NZ
Aussie Exports: Emma Elmslie – Shining Peak, NZ
A few months ago, Emma Elmslie left Sydney to become head brewer at Shining Peak on New Zealand's North Island. We spoke to her about the move and what she's learned while brewing on either side of The Ditch.
Small Gods; Big Ideas
Small Gods are tiny by name and nature but have caused a stir with their unique approach. Michael Donaldson explores their story and beers, including the 8 Wired collab named Supreme Winner at the New World Beer & Cider Awards.
8 Wired's Wild Success
8 Wired beers have been found – and much-admired – across Australia for well over a decade now. After the brewery claimed both top trophies at the 2023 NZ Beer Awards, Michael Donaldson chatted to founder Søren Eriksen.
Looking After The Lake, Man
Last week, Lakeman Brewing took out the Supreme Beer Award at the New World Beer & Cider Awards. Here, Michael Donaldson tracks the unique journey of the Taupō brewery from farming to making award-winning beers.
Bonza Airlines Will Take Flight With All Indie Beer
Bonza Airlines are a new low-cost airline set to launch in the near future but when they do, its beer and food offering won't look all that low-cost. Instead, they'll be stocking entirely indie beer from the likes of Your Mates, Ballistic and Spinifex.
The Collaborators: Freestyle Hops
If you love limited release hazy beers, you might have spotted the name Freestyle Hops on a can from your favourite brewery. We caught up with the managing director of the NZ grower to find out what the Freestyle life is all about.
Postcard from NZ: Good George
Pubs and bars in New Zealand open for the first time since March today. Nick Oscilowski spoke to Brian Watson of Good George about surviving the lockdown and hopes for the future of beer and hospo across the Tasman.
Craft Beer Heroes: Doug Donelan
From fermenting pumpkins at home and homebrewing with his brother via Malt Shovel to heading up New Zealand Hops, Doug Donelan has lived his life in beer. We sat down with him as he starts looking forward to retirement.
Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers Of 2019: Results & Analysis
Garage Project and Panhead continue their hold over the top spots in the GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Beers, with the latter's Supercharger moving back to top spot as their Wellington peers claim second and third.
Beer Travel: Auckland
For years, Auckland's beer scene was left in the wake by Wellington and Christchurch. But that's all been changing in a city that even has its own Beer Mile. Jono Galuszka checked it out in the company of its beer-loving inhabitants.
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Liberty Triumph At NZ Beer Awards
It was a huge night for Liberty Brewing as they collected a swag of trophies, including Champion Exhibitor. Fork Brewcorp and Lion went back to back as champion breweries too, as Steam Brewing went five for five too.
Our Man In NZ: The Yeast Starters
They've been mates since they were 12 and have brewed together for years. Now Simon Cooke and Ryan Carville are looking to change the NZ brewing industry via Froth Technologies.
Behind The Hottest 100 Kiwi Beers Of 2018
The 2018 GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Beers countdown saw a big increase in hazy IPAs, a few debuts and a big presence for beers from the big man behind Behemoth. Here, Jono Galuszka chats to the people behind some of those stories.
Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers Of 2018
The results of the GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Beers Of 2018 are in and it's another show of dominance by Garage Project, with Behemoth not far behind. Hazy IPAs are on the rise as formerly independent brands fall away.
Our Man In NZ: Liberty Brewing
Liberty Brewing is one of the brightest stars in the New Zealand beer scene and has recently started brewing some of its beers in Melbourne for the Aussie market. Jono Galuszka called in on founder Joe Wood to see what makes him tick.
Brewers Guild of NZ Awards 2018
Large foreign-owned breweries took out almost half the beer style trophies at NZ's biggest beer awards last night. Elsewhere there was recognition for Tracy Banner of Sprig & Fern, who is approaching 35 years as a brewer.
Our Man In NZ: The Game Changer
There are plenty of far larger and higher profile beer competitions in New Zealand and Australia but, arguably, none as influential. Our Man In NZ travels back in time to trace the evolution of the annual West Coast IPA Challenge.
Our Man In NZ: Craftwork Brewery
Wizards, a tumble dryer, Belgian-inspired ales, porno beer, the tiniest of tasting rooms and a dark lord... Our Man In NZ heads to Craftwork Brewery and falls under the spell of Michael O'Brien and Lee-Ann Scotti.
Beer Travel: Christchurch
For a city with an extensive brewing history, Christchurch breweries are not as prominent in beer drinkers’ thoughts as those from Wellington and Auckland. But Our Man in New Zealand, Jono Galuszka, found a beer culture comfortable in its own skin.
Aussie Exports: Jess Wolfgang
Jess Wolfgang spent years working with Keith Grice at Hunter Beer Co before being convinced to move to her partner's homeland in New Zealand. Together, they started Rhyme and Reason in Wanaka, where they brew local beer for anyone enjoying the town's splendour.
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Hottest 100 Kiwi Beers Of 2017: The Results
The results of the second GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Beers poll are in and Panhead has made it two for two with Supercharger holding top spot. The now retired Death From Above takes a posthumous bow in second, joined by fellow Garage Project beer Pernicious Weed on the podium.
Hottest 100 Kiwi Beers of 2017: Analysis
Is the "Craft Beer Capital" baton passing from Wellington to Auckland? Why are there so few beers from South Island brewers? Which styles dominated? And more as we cast an eye over the results in the second GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Beers poll.
Drinking Even More History
Early in 2016, Peter Symons published Bronzed Brews, a collection of 42 recipes for long lost Australian beers that homebrewers could bring back to life. He enjoyed it so much, he's already produced a second book.
Garage Project On Top At NZ Beer Awards
Garage Project was named New Zealand's Champion Brewery at the weekend's NZ Brewers Guild Beer Awards. Other winners included names both familiar and unfamiliar to Aussie beer drinkers, while the Beer Writer of the Year went to a woman for the first time.
Beer Travel: Nelson-Tasman
While Wellington claims to be New Zealand’s "craft beer capital" and cities like Christchurch and Auckland occasionally stake a claim for the title, the Nelson/Tasman area feels like its home. Our Man In NZ Jono Galuszka recounts his weeklong road trip through the area,
Our Man In NZ: ParrotDog Surfs On
From brewing in a toilet to trophy-winning rising stars of the New Zealand brewing industry, it's been quite the ride for the three Matts behind ParrotDog. Jono Galuszka joins them as they settle into their impressive new Lyall Bay home.
Our Man In NZ: Beer Camp Heads South
Beervana has lined up a meaty exclusive, luring Sierra Nevada's Beer Camp outside the US for the first time. With more American breweries looking at the Australasian market, Jono Galuszka looks at what it means for the festival and the NZ beer scene.
Our Man In NZ: Kiwi Hops
The New Zealand hop industry produces some of the most sought after varieties in the world. Jono Galuszka spent time with NZ Hops and one of the lead scientists behind the development of new hops to find out more.
Our Man In NZ: Brewpubs
The brewpub model is growing in popularity on both sides of the Tasman. In his latest article for The Crafty Pint, Our Man In NZ, Jono Galuszka, chats to three people heading down that path in Wellington and Palmerston North.
Our Man In NZ: Spontaneity
In his latest article on the New Zealand beer scene, Jono Galuszka talks to two of the men exploring beer's "final frontier". They are two of a growing number of brewers turning their attention to spontaneous fermentation.
Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers of 2016 – The Top 3
The first GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers countdown saw three hoppy beers from three masters of the NZ beer industry fill the podium. We chatted to all three: Mike from Panhead, Luke from Epic and Jos from Garage Project.
Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers of 2016 – The Results
First, the Orange One takes the White House and now the orange one from Panhead takes out the inaugural GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers, ahead of Epic's Hop Zombie and Garage Project's Pernicious Weed.
Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers of 2016 – Analysis
The first GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers countdown is complete. Panhead, Epic and Garage Project fill the top spots. But what, if anything, does the public vote tell us about the beer scene in New Zealand?
Brew & A: Greg Mace – The Craft & Co
It's Waitangi Day and the first ever Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers countdown too. So it feels like as good a time as any to run our Brew & A with Greg Mace, a Kiwi brewer who now plies his trade in Melbourne.
Our Man in NZ: Moa's Changing Fortunes
Our new Kiwi correspondent, Jono Galuszka, today kicks off his monthly feature series by sitting down with one of the most controversial figures in New Zealand beer, Moa's CEO, Geoff Ross.
Our Man In NZ: Introducing Jono Galuszka
Like many Kiwis, Jono Galuszka’s first forays into beer were of the cheap, cold and tasteless kind while at uni. Things have changed significantly since, with Jono named New Zealand Beer Writer of the Year in 2015. In 2017, he joins the Crafty Pint team as our regular New Zealand writer.
The Collaborators: Growing Gladly
We've often shone a light on Australian businesses that have launched or discovered new and fruitful avenues thanks to the rise of craft beer. Today, we chat to a New Zealand maltster winning fans at home and abroad.
Aussie Exports: Brendan Without Borders
We head across The Ditch for our latest Aussie Exports feature. This time we chat to a familiar face from the Melbourne beer scene now working for Beer Without Borders in Auckland, Brendan Amos.
Now Is The Sour
While some might have forecast the renaissance that beer has been enjoying globally, would many have predicted the rise of sours? Award-winning writer Michael Donaldson laps up the tsunami of sours breaking on Kiwi shores.
Beer Travel: NZ Tiki Tour IV Wine Country
In the final part of his Tiki Tour around the breweries of New Zealand's central North Island, Nick Oscilowski takes in the wine regions of the east coast before ending up in the middle...
Beer Travel: NZ Tiki Tour III Greater Wellington
Wellington may have the big name reputation when it comes to craft beer, but it’s being rivalled by what’s brewing in its outer regions, as Nick O discovers on the third of his four-part saunter through the North Island.
Beer Travel: NZ Tiki Tour II West Coast, North Island
In the second leg of a leisurely trip through some of New Zealand's lesser known North Island breweries, Nick Oscilowski heads towards the west coast and discovers something old and something new...
Beer Travel: NZ Tiki Tour I Coromandel
There are plenty of great Kiwi breweries that are well known in Australia. But there's much else to discover too. In the first of four features on some of the lesser known lights of the North Island, Nick Oscilowski heads to the Coromandel Peninsula.
Wild Things
With a reputation for walking on the wild side well established, Kiwi trailblazers Garage Project are set to get wilder still. Kerry McBride joined them for a tour of their new Wild Workshop where they'll be working with barrels, foeders and a coolship.
The Evolution of Beervana
Wellingtonian expat Kerry McBride returned home and caught up with the woman tasked with driving New Zealand's leading beer festival, Beervana, as well as a local brewery making its debut, to find out what attendees can look forward to in August.
From Wellington to Wellington
Having swapped New Zealand for Australia during the GFC, a Wellington couple has found themselves striking out in a new direction at the foot of Mount Wellington. We meet the Clarksons as they launch Hobart's newest brewery, Fox Friday.
Drinking History
After researching the Australian Sparkling Pale Ale style for America's Brewing Network, Peter Symons began to delve further into historical Australian beer. The result is Bronzed Brews, a book blending history with 42 home brew recipes for historical beers.
Beer Travel: Wellington
Wellington is without a doubt New Zealand's craft beer capital. Kerry McBride returned to her hometown for Beervana and asked those driving the city's scene what makes it so special.
James Halliday Article - Those Crafty Kiwis
Given we’ve just filed our next feature for James Halliday’s Wine Companion Magazine, this time looking at the reevaluation of lagers in the craft beer world, it must be time to pluck another past…
Beer Travel: Beervana 2014 & The Road To Beervana
Last week, The Crafty Pint joined a huge contingent of Australian brewers and beer lovers to make the trek to Wellington. The Kiwi city now calls itself Craft Beer Capital and with good reason: Stu from…
