The variants of beer in New Zealand produces includes top quality craft beer made by craft brewers and also mainstream beer. Now, if you crave to taste them, make sure you don’t miss these breweries that make some of the finest beer in New Zealand:
1. Garage Project
Launched and helmed by buddies Pete Gillespie and Jos Ruffel, Garage Project can easily qualify as the first destination for anyone searching for a brewery in Wellington and makes some of the best beer in New Zealand. They started out by brewing twenty four beers in twenty four weeks and currently makes around fifty beers per year. Even after Garage Project’s three production facilities have been established, its first half barrel brewing kit is still functional.The Garage Project was set up in an old petrol station in Aro Street and now gets flooded with visitors and locals alike. The strong emotion of its founders to brew good beer makes them spend substantial amounts of time to create the adequate flavor, smell and a complexity in taste, their beer should have. Other than that, they also want each beer to have its own identity. In order to achieve this, they try to construct special art designs for each of their beers by collaborating with freelance artists.
2. 8 Wired Brewing Co.
8 Wired Brewing Co. is the perfect place to try fruity and barrel aged beer in New Zealand like Indian Pale Ale and Cucumber Hippy. Soren Erickson, head brewer and owner of 8 Wired Brewing Co. consistently brewed and attempted to find his own blend for five years by using brewing equipment that was rented, while he was working at another brewery. Shortly after releasing the first beer in 2009, 8 Wired became Champion Brewers at the Brewers Guild Awards.
3. Mike’s Organic Brewery
With the help of Jesse Sigurdsson, the brewery produces fourteen of the most delicious and diversified range of drinks like the Chocolate Milk Stout, Surf Spot X Blackberry I.P.A and Boat Grapefruit Pale Ale. Situated in the Taranaki region, Mike’s Organic Brewery is a family run business establishment.
4. Tuatara Brewing Co.
One of the biggest manufacturers of craft beer in New Zealand, Tuatara operates in Paraparaumu. Unique textures that look similar to a little reptile named Tuatara can be seen on their bottles. Though originated in Kiwi, ingredients from all over the world go into their distinctive blends such as the Helluva Lager. The company was founded by Carl Vasta, a brewer from above the Kapiti Coast.
5. Sunshine Brewery
From the time of venturing into the business in 1989, Sunshine has been popular as the producers of Gisborne Gold Laser. East City of Gisborne serves as their base and they offer amazing brewery tours. Dave Huff currently manages the brewery since the death of its original owners. He was able to come out with some phenomenal modern beer in New Zealand.
6. Emerson’s
Although Richard Emerson had the passion for brewing, his inability to hear, cultivated in him the belief of having a superior sense of smell. It is not a mere belief anymore, since he creates an excellent selection of beers from his town of Dunedin. They nurture the European spirit, but a flavor of Kiwi can also be sensed. Pilsner, 1812, Bookbinder and London Porter are some of their prestigious drinks.
7. Panhead Custom Ales
Panhead delivers fine stock beer. Supercharger American Pale Ale, Port Road Pils and Quickchange XPA are their star drinks. Lion, the heavyweight in beer sales bought off Panhead at a whopping price of fifteen million dollars in just three years since its launch. They constantly engage in efforts to reinvent their assortments of beer.
8. Sawmill Brewery
The classic malty beers, The Doctor and The Baltic Porter are owned by Sawmill. Sawmill always tries their best to perfect the final version of their beverages, which reflected in their outstanding performance at the NZ Brewers Awards. The 2017 Vintage Ale and drinks made from hop also increase their appeal.
9. Sprig & Fern
Spring & Fern has ten small breweries in Nelson to its name. Their selection of beer consists of varieties that are mostly British or American such as the Scotch Ale. Tracy Banner who founded Sprig and Fern learned the art of brewing from England and then perfected it from Nelson and Dunedin. She is often referred to as the mother of craft brewing in New England. Spring & Fern never fails to perform well at the New World Beer and Cider Awards.On August, Wellington becomes the venue for Beervana, a festival where all the breweries offer samples of their latest brew, letting everyone relish all of the versatile collection of beers. Likewise, beer events and festivals are also held in different parts of New Zealand. What are your thoughts about the beer in New Zealand? Comment below.