BrewbaDupa raises glasses and funds for CubaDupa

Neither Tuatara or Fork & Brewer are ones to shy away from a good knees-up. Which is why we were both only to happy to knock heads and create the official beer for the CubaDupa Festival, taking place on 28-29 March.

The special release CubaDupa Brew is a mid-strength pale lager and collaborative effort crafted by Kelly Ryan (Fork & Brewer) and Carl Vasta (Tuatara Brewery). The brew will also serve as a festival fundraiser with proceeds from keg purchases going directly to CubaDupa organisers to help fund the festival.

The brew is pouring in craft beer bars around central Wellington in the lead up to CubaDupa (from 20 March), and will be on tap at street food and drink vendors during both days of the festival.

Kelly says at 4% the CubaDuba brew is a sensible strength beer for summer consumption. "We wanted something festival-friendly – you can have one or two and not fall over.

"It's a lovely little gateway beer for those becoming better acquainted with craft, but still has that distinct hop character and edge that you wouldn't find in a green bottle lager.

"The clean, crisp, character of the beer is ideal for an easy-going festival atmosphere and will appeal to the wider festival-going demographic.

"We also wanted to brew something that complemented the variety of festival food available, whether that be fresh, spicy, salty or fatty."

CubaDupa is the long-awaited and highly anticipated reincarnation of the iconic and beloved Cuba Street Carnival, which last took place in 2009. The festival will dominate the Cuba Quarter, overflowing from Cuba Street into its surrounding arterial streets over a span of four blocks.

CubaDupa director, Drew James said, "We want to say a huge thanks to Tuatara and Kelly Ryan for creating the very, very tasty CubaDupa brew.

"It's thanks to the likes of Tuatara and the wider Wellington business community that we're able to bring CubaDupa to Wellingtonians."

Tasting Notes:
Delicate bitterness to balance the smooth malt flavor. Dry hopped with NZ and Australian aromatic hops to give a fruity aroma. At 4% it is a sensible strength beer for summer consumption.
Style: Pale Lager
Malt: Pilsner
Hops: Pacific Jade, Galaxy, Ella, Nelson Sauvin and Cascade
IBU: 22
ABV: 4% 
Available: On tap at selected venues supporting CubaDupa

The CubaDupa Brew is pouring at:
The Third Eye - Tuatara Temple of Taste
Tuatara Brewery
Fork & Brewer
The Malthouse
Grill Meats Beer
San Fran
Laundry
Southern Cross
Havana
Heaven Pizza
Hotel Bristol
Espressoholic
Rogue & Vagabond
Golding's Freedive
LBQ
Bad Grannies
Bethel Woods

Auckland 

16 Tun
My Bar

Hamilton

Little George

Christchurch

Volstead