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In a collaboration that blends craftsmanship and sustainability, we’ve come together with Sawmill Brewery to create a special edition sock that embodies the essence of both brands.
Sawmill Brewery, celebrated for their commitment to crafting exceptional beer and their dedication to environmental stewardship, have combined their expertise with our own to produce a product that is both functional and meaningful. This collaboration highlights our shared values of quality, sustainability, and community, showcasing what can be achieved when New Zealand brands join forces to champion one another.
Background and Values
Can you share a bit more about the origins of Sawmill Brewery and how it has developed its unique identity over the years?
"Sawmill was founded in 2004 by Peter and Decima Freckleton, they were very resourceful people and set up the original brewery site using second hand materials, tanks from a dairy farm for example. Mike and I took over in 2010, there weren't many independent breweries around in New Zealand then, about 30 (now there are over 250), and most of them were around Wellington and Nelson. So we were quite isolated in a sense, which turned out to be the making of us, we did things our own way, quite different to what was conventional at the time and that has gone on to be the Sawmill ethos."
What guiding principles have remained constant for Sawmill Brewery since its inception?
"Independence. To us that means thinking for yourself. We are willing to try new things and really value working with other independent, New Zealand owned businesses and farmers."
"Resourcefulness. Sawmill is adaptable, we are New Zealand's only B Corp certified Brewery and 4 times winner of the Brewers Guild Sustainability Award. We’re always mindful of our resources – time, water, energy, raw ingredients. We aim to have a positive impact on our environment and communities."
"Real. We keep it straight up! No bullshit here at Sawmill. We are making beer, and having a beer can connect people. We use almost exclusively New Zealand grown ingredients, and the innovative primary sector is a big part of why we have such good beer in New Zealand."
Are there any particular stories or feedback from customers that highlight the impact of your sustainability efforts?
Kiwi Rail (Transport Sustainability): https://youtu.be/RCFqxhFeWso?si=e_XTX5HJgG-3GUmH
ECCA (Decarbonisation): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgbYpkog5WQ
John Kirwin: https://youtu.be/d-OxpbWmx3w
New World (Beer & Cider awards): https://fb.watch/o3JZ9zuKnX/
Quality and Craftsmanship
What measures does Sawmill Brewery take to ensure the highest quality in your brewing process?
"We use the best ingredients - for beer this is Gladfield’s malted barley (from Canterbury and Otago), hops (from the Nelson/Tasman district), yeast, and water from our farm in Matakana - as well as a million litres a year of rainwater from our brewery roof. We don't rush the beer and we have a really strong team ensuring it's brewed, packaged and dispatched in the best condition."
The Essence of Sawmill Brewery and Future Visions
How do you balance maintaining your core values with the need to innovate and grow?
"They are really the same thing for us - innovation is a core value. That is how you continually improve and become more efficient. Growth means opportunity for our team and, if we are continually improving our environmental impact, is a good thing for the industry as a whole."
How do you see the craft beer industry evolving, and what role do you hope Sawmill Brewery will play in that future?
"We want to continue to lead the industry in environmental best practice and we are doing more to make our initiatives transparent and replicable. It would be great to be a part of industry wide innovation - an example would be reusable glass bottles. We want Sawmill to be a workplace where there is lots to learn, curiosity is valued and we stay innovative and adaptable. We might not be the only beer people drink but we want to be the best beer they drink!"
Grab yourself a pair.