Breweries, Cideries & Distilleries
It’s true - until 1967, pubs closed at 6pm, and after-work drinks were known as the “6 o’clock swill”, as patrons tried to pack in as much as they could before 6pm!
In 1981, ex-All Black Terry McCashin started NZ’s first craft beer brewery in Nelson, daring to take on the duopoly of NZ’s two big beer companies.
Flash through to 2023 - and there are so many craft breweries, cideries, distilleries - and of course, wineries - in the country that one can barely keep count!
Just about every little town has a brewery - it’s heaven for craft beer lovers. Following along, there are also a surprising number of local cideries and distilleries.
Honeymooners may want to try NZ Mead, made from Kiwi honey - after all, the word "honeymoon" was coined from the month after a wedding, when the bride's father would give the groom all the mead he wanted.
For the adventurous, drop into Zenkuro, New Zealand’s award-winning and only sake brewery.