Good George Dining Hall

In September 2012 a few good mates moved into the St George Chapel on Somerset Street to start brewing their own beer (if they were going to worship the drink, they may as well do it in a church). Calling the company ‘Good George’ after the saint himself, they began with a conservative pale ale in an effort to convert the people of Hamilton to the taste of craft beer.

Many years later, these modern beer saints have gathered a colossal congregation of enthusiasts and offer a wide range of beers and ciders, from their most popular IPA to the Doris Plum Cider which has proved a massive hit. Their beer is on sale in most supermarkets (although, to get the Lord of the Rings-themed flavours requires a trip to Hobbiton and the pub there).

Their brewing apparatus is on site, and true fanatics can go for a tour of their dozens of tanks and taste a variety of flavours. A highlight of the tour has to be the giant beer fridge, installed with techno disco lights that flash in time with ‘70s rock hits. They even have a lab where they put their beer under the microscope to ensure the taste is kept consistent and reliable.

With a large outdoor area amongst the brewing tanks, the Dining Hall is the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of beer in the sunshine. Good George’s menu is crafted to match the beers, and their popular ‘Blue Me, I’m Irish’ burger has gone on to receive officially judged acclaim.

Proudly Hamilton, proudly Waikato, these enthusiasts are local favourites and community heroes. People gather a few times a week for confession, under the stained glass windows depicting hops and beer.