Kairoa Brewing Co. is quickly taking shape at the corner of Park Boulevard and Madison Avenue, where construction on the University Heights brewpub is currently on track to be completed next month with a grand opening scheduled for mid-January. The renovated 1920s era building has a new rooftop that will offer additional seating and function as an event space.
The New Zealand heritage of its ownership team will influence both the food and the beer at Kairoa. Co-owner Shanan Spearing (who owns the neighboring Red House Pizza) says that the brewery, powered by a 10-barrel brew house and a 1-barrel pilot system, is designed for versatility and experimentation; native ingredients, including manuka honey, manuka smoked malt, and New Zealand hops will be featured. Though they’ll brew an authentic New Zealand pilsner, the beer lineup will also include German style lagers, English style ales, an array of IPAs, as well as barrel-aged Imperial stouts and sours.
The menu will include New Zealand green-lipped mussels steamed in spicy pilsner broth, a smoked New Zealand lamb sandwich served with arugula, caramelized onion, mint chimichurri,and a spicy piri piri aioli, and fish and chips paired with New Zealand-style fries and slaw. Brunch will include a classic New Zealand breakfast pie filled with bacon, eggs, cheese, and peas and a basket of mini cheddar or fruit scones.
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