Brothers stunned by eatery awards

 

By Rob Pooley

Waipu is celebrating after the recent Society of Beer Advocates (SOBA) awards ceremony in Auckland. Both McLeod’s Pizza Barn and McLeod’s Brewery took home significant awards from the nationwide group which champions New Zealand’s independent breweries.

In regional voting, McLeod’s Pizza Barn was voted Best Restaurant in the Auckland/Northland division, a significant win given that Hallertau Beer Garden has won the award for the last two years. 

The Pizza Barn has long held a place in the hearts of Northland locals, but this latest award solidifies its reputation farther afield. 

“We’re really pleased with this and a little stunned, to be honest,” said Clayton Gwynne, co-owner of both the Pizza Barn and McLeod’s Brewery. 
“People are recognising we have a great little place here, but SOBA members love it enough to vote in pretty significant numbers for us. It’s really incredible and means so much.”

SOBA members also voted McLeod’s Brewery’s Paradise Pale Ale as national Beer of the Year for 2017. It’s an impressive feat given that the beer knocked Panhead Brewing’s Supercharger APA from the top spot which it held for the last two years. 

Head brewer Jason Bathgate said in spite of winning a trophy at the 2017 Brewers Guild of New Zealand Awards last October, this win from SOBA was the “sweetest win yet.”

“SOBA’s members are as passionate about good, local beer as we are, and they’re informed and absolutely switched on when it comes to independent beer,” Mr. Bathgate said. 

“For Paradise Pale Ale to be voted Best Beer is, for our little brewery, such an incredible honour. We’re all still reeling from the win. It feels so good, though, to know that so many folks out there are loving our beer.”

The Gwynne brothers have owned the Pizza Barn since 2003. They built McLeod’s Brewery in 2014. 

Jason Bathgate, formerly of 8 Wired Brewing, joined in April 2016 and has since garnered the brewery numerous accolades including a Trophy win for Longboarder Lager as Best International Lager at the NZBG Awards 2017.

Prior to becoming the Pizza Barn, in the transition of the building from the closure of the Post Office in the 1990s it was ‘The Last Post’ restaurant, a provincial award winner as a high quality eatery. It’s great to see that tradition continuing. 

Brothers Geoff (left) and Clayton Gwynne are winning awards for their beer and restaurant.