Help me plan my NZ trip

[David Gilks]

I am going to be visiting NZ in late-June/July and am looking to find out what breweries, brewpubs and beer bars I absolutely must not miss.

The plan at the moment is to start out in Christchurch and then I will be driving to Dunedin, Milford, Queenstown, up the West Coast, then to Nelson and Blenheim. I will then be crossing to Wellington, Rotorua and Auckland.

Thanks for any help you've got. I'm also open to any suggestions for beers that a good hophead can't miss.

Thanks in advance.

-David

[Ron]

Hi David
Welcome in advance.
Christchurch will take some time to taste all our good beers, but here is a good start.
Go to the Twisted Hop Brewery pub they make and serve a great range of beers, also Pomeroys pub is another awesome visit. Let us know when you're in town and you never know you might even get a drinking buddy or two to share a pint.
Cheers
Ron.

[David Gilks]

Thanks for the tip. I've heard good things about the Twisted Hop. I'll also make sure to put the word out to catch up with some locals for a drink.

[Ian]

Hell David, I wrote you a long reply and then had to look something up on Google and when I tried to go back to finish my message I'd lost it! Anyhow, in brief heres what it was about:
I don't know the pub scene too well in Dunedin presently, but find a pub where the students don't puke on the carpet and where they have the Emerson beer range on tap and wrap your chops around a pint of Bookbinder Bitter and Pilsner - and then all the rest!
Blenheim has the Old Bank in Redwoodtown and Dodson Street pub with the renaissance range and guest taps, such as 666 Brewery.
We are in Picton and I'd say stick to bottles here, like Emersons, Epic, Tuatara and Moa.
Nelson has the Freehouse and Sprig and Fern and don't miss the Moutere Inn in Upper Moutere with a brilliant selection of Nelson and Top of the South brews.
Only ten minutes away is Mapua with the Golden Bear brew pub - ring and check that they are open! I'd say a visit to Golden Bay is a not to miss thing and there to visit the Mussel Inn - magic brews and pub.
I'll leave North Island to the guys there but only mention I have had gorgeous times at the Malthouse and Hashigo Zake in Wellington and Galbraiths and Hallertau in Auckland.
Bless your tasting palate, liver and sober driver!
Cheers,
Ian

[JR]

In Dunedin Tonic and Eureka have lots of beers (incl emersons on tap) and Al bar and The Robbie Burns and starfish have emersons on tap but not much more.

[denimglen]

Auckland's scene is a bit dull to be honest.

But there are a few gems - must sees would be:

Galbraith's in the central city - English brew-pub, fantastic real ale on handpump.

Brew on Quay - not a 'must-see' but worth a look if you're on the side of the CBD, good beer selection - not a brewery though.

Hallertau in Kumeu/Riverhead - great brewpub, fantastic beers just a little out of the way from everything else, worth the trip though.

[Greig McGill]

Also, if you're coming via Hamilton, and it's a night I can get out and about, I'll show you the RCC, and House. Both great beery locations.

[Sam Possenniskie (TGM)]

"a bit dull"

what we might not have in plentitude, we make up with two of the best brew pubs in the country

[Stu McKinlay]

Wellington:
D4, Featherston Street (central city)
Hashigo Zake, Taranaki Street (central city)
The Malthouse, Courtenay Place (central city)
Regional Wines and Spirits by The Basin Reserve (for all your takeaway options)
Bar Edward, Newtown (Newtown)

I've listed them in walking order. You could do them either way... start at D4 for a late lunch and walk your way to Bar Edward. Or vice versa if you are starting late afternoon/early evening.

Nelson/Blenheim:
see http://www.beertourist.co.nz/

[David Gilks]

Thanks for all the replies so far guys, they've been really helpful. I think I'm going to have to keep most of my drinking to the evenings so many tours will be out but I've definitely got some ideas for some pub crawls. Keep the ideas flowing if you have anything else.

[Stu H]

If you get down to Dunedin, you've gotta hit Albar, and the Inch Bar. Both are proper small local pubs, reasonably priced, with real bartenders.

[Ian Marriott]

David if you go north of Auckland definitely pop in and see us at TAHI in Warkworth on the Matakana Coast. Not a brewery but with ten NZ breweries in the fridges and two on tap including local Leigh Sawmill and none of the pap from the two major breweries you can treat your taste buds for sure . Start at Hallertau , meet us in the middle and then head over to the other coast to The Leigh Sawmill for a taste of a beer that has manged to get into "1001 beers to try before you die". All in about a 70 minute trip.

[David Gilks]

Thanks for the ideas Ian. I'll have to see how much time I've got once I get to the North Island. Unfortunately, while 3 weeks seems like a long time, it is really short when I look at all the things I want to do in NZ. If I don't get there though, it will be on the list for next time.