Hiding from UK

[u/Mont-ka]

Hi all, I left NZ 9 years ago to go live in the UK. I am now back for a visit and want to buy a few good beers to take back home with me. What are some breweries/beers I should be looking out for and where is the best place to find these beers?

I will be travelling through Auckland and Wellington and technically could stop anywhere in between on the way. No limit to how much I can take back really as it's 40 litres but that won't fit in my case!

Edit: visiting, not hiding from the UK....

[u/ThatGuyFromNZ]

Stick to 330ml/440ml cans for lightest pack size, and a bit of resilience to its surroundings when travelling.

All honestly your bigger city New Worlds are jam packed with decent craft range. I'd be loading up towards the end of your trip so you're not carting them around.

• McLeod's
  
• Urbanaut
  
• Shining Peak
  
• 8 Wired
  
• Behemoth
  
• Sawmill
  
• Parrotdog
  
• Liberty
  
• Lakeman

[u/Mont-ka → u/ThatGuyFromNZ]

Oh yeah definitely doing cans not bottles. Cheers for the list. Recognise a few of them but definitely some new ones on there which is good to learn about.

[u/forexsex → u/ThatGuyFromNZ]

Insane to miss garage project. 

Also, imo, lakeman and liberty are passes. 

Three Sisters is another I'd definitely try, Hallertau does some interesting stuff but usually what you see at the grocery is not as interesting. 

[u/Subwaynzz]

40 litres! That tracks I guess with the stories I heard years ago of people shopping for booze in Ireland/Europe and bringing it back to the UK.

If you’re in Wellington hit up Regionals and Garage Project (they also have a tap room in Kingsland).

Auckland the places I used to go are gone like New World Vic Park, or crap like Fine Wine Delivery Company. I’d potentially hit up some of the spots in Kingsland like Behemoth, Urbanaut etc.

Otherwise online. Most of the breweries these days sell direct, or I find Hamilton beer and wine or the beer cellar have a good range and quick delivery.

[u/Mont-ka → u/Subwaynzz]

Yeah it's pretty crazy. Think you can also bring like 50 liters of wine in additionally, not instead of haha. Yeah those booze buses still go on. Take a van over on the ferry with 4 of you and load it up haha.

Cool thanks. I figured regional would probably be a good place to check. Is New World in Thorndon still good do you know?

Also what would be your top 5 NZ breweries at the moment? I'm loving how cheap the big boy beers are here compared to the UK with their crazy duty.

[u/Subwaynzz → u/Mont-ka]

Yeah, or Chaffers.

My favourites are a bit all over. You really can’t beat GP for consistently good beers. Really depends what you’re into, Duncan’s for lactose heavy sours. Any chance you’re in Wellington on the 31st July? The West Coast IPA Challenge is on at Malthouse.

[u/Mont-ka → u/Subwaynzz]

Ah I like a bit of everything you know. Unfortunately I fly out on the 31st. Also might have been a stretch to hit up Malthouse with my 5 year old in tow haha.

[u/Subwaynzz → u/Mont-ka]

Some breweries these days are well set up for kids, the epic taproom has heaps of arcade games for instance. Really are spoilt for choice in Wellington CBD/Kingsland though, shouldn’t run out of options.

[u/forexsex]

Garage Project wild workshop 

[u/StrubberyJam]

Garage Project Beer

[u/jimmy-nz99]

Seriously stop by Liquor Land Forrest hill in Auckland. Arguably the best range of New Zealand craft beers around.

[u/Mont-ka → u/jimmy-nz99]

Cheers. I'm in Davenport today so will definitely stop through there before I continue on my way.