STOKE

McCashin's Brewery was born in 1980 when hotelier and former All-Black Terry McCashin and his wife, Bev, bought the Rochdale Cider Factory in the small upper-South Island city of Nelson. With Jim Pollit, of Carlsberg fame, as Head Brewer, along with the plan to brew distinctive, high-quality beer, McCashin's Brewery soon became the most successful independent microbrewery in the country.

Its award-winning 100% naturally-brewed beer revolutionised the way beer was produced and both its beer and cider won the hearts and taste buds of the nation. Today, McCashin's continues to pioneer beer and cider-making and has extended its range to include fine wines, spirits and the purest water in the world. Stoke has been awarded "eight medals in the 2012 International Beer Challenge, McCashin’s highest honour is a Gold Medal awarded for its Stoke Gold ale." - nelsonmail.