James Speight
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Founded | 1876 |
| Founder | James Speight, Charles Greenslade, William Dawson |
| Headquarters | Dunedin , New Zealand |
Area served | New Zealand |
| Products | Beer, cider |
| Owner | Lion (subsidiary of Kirin) |
| Parent | Lion |
| Website | www |
Speight's is a brewery and beer brand headquartered in Dunedin, New Zealand. It is owned by Lion, a subsidiary under the Japanese conglomerate Kirin. Speight's is especially recognized for its Gold Medal Ale, which ranks among the best-selling beers across New Zealand. The brewery also runs a nationwide network of "Speight's Ale House" gastropubs.
History
Established in 1876 on Rattray Street in Central Dunedin by James Speight, Charles Greenslade, and William Dawson, the brewery rose to prominence after securing a gold medal at the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition. This achievement inspired the creation of the Speight's Gold Medal Ale brand. By 1887, it had become the largest brewery in New Zealand, with exports reaching Australia and the Pacific Islands. In 1923, Speight's combined forces with nine other breweries to form New Zealand Breweries, coinciding with the passing of founder Dawson. A brief rebranding to Lucky Beer in 1960 was quickly abandoned within two months, restoring the original Speight's name. Lion took ownership of New Zealand Breweries in 1977. Brewing operations expanded in 2001 to include Lion’s Newmarket facility located in Auckland.
Brands
The cornerstone of Speight's product line is Gold Medal Ale, which is marketed as an ale but actually brewed following New Zealand Draught lager methods using lager yeast.
The brand’s range also features Speight's Summit and Speight's Craft collections, offering lagers such as Speight's Old Dark, Speight's Distinction Ale, and Speight's Triple Hop Pilsner. None of Speight’s beers are gluten-free.
Speight's additionally produces an apple-flavored cider.
The Speight's Building
The Speight's brewery structure stands as a notable landmark within Central Dunedin, positioned west of The Exchange at the intersection of Rattray and Maclaggan Streets, extending into the City Rise area.
The oldest parts date back to 1876, with significant expansions including a 1938 redesign by architect Harry Mandeno. The latest refurbishment between 2012 and 2014 focused primarily on earthquake reinforcement.
Public guided tours are regularly offered at the brewery premises.
Marketing
The Speight's label incorporates three eight-pointed stars, inspired by the original provincial arms of Otago and reflecting gold medals earned at international brewing competitions in 1877.
Its enduring Southern man advertising campaign promotes the brand’s core tagline, "Pride of the South." A memorable commercial showcased the Cardrona Hotel, which was later recreated by Speight's in Mt Eden, Auckland as part of a broader national marketing effort.
At its Dunedin facility, Speight's installed a tap dispensing fresh spring water sourced from deep beneath the brewery, symbolizing purity and quality. This tap was featured in a 1998 April Fool’s prank claiming it would provide free beer for one day.
Sponsorship
Speight's maintains strong connections with rugby union teams in the Otago and Southland areas. Since 1977, it has sponsored the Dunedin club championship and currently supports the Otago Highlanders, Otago Rugby Football Union, and Southland Rugby Football Union.
Further reading
- Harold Gordon, Speight's: The History of Dunedin's Notable Brewery, Avon Publishers, Dunedin, 1993, Hardcover, ISBN 978-0-473-02399-7
- Frank G. Leckie, Otago's Breweries: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives, Otago Heritage Books, Dunedin, 1997, ISBN 0-908774-42-7
- Gordon McLauchlan, The History of Beer: Brewing and Beer in New Zealand, Penguin, Auckland, 1994, Paperback, ISBN 0670860921