From Barley to Brand: The Journey of Swifty Beer Merch

The story of Swifty Beer merchandise starts with the meticulous cultivation of spray-free barley at Royalburn Station, where sustainable farming practices and a commitment to quality are paramount. This premium barley is then transformed through an innovative brewing process at Garage Project, where creativity and excellence result in a uniquely crafted beer.

Finally, at Print Room, we harness our passion for sustainability to curate and produce merchandise that embodies the eco-conscious ethos behind Swifty Beer, ensuring that every item tells a story of authenticity and environmental responsibility.

Royalburn Station: The Roots of Sustainability

The journey begins at Royalburn Station, a farm situated high upon the Crown Range Road above Arrowtown, Central Otago, dedicated to sustainable agriculture. Royalburn Station, owned and farmed by Nadia Lim and her husband Carlos Bagrie, has cultivated grains since the 1880s. Today, Carlos and Nadia's commitment to regenerative and sustainable farming practices support biodiversity, soil health, and water conservation, all crucial components in producing the beautiful, high-quality barley that sets Swifty Beer apart.

Carlos Bagrie describes their approach: “We’re like modern-day underground chefs, blending biological fertilisers, crop rotations, and livestock to help create a soil banquet with all the organic trimmings for our earthy friends - the worms.”

Jos Ruffell, co-founder of Garage Project, adds, “In terms of the collaborations we’ve done, in some ways, it’s been one of the most enjoyable because it’s just nice to have a partnership based around the main ingredient in beer… …Malt is the body of the beer, and we obviously grow fantastic malt here in New Zealand, but I think what Carlos and Nadia are doing on their farm is pretty special.”

Garage Project: Crafting Excellence

Once the barley leaves Royalburn Station, it heads to Garage Project, the renowned Wellington brewery celebrated for its innovative and high-quality beers. Garage Project takes this sustainably grown barley and transforms it into Swifty Beer, a product that embodies its commitment to quality.

As Garage Project co-founder Jos Ruffell explains, “Swifty is all about taking it back to basics, focusing on the fundamentals of beer.” This philosophy is evident in their brewing process, which minimises waste and energy consumption while upholding the highest quality standards. The goal was to create a straightforward yet exceptional beer experience that honours the purity of its ingredients. Swifty Beer is designed to be a refreshing, easy-drinking classic style.
“When it came to brewing the beer, we looked at all sorts of styles and did a few trial batches, but in the end, we kept coming back to the idea of doing a beer that’s a nod to New Zealand draught, a simple beer to be enjoyed at the end of a long, hard day.”

Print Room: Bringing the Brand to Life

The final stage of the journey involves us: Print Room, where the Swifty Beer merchandise is brought to life. We have had the pleasure of working with Garage Project for many years, and we were excited to print another fantastic design for a new beer. “The Swifty logo offers a fresh and modern approach to traditional beer branding and looks great on merch”-Chris & Jon.

For the Swifty Beer merchandise, we initially produced t-shirts with a two-colour screenprint on the AS Colour Staple tee and embroidered trucker caps. For the latest Swifty merchandise release, they expanded the collection to include branded rugby jerseys, check flannel work shirts, and winter beanies.

The rugby jerseys are AS Colour navy shirts featuring a two-colour back print and a one-colour front print using woven ink, which provides a soft hand feel and a vintage look. For staff uniforms, we chose hard-wearing Hard Yakka flannel work shirts in a classic checkered pattern made from 100% cotton. These durable garments are decorated with a subtle embroidered logo on the left chest.

Additionally, we created Stanley Stella beanies with the same embroidered logo for merchandise and sale. Made ethically from organic cotton and recycled PET bottle polyester, these beanies carry the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 accreditations and are Fairwear certified - ensuring they meet high standards for sustainability and ethical production.

At Print Room, we use eco-friendly decoration techniques and work exclusively with water-based inks and biodegradable embroidery threads to create high-quality merchandise. The garments not only promote Swifty Beer but reflect the brand's commitment to quality and sustainability.

Our goal is to ensure the merchandise aligns with the values of Royalburn Station and Garage Project. As Jos Ruffell notes, “It’s about making a beer… where every element is carefully considered.”

By employing environmentally responsible methods, we create a cohesive brand experience, allowing consumers to proudly support sustainable practices from farm to brewery to final product.

Print Room are proud to print the Swifty merch and be part of this inspiring collaboration.