Marlborough breweries opt out (NZ)

The ban on glass at Blues Brews and BBQs has prompted all Marlborough’s breweries to pull out of the festival. Renaissance, Moa and 8 Wired will not have stalls at A and P Park on February 4 after a Marlborough District Council liquor licensing committee, under pressure from the police, banned glass. Marlborough Express beer columnist Geoff Griggs says in his weekly column today that three Marlborough breweries, and also north Canterbury brewery Brew Moon, have told him they will not be at the festival next year. Glass is still allowed at the Marlborough Wine Festival the following week, leading brewers to claim double standards.