Be Lucky 

Fortune Favours are bringing people together by brewing quality, fresh craft beer that everyone can enjoy. Formed in 2016, Wellington-based Fortune Favours has quickly established a reputation in NZ for creating aspirational craft beer offerings.

With a team of over 20, Fortune Favours operates an award-winning brewpub and Wellington Airports first craft pop-up bar. They also regularly support the local community and sports with craft beer experiences. Nationally, over 400 taps are pouring their product and approximately 700 retailers sell their packaged beer.

The core range of five products includes: The Wellingtonian NZIPA; The Adventurer Pilsner; The Trailblazer Hoppy Lager; The Naturalist Unfiltered Pale Ale and The Sunchaser Blueberry Cider. Fortune Favours also produces numerous seasonal and experimental beers onsite from the Fortune Favours Brewpub.

www.fortunefavours.beer

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