beer festivals
From Oamaru’s Belgian style maestros, Craftwork, this bottle-conditioned Tripel presents the telltale aroma of sweetly pungent spice over a richer and chewier than expected malt base.  The palate too is heftier than your typical Belgian example, with the pilsner, Vienna and toffee malts running the full length and breadth of the palate  Cinnamon spiciness and golden syrup sweetness intertwine with the fruity esters of the Belgian yeast to form a finish that’s initially rich and robust, but in time lifts into the more light and ethereal character of traditional Tripel.  Decant with care, as too much of that yeast sediment will quickly bulldoze those more fragile flavors.

Beer Festivals — Your Guide To What’s On In Early 2026

There are plenty of beer festivals popping up around the country this summer. Here is a run-down on the main festivals coming up in the first part of 2026. Saturday, 31 January 2026 — Great Kiwi Beer Festival at Hagley Park, Christchurch...

Three Boys Sold

Three Boys, one of New Zealand's most important craft breweries and a two-time champion brewery, is in new hands after being sold. The brewery, founded by Ralph Bungard and his wife Brigid Casey, is now owned by the head brewer Damian Treacher and his business...

Bach Brewing Polygamy Pilsner

Summer heat has now well and truly arrived so it’s time to crack out the Pilsner. Bach Brewing's Polygamy (maybe one of the weirdest naming decisions ever) Pilsner is a re-brew of one of Bach Brewing’s early beers, a Bohemian style Pilsner called Czechmate (itself a...

Hop Federation Saved — Bought by DNA

Hop Federation has been saved. After the brewery was shuttered by previous owners Kono just a couple of months ago, Hop Federation will live on after Blenheim’s DNA Brewing stepped in and bought the brand. https://hoppiness.co.nz/hop-federation-closing-down It’s a...

Parrotdog Go Public

In one of the biggest signs that craft beer is now a mature business, punters can buy and sell shares in Parrotdog on the open market via a new trading platform called Catalist. There hasn't been a publicly listed brewery in New Zealand since Moa's inglorious NZX...

Festival check: Dunedin Craft Beer and Food Festival

A Wellington reader made the trip down south last Friday to attend the festival and filed this report. Arrival experience: The festival is held each year at Forsyth Barr Stadium in the centre of Dunedin. It was an easy 10 minute walk through the grounds of the...