Wow, what an amazing place! If you're a beer fan and doing the Beer Mile or just need a great place to eat and hang out, this is a must-visit stop in Auckland. You may have seen their beer - Behemoth Brewing is a quintessential New Zealand beer with their signature can label art in bottle shops and grocery stores around the country. Churly is their mascot with the underbite - he graces their cans in funny costumes and is the namesake for their brewery and restaurant.
Located nearby other great beer stops, it's a fun place to walk to and just a cheap Uber ride from the CBD. It looks like an old gas station with long bar along the windows, plus tables, outdoor seating, and a whole second room on the patio. Along the back behind the bar are big glass windows where you can look on the brewing equipment, plus clean restrooms covered in their old labels.
I had amazing bartenders and service start to finish, even getting to chat with one of the owners about the history, their philosophy, and the food. I lucked out as I came on meat night where they featured fresh New Zealand beef and lamb steaks. As you really can't beat lamb in NZ, I opened for a special with a pesto sauce, plus chicken skewers in yogurt. It was rich and delicious, more than I usually paid for food in Auckland but very reasonable for the quality and specialness of the meal. They also have a ton of beer, so I spent a lot of time and two whole flights here. They also brew Heart of Darkness's beers from Vietnam here, so I got to try a few of those that evening as well. Their beers were delicious - mostly NZ pale ales and hazy IPAs. Plus lagers and lighter fare as well. Packaged beer is cold and ready to be sold near the cashier as well.
If you're in Auckland and a beer fan, again, you must come here thirsty and hungry. It's one I really hope to visit again soon! read more