It doesn’t matter how you plan to get to Wellington for Beervana, you can start enjoying the Craft Beer Capital long before you hit the stadium. Make it a four-day weekend. Arrive on Thursday and give yourself extra travel time to stop at a few favourites on the way. Make sure you grab a CBC trail map and start collecting stamps. There are free prizes to be claimed.

Are you there yet?

Flying in makes it a short walk or ride to Double Vision Brewery in Miramar or Parrotdog in Lyall Bay. Make sure you get a side of fries at DVB. They’re the best. And, treat yourself to one of the taproom-only beers from Parrotog’s L.B. Beer series. You can then jump on the number 3 bus to town via Newtown, visiting the local beer bars, Moon and Bebemos, along with Creeps Records and multiple second-hand bookstores. While you’re there, grab a kebab at Morteza Bakery. You won’t find better.

If you’re driving in, there are options on your way no matter what direction. On State Highway One, you can stop to eat at Salt and Wood Collective, home of North End Brewery in Waikanae. Duncan’s Brewery in Paraparaumu is just down the road. While you’re there to grab some takeaway beer, you can grab some Montfoort Poffertjes to match with one of their famous pastry stouts. Then, with just a brief detour, you can visit the delightful citizens at Beer Engine in Titahi Bay and graffiti the bathrooms at the Abandoned Brewery taproom in Porirua.

If you’re coming via State Highway 2, even before you hit the Remutaka Hill, there’s Martinborough Brewery. Get a serve of their gooey cheese rolls and a glass of something hoppy, before you stop by Kereru Brewery in Upper Hutt. Their taproom is always fully stocked with treats, including from their barrel range, if you want to pick up something to take with you. They haven’t opened yet, but Tuatara Brewery is reportedly set to join the Upper Hutt fun at Brewtown.  

Now you’re here

Now you’re here, you can have a busy afternoon visiting Garage Project at 91 Aro St. Their cellar door is just across the road. From there, it’s just a short walk through Aro Park to Heyday Beer Co, then down Cuba St to Choice Bros and Fortune Favours. There’s a solid burger to be had at each one, whenever you get hungry. It is Burger Wellington, after all. If burgers are not your thing, there’s some of Wellington’s best pizza at Goldings Free Dive or Mabel’s Burmese treats at the Mean Doses taproom on Tory St. Just a block down the road from Mean Doses, you’ll find the city home of Panhead on Tory St.

Brunch before beer

While it used to be quieter, Friday’s first session has taken-off as one of Beervana’s most popular sessions. Head to Bin 44 on the waterfront to fuel up before you go and try The Hudson’s “famous brunch” on Saturday. Along with tasty beers, they’ve also got a fine selection of Peckham’s cider.

In between times

In between the sessions, you’re just a quick train ride away from Pito-One. Fast becoming another beer destination, there’s Baylands Brewery and one of the capital’s fine Sprig & Fern taphouses. In the former home of On-Trays, you can still grab a delicious Reuben at Abandon Brewery’s newest outpost. They come with rave reviews.

If the train is not for you, jump on the bus to Sprig & Fern Thorndon, where you might see a familiar industry face, and then on to the Kelburn Village Pub. Raise a pint in memory of Ted and Frances Verrity, much loved and lost members of the beer community, in one of their favourite bars. Just a few doors up from the KVP you’ll find the delicious Graze restaurant. Try their “snack attack” for great value treats. If you’re feeling hungry you can go the “full shebang” and eat everything on the menu (it’s worth it). Slightly closer to the stadium, there’s the D4, where you can catch a game of sportsball. Or, you can head to Fork and Brewer and hang out on their balcony awhile.

After Beervana

As punters pour out of the stadium at the end of Beervana’s evening session, discussion is often focused on the best place for a nightcap. You’ll see industry peeps at The Malthouse, a traditional last stop, and at Little Beer Quarter which boasts one of the best beer selections the capital has to offer. There’s also Rogue and Vagabond if you want tasty bevies and musical fix. But, you could also go to bed to save yourself for a little Sunday session before you leave.

Before you go…

Your head might be a bit fuzzy, but Garage Project’s Wild Workshop conveniently opens at noon on a Sunday. Walk around the corner to Taste of Home, where you can get the finest hand-pulled noodles in town. Order them hot to clear your head and help your decision-making a few doors down at one of our newest little bars, Monkfish, where you can have a final drink-in or take away some memories for another day. Speaking of memories, don’t forget to send in your trail map.

Interested in a guided tour around the Craft Beer Capital? You can contact Steph Coutts, this article’s author, Secretary of Craft Beer Capital and guide at Craft Beer College info@craftbeercollege.co.nz