Our pick of the best New Zealand fruity, weird and wonderful beers of 2026

Best New Zealand fruit, flavoured & spiced beer of 2026

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Duncan's Yum Yum Yuzu Dry Lager

Type of beer: Fruit, flavoured and spiced

Brewery: Duncan's

Flavours: A crisp Japanese-style lager with a cheeky splash of yuzu. Light, clean and zingy with bright citrus - perfect for relaxing on a hot sunny day or accompanying a fancy feed.

For more on this beer visit: https://www.duncansbrewing.co.nz/

Buy this beer: Visit online shopping

Best New Zealand weird and wonderful 2026

In every judging event, there are beers and ciders that intrigue our judges, or spark animated discussions, and sometimes even polarise the judging tables. These unique beers have distinctive or unusual ingredients that stand out from the crowd. 

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Double Vision Colar Beer Sour

Type of beer: Weird and wonderful

Brewery: Double Vision

Flavours:  A sour beer that tastes like adult cola - crisp, refreshing and balanced with a wee touch of creamy sweetness. Sip it in summer or cosy up with it in winter. Either way, blimmin delicious.

For more on this beer visit: https://doublevisionbrewing.com/

Buy this beer: Visit online shopping

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Garage Project Spicy Pickle Beer

Type of beer: Weird and wonderful

Brewery: Garage Project

Flavours: Naturally kettle-soured and loaded with cucumber, dill, pickle spice and red hot chilli. Spicy, refreshing and surprisingly more-ish - a pickle party in a glass.

For more on this beer visit: https://garageproject.co.nz/

Buy this beer: Visit online shopping

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Lakeman ChocNess Monster Stout

Type of beer: Weird and wonderful

Brewery: Lakeman

Flavours: A rich, malt-driven stout with inviting chocolate, honey and caramel aromas, plus a wee almond hint. Beautifully balanced, complex and surprisingly easy-going for its richness.

For more on this beer visit: https://www.lakemanbrewing.co.nz/

Buy this beer: Visit online shopping

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Three Sisters Dragon Fruit Smoothie Sour

Type of beer: Weird and wonderful

Brewery: Three Sisters

Flavours: Smoothie season, in a can. Rich dragonfruit with creamy banana, vanilla and lactose sweetness. Thick, tropical and refreshingly tart - pure holiday vibes

For more on this beer visit: https://threesistersbrewery.store/

Buy this beer: Visit online shopping

Best New Zealand beers and ciders of 2026

Best Aotearoa craft beers and ciders for 2026

Introducing the Top 25 of the New World Beer & Cider Awards for 2026. Our expert judges have picked the standout brews from around Aotearoa, featuring a thirst-quenching range of lagers, ales, ciders, non-alcoholic beers and more.

Best Aotearoa lagers and pilsners for 2026

We’re celebrating some of Aotearoa’s best and brightest lagers and pilsners with 2026’s New World Beer & Cider Awards. To help you find your new favourite in this sparklingly fresh category, we’ve pulled out our top lagers and pilsners from Aotearoa.

Best Aotearoa IPAs and pale ales for 2025

IPAs and pale ales are beloved for their hoppy character, often complemented with herbal, fruity or citrus flavours. Dive in to discover the best of the best Aotearoa-made IPAs and pale ales for 2025 plus our favourite food pairings for each beer. 

Best Aotearoa hazy ales for 2025

Hazy ales are enjoying their own spotlight in the New World Beer & Cider Awards. Discover the best of the best Aotearoa-made hazy ales for 2025 plus our favourite food pairings for each beer.

Best Aotearoa ciders and brewed sodas of 2025

Nothing beats a sweet and refreshing cider in Spring's longer nights. Discover the best of the best Aotearoa-made ciders and brewed sodas of 2025.

Best Aotearoa stout for 2025

Stouts and porters, often called dark beers, are packed with roasted flavours and richness that make them an indulgent treat. Our winner of the best Kiwi stout and porter of 2025 has a chocolate, coconut and vanilla kick you're going to want to try again and again. 

Best Aotearoa fruity, weird and wonderful beers of 2026

This new category celebrates the unique brews whipped up by our innovative breweries. From beers with a kick to a surprisingly fruity and thick beer, there's sure to be a beer you'd want to try or bring along to your next gathering.

Best Aotearoa non-alcoholic and low-carb beers for 2025

Over the past year or two, the quality of Aotearoa non-alcoholic beer has markedly improved. Discover the best of the best Aotearoa-made non-alcoholic and low-carb beers for 2025 plus our favourite food pairings for each bevvy.

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