I was introduced to the brew when I was 18.
My youthful understanding was that "Waitemata" meant sparkling waters: such an appropriate name, because this ale was so effervescent and a pale colour.
It was, then, an absolute delight when 11 330ml bottles (one was broken in transit, damn it!) of Waitemata Sparkling Ale arrived in the letterbox for Christmas.
It has been resurrected! But no, the brewers at DB had merely made a special batch as a festive brew for their clients.
It was a touch maltier and hoppier than I remembered, although just as sparkling, but the lads had reproduced the original recipe.
Sparkling Ale came out of the just-built Waitemata Brewery in South Auckland in 1929 as a 5% brew, but was reduced to 4% about the time of World War 2.
The brew was discontinued towards the end of 1999.
(Waitemata became Dominion Breweries within a year of opening when its owner, William Coutts, merged with another company. Coutts was the son of Frederick Coutts - originally spelled Kutze - a Bavarian who in 1870 was brewer for the Manuherikia Brewery in Alexandra. Three years later he became a partner in the Swan Brewery in Cromwell and ran breweries in Dunedin between 1875 and 1880.)
The ale is remembered fondly by many older drinkers. We think if it had been given the promotion in its latter years that it was given in its youth, it would still be with us.
Beer advertising these days is pretty bland.
Breweries blame this on the constraints of the advertising code of practice.
But Waitemata Sparkling Ale was given wonderful exposure in its youth.
A scientist at Auckland University's chemistry department declared in an advertisement in 1933 that the ale was the safest drink because it was free of preservatives.
Others said it was "good for you"; "full of vitamins"; "a tonic".
New medicinal advertisements legislation put paid to those sort of claims, so DB moved to a series featuring old folk who attributed their longevity to beer, including 109-year-old Mrs Bella Putuwai (with photograph), of Wairarapa saying: "I drink a bottle of Waitemata every day. I sometimes drink two. I have not been without it for the past 20-odd years".
Ah, those were the days.
