The Green Dragon™ Inn is world-famous for its pints of cool ale, warm crackling hearths and rosy-cheeked cheer among its patrons, and the last stop on a guided tour of Waikato tourism attraction, Hobbiton Movie Set, home of the Shire as seen in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies.
Since opening in 2012, The Green Dragon Inn has welcomed many thirsty guests through its masterfully carved wooden doors, and this month will celebrate pouring it’s millionth litre of a Hobbit Southfarthing beverages.
To mark the milestone, Hobbiton Movie Set and its brewing partner Good George Brewing have teamed up to create a limited edition ale to add to the existing range of exclusive Hobbit™ Southfarthing™ beverages. The new addition, aptly named the Hobbit Southfarthing ‘Celebration Ale’, will be a one-off, traditionally brewed English Pale Ale to complement the current range which includes two beers, an Amber Ale and a Dark Ale, a crisp Apple Cider and a non-alcoholic Ginger Beer for those driving the cart home. The new Celebration Ale will be served for a limited time fresh from the barrels of The Green Dragon Inn, in bottles from Hobbiton Movie Set’s retail shop, and, for the first time ever, available for customers to enjoy from Good George establishments across the North Island.
Hobbiton Movie Set Deputy CEO Shayne Forrest says: “A million litres is a huge milestone for us at Hobbiton and The Green Dragon and is a testament to just how delicious the fresh ales our friends at Good George Brewing have helped us create since opening the Inn nine years ago. This new ale is the perfect way to celebrate it, and sharing this with customers outside of the Shire is very exciting.”
For the first time since the Hobbit Southfarthing Range was created, customers will be able to sample a brew outside of joining a Hobbiton Movie Set tour expereince. The new Hobbit Southfarthing Celebration Ale will come in pints(!) and be available from selected Good George Brewing establishments in the North Island from Thursday 13 May while supplies last. Customers who purchase a Hobbit Southfarthing Celebration ale will go into the draw to win tickets to join a Hobbiton Movie Set Tour with a double pass to give away from each bar.
Good George Brewing Cofounder, Jason Macklow, says: “We’re stoked to be celebrating this milestone with Hobbiton, and proud to have been working with them from the start brewing every one of those million litres. Their decision nine years ago to support local and work with us as the brewery just 40km down the road to create and supply the Southfarthing range means all the guests at the Green Dragon Inn have had hand crafted, fresh, unpasteurised beer and cider brewed right here in the Waikato. Hobbiton is an incredibly special place that Waikato can be really proud of, and it’s great to be the brewing partner working alongside them and what they do.”
