Shining Peak Brewing: Perfect pairings and sticky date pudding

Shining Peak Brewing in New Plymouth is all about great beer, delicious food, and giving back to the community. 

Established in 2019, executive Chef Freddie Ponder and Restaurant Manager Luke Anderson have created a dining experience that goes beyond the typical brewpub; it’s a hub for the community, with a menu that pairs perfectly with their award-winning beers.

“At our core, we’re first and foremost a community-focused business,” says Jesse Sigurdsson, Founder and Brewery Manager. “Beyond nurturing the locals with great beer and food, social enterprise has played a huge part in the success of the brewery.”

The team at Shining Peak are well known for their '5% Project' – an initiative that donates 5% of all beer revenue to local charities. 

“We’re absolutely stoked that we’re about to hit the milestone of over a quarter of a million dollars in funds donated back into the Taranaki community.” 

A sweet match: sticky date pudding and vintage stout

Want a taste of the Shining Peak experience? 

When it comes to food and beer pairings, their sticky date pudding and vintage stout is a match made in heaven. The rich, sweet flavours of the pudding complement the deep, oaky notes of the stout. A delicious, indulgent dessert that’s easy to recreate at home and perfect for any seasonShining Peak Sticky Date Pudding

• 250g Dates
• 225g Water
• 10g Baking Soda
• 250g Self Raising Flour
• 2g Salt
• 110g Caster Sugar
• 250g Butter
• 2 eggs
• 200g Whipped Cream

• 120g Cream
• 125g Butter
• 50g Brown Sugar

1. Grease a 30x30cm square baking tin and preheat the oven on fan bake to 160°C.
2. Heat dates and water in a pot until it boils. Take off the heat and add baking soda. Leave for 10 minutes and then blend into a paste. Fold in the self-raising flour and salt.
3. In a large bowl, cream the butter and caster sugar together until pale white, then add the eggs one at a time.
4. Mix the date and flour paste with the creamed sugar mix, then fold in the whipped cream.
5. Bake for 30 minutes on fan bake, and let cool in the cake tin for 10 minutes.
6. Heat sauce ingredients over medium heat, constantly stirring in a saucepan until thickened.
7. While the sticky date is still warm, pour the caramel sauce over the top and let it set for at least 15 minutes. 
8. Then cut into squares, reheat, and serve with your favourite vanilla ice cream.

Gas in the kitchen and brewery

Shining Peak loves using gas in their kitchen because of the complete control it provides. 

“We love using gas in the kitchen as it gives us complete control over temperature, from high heat to low simmers,” Jesse explains. 

Gas also plays a crucial role in the brewing process.

“Gas is an essential part of what we do in the brewery, too. We use it to fire our burner to boil the raw, unfermented beer base.”

The future of gas

With gas set to flow well into the future and New Zealand, gas-powered cooking and brewing, like the methods used at Shining Peak, will continue to be a cornerstone of exceptional dining experiences.

Learn more about the future of gas.