Our pick of the best New Zealand craft breweries and cidermakers of 2025
With so many great local breweries now in New Zealand, who do you trust to make the best craft beer that’s reliably tasty and of high quality?
The New World Beer and Cider Awards are a great starting place. Meet the crafty creators behind the Top 25 brews in the New World Beer & Cider Awards.
New Zealand award-winning breweries and cidermakers
Use the map below to zoom in and out, and tap on locations for more details:
Best breweries in Northland region
McLeod’s Brewery
From the Northland village of Waipu, McLeod’s Brewery was founded by brothers Geoff and Clayton Gwynne and led by Head Brewer Jason Bathgate. They craft a range of styles, from award-winning lagers and pale ales to barrel-aged and mixed fermentation brews.
Heaven's Brewery
Nestled in the beautiful Marua Valley just outside Hikurangi, they brew small-batch beer in a country setting. Their ales and lager beers are full flavoured yet easy drinking, and are made from mainly local (New Zealand) ingredients.
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Best breweries in the Auckland region
Bach Brewing
Bach Brewing is a family-owned independent brewery based between Auckland’s harbours. Founder Craig Cooper grew up surfing New Zealand’s coastlines, and his love of the Kiwi bach life inspires the brand. Bach beers celebrate freshness, with flavours that capture the freedom and fun of life by the sea.
Black Sands Brewing Company
Black Sands Brewing Company started out when three mates, Ian Hebblethwaite, David Holden and Peter Osborne who shared an interest and passion for craft beer, wanted to produce a good beer that they could enjoy. On the 1st of October 2013, they produced their first brew as Black Sands Brewing Company and it has been non-stop since.
DB Breweries
DB employs around 500 people across New Zealand, and is one of the most well-known brand names in the country. With the backing of the world’s most international brewer HEINEKEN, DB is an iconic company that provides customers with an ever-increasing range of beers, ciders, seltzers, and RTDs.
Hallertau
Hallertau Brewery, located in Riverhead, Auckland, is a trailblazer in Aotearoa’s craft beer scene, blending traditional brewing techniques with bold, modern flavours. Founded in 2005, Hallertau is a vibrant hub for great beer, honest food, and community connection, all driven by a passion for creativity and quality.
Isthmus Brewing Company
Rising stars on the craft beer scene, Hamish Ward & Caroline Muller-Ward now have a string of beer awards behind them. A testament to their hard work and creative talent for producing exceptional brews.
Mad Whale Beer Co.
MAD WHALE BEER COMPANY specializes in producing premium sessional craft beers from New Zealand. Each brew is carefully crafted to deliver a smooth, enjoyable experience, making them the perfect choice for any occasion.
Urbanaut
Since 2017, the dedicated Urbanaut Brewing Co. crew of crafting aficionados and party scientists have been producing some of New Zealand's freshest and most innovative drops. As an independent brewery, we craft from grain to glass out of our legendary ol' warehouse and taproom in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa.
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Best breweries of the Waikato and Taranaki regions
Three Sisters Brewery
Three Sisters Brewery, run by husband-and-wife Joe and Sarah, began brewing craft beer in their Taranaki garage. After a breakthrough award in 2015, their focus on quality ingredients has made them one of Taranaki’s top craft breweries, now based in the historic New Plymouth Saving Bank building.
Lakeman Brewing Co
Nestled among rolling green hills above a pristine fresh water bore, Lakeman’s small but talented team produce award-winning craft beers. While the brand’s hairy Lakeman persona doesn’t take itself too seriously, the Taupō-based team are very serious about making the best quality beer while protecting their local water quality.
Good George Brewing
If they told you that Good George was the best thing to come out of Hamilton, you’d probably think for a minute then make a joke about how they don’t have much competition. That’s okay, they can handle it, they don’t take life too seriously.
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Best breweries of Wellington and Wairarapa
Panhead Custom Ales
Founder Mike Neilson started brewing his four stock brews in 2013 at the old Dunlop tyre factory in Maidstone, and the public quickly caught on. Now brewing some of New Zealand’s best-selling craft beers, the Panhead brew crew from Upper Hutt continue to maintain the brewery’s legendary reputation for quality and consistency.
Garage Project
Garage Project began with two brothers and a friend brewing in a derelict Wellington petrol station and has since grown into one of the country’s most renowned breweries. One thing remains the same: their willingness to take risks which is evident in the diverse range of beers they produce.
Parrotdog
The Parrotdog story is almost legendary… in just a decade, they’ve grown from a basement flat to a full-fledged brewery and New Zealand favourite. Today, their approachable, uncomplicated beers remain popular nationwide, on taps and in chillers alike.
Martinborough Brewery
They are a beer-lover’s haven in the world-famous wine region that is Martinborough, producing small batch brews to taste and enjoy there or take away for later.
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Best South Island breweries and cidermakers
Peckham’s Cider
Peckham’s Cider took its first steps in 2004 by planting a few specialist cider apple trees on what is now the multi-award-winning Peckham’s Cidery and Orchard. Located in the beautiful hills of the Upper Moutere countryside, they’re passionate about creating an unparalleled range of authentic and innovative ciders with the new cider apple crop each year.
Sprig + Fern Brewing Co
Sprig + Fern Brewing Co. in Richmond focuses on quality ingredients and consistency, earning a strong reputation and a trophy cabinet to match. The team is led by owner and Master Brewer Tracy Banner, who recently marked forty years in the brewing industry, and is a respected international beer judge and industry mentor.
Altitude Brewing
Queenstown Craft Brewery and Taproom. Home of Queenstown's best beer on the shores of Lake Wakatipu by the marina. Brewed for adventure.
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