Beer in New Zealand

[1] The vast majority of beer produced in New Zealand is a type of lager, either pale or amber in colour, and typically 4–5% alcohol by volume.

Captain Cook was the first to brew beer in New Zealand, on Resolution Island while anchored in Dusky Sound, Fiordland.

From the knowledge I had of this tree, and the similarity it bore to the spruce, I judged that, with the addition of inspissated juice of wort and molasses, it would make a very wholesome beer, and supply the want of vegetables, which this place did not afford; and the event proved that I was not mistaken.The first commercial brewery in New Zealand was established in 1835 by Joel Samuel Polack in Kororareka (now Russell) in the Bay of Islands.

During the 19th century, the brewing methods of Great Britain and Ireland were introduced to New Zealand, being the countries from which the vast majority of immigrants originated during that time – thus the dominant beer styles would have been ales, porters and stouts.

[11] During the late 19th and early 20th century, the temperance movement in New Zealand had become a powerful and popular lobby group, as in the UK and the US.

This created the culture of the six o'clock swill, a law that was not repealed until 1967, and was to have an influence on the styles of beer brewed and drunk in New Zealand.

[14] In 1953, Morton Coutts at Dominion Breweries developed the continuous fermentation system, considered a revolution in brewing methods.

The stainless steel tanker had seven compartments which could each hold 300 gallons of beer, calibrated to official standards, and it could supply seven hotels in one trip from the brewery.

A hotel would typically have three tanks: one in use, one full of beer being brought to the correct temperature, and the third one being cleaned ready for the next delivery.

[citation needed] In recent years, pale and amber lager, the largest alcoholic drinks sector in terms of volume sales, have been on a downward trend as a result of a declining demand for standard and economy products.

Examples of contract brewers include Epic Brewing Company, Funk Estate and Yeastie Boys.

[25] During 2024 several craft breweries went into liquidation as consumers' tastes changed and those struggling with the cost of living switched to cheaper beers.

This is generally a malty, lightly hopped amber, reddish-brown or copper-coloured ale-like lager with 4–5% alcohol by volume.

Some examples are Heineken, Amstel, and Tiger[38] (DB Breweries); Kingfisher, Carlsberg, Holsten, and Tuborg[39][40] (Boundary Road); and Kilkenny,[41] Corona, Budweiser, Guinness, Stella Artois, and Beck's[42] (Lion Nathan).

[43] Beer for home consumption can be bought at some breweries, specialist liquor stores (often known as 'bottle shops') and in supermarkets.

It was formerly possible to buy beer in a refillable half-gallon (later 2 litre) flagon (also known as a 'half-g' or 'goon') at a pub or bottle store but this became much less popular in the 2000s as consumer tastes changed and suppliers were reluctant to fit out new premises with the equipment needed.