You’ll find the word ‘pride’ printed on the Speight’s Gold Medal Ale label. It is that pride that defines Speight’s and sets us apart. We are proud to come from a mighty little country that’s prepared to take on the best of the rest.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Presented by Joey Wheeler, the Speight’s Great Mate Awards scoured New Zealand for the best stories of mateship and good deeds. Broadcasted on TVNZ on Demand, we showcased our Great Mates in five epic episodes.
With the help of DDB, Speight’s released ‘The Speech’- a campaign celebrating modern mateship and the challenges that come with putting our feelings into words.
Launched ‘The Dance’ television commercial showcasing the lengths mates go to for one another.
Speight’s Partners Movember New Zealand to support the men’s mental health awareness
October Launch of Speight’s Summit Ultra, Low Carb lager
Speight’s Summit Citrus is added to the Speight’s Summit range.
The re-developed Speight’s Brewery is officially opened by Prime Minister, John Key.
Speight’s Mid Ale and Speight’s Ginger Beer are added to the Speight’s range.
Speight’s Triple Hop Pilsner, an addition to the Speight’s Craft range is introduced.
Speight’s Summit Lager is added to the family.
Speight’s takes a pub to London as part of the Great Beer Delivery Campaign.
Speight’s becomes so popular that extra production starts in Auckland to keep up with demand. Our Dunedin Brewery carries on brewing regardless.
Speight’s Legacy Series introduced to celebrate our 125th Birthday.
First Speight’s Ale House opened by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley as a photo opportunity during the election campaign.
Speight’s Distinction Ale is launched to celebrate 120 years of the Speight’s Brewing Co.
Speight’s cans are launched. The beer is brewed in Dunedin and sent by train to Christchurch to be canned. Some of the cans (quite a few) then catch the train back to Dunedin.
Speight’s takes on the first of many sports sponsorships with the Dunedin senior rugby competition becoming the Speight’s Championship. New Zealand Breweries becomes Lion Breweries.
Some genius at New Zealand Breweries decides it would be a good idea to re-brand all their beers with the same name. And it’s not Speight’s. The Lucky Beer brand lasts a full two months before sanity prevails and Speight’s and the triple star are back.
The threat of prohibition sees Speight’s and nine other breweries join forces to become New Zealand Breweries. One of the founders, William Dawson dies.
Norah McGhie becomes Speight’s first full-time female employee. Speight’s also buys a motorised cart, called a ‘truck’, for delivering casks to local pubs.
Speight’s becomes the biggest brewery in the country, exporting to Australia, Fiji and Tahiti. Legendary founder James Speight passes away on 16 August. William Dawson becomes Mayor of Dunedin at 35.
Speight’s Ale gets two gold medals at the Melbourne Exhibition and a new name Speight’s Gold Medal Ale. Back in Dunedin, a new brew-house is built.
James Speight, Charles Greenslade and William Dawson hand in their notices at Well Park Brewery to establish their own brewery in Dunedin’s Rattray St. Dawson is the brewer, Greenslade the maltster and Speight the businessman.
