Speight's
Speight's is a brand of beer from Dunedin, New Zealand. It is famous for its promotional branding based on being 'a real southern man' and being 'the pride of the south'.
History
Speight's was first brewed on 4th April 1876 in Dunedin at the present Rattray St site. Since then the Speight's brand has been firmly planted in the deep south of New Zealand.
The Speight's brand was removed in August 1960 and replaced with the Lucky brand. However, the public response was less than favourable and the Speight's brand was brought back into production in October of that year.
Brands
Speight's Gold Medal Ale is the traditional beer of students at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. Speight's is an ale style of beer, with a more distinctive taste than most commercial beers.
Traditionally a very regional brew, the wild popularity of the "Southern Man" series of advertisements has led to Speight's undergoing something of a boom and it can now be found throughout the country.
The Speight's brewery also makes Distinction Ale, Old Dark and Pale Ale, but none of these comes close to its Gold Medal Ale in popularity.
Curious Facts
Speight's bottling plant for its stubbies is actually located in Auckland, New Zealand, a place that has been traditionally disliked by the majority of Speight's drinkers.
Dunedin has a public bylaw that prevents the drinking of alcohol in the main streets of the city.
Beer drinking South Islanders south of the Waitaki River are often divided into two groups - those that drink Speight's and those that drink DB beer, although Tui Beer is also becoming popular with students from the university.