Nothing beats a sweet and refreshing cider on a scorching summer’s day.
Craft ciders and brewed sodas are making waves in Aotearoa, with local brewers drawing massive audiences who are after something sweet and warming yet refreshing. With a higher sugar content and no hops, expect juicy fruit flavours and tart sweetness.
Keep scrolling to discover the best of the best New Zealand-made ciders and brewed sodas for 2025.
Peckham's Cidery and Orchard Apple Zero
Type of beer: Cider
Brewery: Peckham
Flavours: Caramelised apple tart.
Judges’ comments: Peckham’s Cidery & Orchard are dedicated to growing traditional cider apples which have a distinctive aroma and flavour. These apples are used to full effect in this 0% cider with an alcohol content of less than 0.5% ABV, it delivers the character of a traditional cider while remaining non-alcoholic. They’ve crafted a full-strength cider and removed the alcohol using the “spinning cone” technique that wineries use for their zero wines. The results are stunning. The aroma is earthy and wild but the flavour is caramelised apples and hay. Off-dry with a full and rich texture.
For more on this beer visit: https://www.peckhams.co.nz/
Buy this beer: Visit online shopping
Peckham's Cidery and Orchard Classic Apple
Type of beer: Cider
Brewery: Peckham
Flavours: Baked apples, apricots and honey.
Judges’ comments: Peckham’s Cidery & Orchard are dedicated to growing traditional cider apples which have a distinctive aroma and flavour. These apples often bring layered flavours that move beyond simple apple “juice”. In this case the aroma is dried apricots, honey, and a subtle spice. Once you taste this off-dry cider, the earthy aromas fade and you’re left with baked apples offset by some grippy tannins and gentle acidity. The judges said it was “lovely and moreish” and a good introduction to traditional cider.
For more on this beer visit: https://www.peckhams.co.nz/
Buy this beer: Visit online shopping
Best New Zealand brewed soda 2025
Good George Old School Alcoholic Lemonade
Type of beer: Alcoholic lemonade
Brewery: Good George
Flavours: Lemon juice, lemon zest and lemon-drops.
Judges’ comments: What a banger of a brew this is. Think of a home-made lemonade with alcohol (4% ABV) and you’ve got this super-refreshing, ultra-lemony treat from Hamilton’s Good George. The judges loved the “clean lemon-drop notes” and the “crunchy 'old-fashioned' lemonade profile”. Layers of lemon with fresh juice, and zest. High sweetness balanced by clean, lemony acidity.
For more on this beer visit: https://www.goodgeorge.kiwi.nz/
Buy this beer: Visit online shopping
Thirsty for more top New Zealand beers?
If you’re after dark beers, lagers or more unique craft varieties, don’t forget to check out the articles linked below, or browse the Top 25 from the New World Beer & Cider Awards 2025.
Not sure what you like? Our craft beer guide will walk you through what makes craft beer special and the different styles and flavours you can find in Aotearoa.
Related articles:
Best New Zealand craft beers for 2025
Best New Zealand IPAs and pale ales for 2025
Best New Zealand lagers and pilsners for 2025
Best New Zealand stouts and porters for 2025
Best New Zealand hazy ales for 2025
About the author
Michael Donaldson is one of New Zealand’s most renowned beer writers and was named Beer Writer of the Year by the Brewers Guild of New Zealand for a third time in 2018. He has been the Chair of Judges for the New World Beer & Cider Awards since 2016.
His writing appears in North & South, The New Zealand Herald, Stuff and Drinksbiz. He is also the editor of The Pursuit of Hoppiness magazine published by the Society of Beer Advocates (SOBA). He is the author of New Zealand's definitive beer history Beer Nation - the Art and Heart of Kiwi Beer as well as The Big Book of Home Brew: a Kiwi Guide and The Hopfather, the biography of Emerson's founder Richard Emerson.