Beervana 2017

The country’s largest craft beer festival, Beervana, returns to Wellington this August. Thank the frothy gods, because it’s been a long time in between drinks.

As if channelling that scene in Mr. Deeds, when Longfellow (Adam Sandler) says, “I’ll bring the beers… I’ll bring the beers”, Beervana has once again come through with the goods and well and truly “brought the beers”.

Festival organisers have rounded up over 60 breweries and cideries and will be herding them into one sweet spot for our beer-drinking convenience.

Held at Wellington Stadium over two drunken days, Beervana is a congregation of craft brewers, craft beer enthusiasts and of course craft beer, itself. All elements of the circle of life, in beer terms.

Keep an eye out for special limited edition beers and international breweries pouring for the first time in NZ. In addition to the tsunami of swill, Beervana will include interactive themed bars, brewery displays and lots of solid grub options, like cheeseburger spring rolls.

Unless you’ve got an iron liver, it’ll be hard to try all the beers on offer, so we’ve listed 3 must-sip breweries:

New New New Corporation

Hailing from Dunedin, NNNC offers a “blossoming range of fermented beverages” from their Fermented Beverages Division in Dunedin. With suds like smoked eel stout, chilli pilsner and peach & nectarine sour ale; the Corporation isn’t scared to boldly go where no brewer has gone before.

Abbey Brewery

With a focus on hoppy ales using the latest hops (citra, amarillo, mosaic, waimea, galaxy etc.), the kids at Fat Monks (beer part of Abbey Brewery) aren’t scared to experiment with flavours either.

With their “old traditions, new flavours” motto, keep an eye out for something special from the Fat Monks.

Duncan’s Brewing Co.

Slim Dusty sung, “I love to have a beer with Duncan, cause Duncan’s me mate”. And when it comes to this brewery, he was right. Duncan’s Brewing Co. is a small, but bold brewery from the Kapiti Coast.

The flagship range includes a full-flavoured pilsner, pale ale and stout, but they’re known for bringing out special festival beers. Go see Duncan.

Beervana 2017 runs from August 11-12 across four sessions (11am–4pm and 6pm-11pm each day) at Westpac Stadium, only a short 10-minute drive from QT Museum Wellington. 

words by niall roeder