NOTA BENE

In 1968, Stephen was a 14 year old Blenheim Boy who hitchhiked to Christchurch and back to buy the best beer ingredients available. It was the first time Steve had seen liquid yeast cultures available and green hops! The results of that first brew, with fresh ingredients (to a recipe by Ben Turner), was called 'Ben's Best Bitter' and was a Natural Breakthrough! Naturally, when Stephen's best mate decided it was hoppy enough to label and sell to other Blenheim Boys...... and identified the brewer ...... it was just good marketing to say, “Yes. That's the brewer over there. He's Ben.” The name stuck and Ben Middlemiss was on the verge of a lifelong journey in the quest for knowledge and quality ingredients to make the next best beer.