BREWERS.
Panhead Custom Ales
Panhead is New Zealand's very own craft brewing monster truck rally, putting the frighteners on anyone who thinks beer should mind its own business and cower behind the wine rack. Launched in 2013 out of the old Dunlop tyre factory in darkest Maidstone, we were embraced enthusiastically from the get go by Wellington's beer cognoscenti of beardy app developers, design grads and contractors from the Ministry of Social Development.
Starting with four stock beers of spot-hitting quality and consistency it wasn't long before we were turning out hopped-up, weirded-out specials every other week just to sate the demand of a public who wanted their tastebuds destroyed with every pint.
While we'll always call Upper Hutt home, Panhead knows that crappy beer is an international problem so we're colonising the globe as fast as we can. Australia has got the message already. Rest of the World, you've been warned.
Boneface Brewing Co.
Owners Matt and Selena developed the Boneface craft beer brand from a love of all things beer and sci-fi. All beers are cleverly crafted to incorporate Planet Hoptron (that’s the Planet of Hops, if you are wondering), and its inhabitants.
Bringing the goodness of Planet Hoptron to Upper Hutt was a no-brainer – Matt’s brewing background, along with Selena’s passion for craft beer, fit perfectly into the burgeoning Upper Hutt craft beer mecca. Whilst brewing the favourites, they are always in a parallel universe, developing new and innovative craft beer flavours for you to try.
Kererū Brewing
With their brewery just around the corner on Maidstone Terrace, Kererū have been Upper Hutt legends since ages ago.
Kererū go out of their way to source the best quality NZ grown malt, hops and specialty ingredients, with Upper Hutt’s finest water to brew you fantastic beers all year round. With a strong focus on sustainability, whenever possible, ingredients are locally-sourced and NZ-produced. And when they’re finished with them, a local farmer collects spent grains to feed his animals.
When Brewtown started growing, it only made sense for Kererū to team up with a local restaurateur to offer a fusion of kiwi and South African tastes at KūKū Restaurant, matched with Kererū beers.
Te Aro Brewing Co.
Right in the heart of NZ’s coolest little craft beer capital lies an inner city suburb called Te Aro. It was there nestled in the back of Brewtopia Home brew Supplies that Te Aro Brewing Company was born.
Stewart Gebbie’s passion for great beer and Karl Hayes’ ability to make it should have been a match made in heaven, but despite meeting and becoming mates sometime last century, Karl and Stewart didn’t start Te Aro Brewing company until 2014.
What started out as a micro brewery and home brew supplies shop has since grown up, and is now brewing on a much larger scale here in Upper Hutt’s Brewtown. The growing range and demand for Te Aro Brewing Co’s beers has meant bigger digs and an exciting tap room on the way.
Wild Kiwi Distillery and Good George Brewing
There's nothing Wild Kiwi whisky-maker, Russell Kirk likes better than charring barrels, mixing grain and fiddling with dials; which is just as well given he has set himself up with a mega-sized distillery at Brewtown. And, of course, he loves fine whisky. The first of the Wild Kiwi magic is about to go into its barrels for the next few years, taking on the red-wine barrel flavours. In the meantime he will be offering up tastes of the world's 100 best tipples, and his own gin, vodka, and rum.
And, you can see it all in the making, with the tasting room getting the best view of the distilling action.
He's also brought on board the fine crew from Good George to serve up some of New Zealand's premium unpasteurised ales - what a partnership!