Deliciously curmudgeonly blessed with a lushly laconic wryly sardonic sense of humour, you might not have met Trevor or even know who he is, but you probably have sipped and supped a beer, whisky, cider or cocktail he had a hand in making.
Trevor ran the Malt House in Caversham for well over a decade, selling all the gadgets, gizmos, genius and gubbins you need to brew beer or something spiritual. Trevor was both a canny alchemist and damn decent distiller, a font of knowledge who shared every titbit and gambit.
He was a passionate and pivotal figure in the brewing bonanza and those tasty tipples that now ripple through our city. Everyone started off going to see Trev: in his own inimitable way he has shepherded folks in garages, laundries, sheds to have that eureka moment.
Many went on to become stalwarts and stellar cellar stars, from Arc to Noisy & Dog Star/Moons or tip top shelf purveyors like Dunedin Craft Distillers or Saddle Hill who straddle both.
I sell rainwater beer at the Otago Farmers Market and Trevor and his big heart have been part of the tapestry of my weekends for many years. I got all my brewing bits and bobs from him but so, so much more. Trevor Grigg died on March 17 aged 68. — Toby Bennett
