The former Grafton Library makes a gorgeous pub full of character…read more My partner loved his craft beer "DOUBLE DRY HOPPED HAZY HAZY PALE ALE", describes it was wet and tangy lol. I usually drink Sol, Corona or white wine. The Bar staff recommended for I try "HEIDELBERGER PREMIUM GERMAN PILSNER" and found it very tasty!

When talking with beer people about the Auckland Beer Mile, one place listed rarely came up as…read morerecommended but it ended up being one of the best dining and beer experiences of my entire trip. Galbraith's Alehouse is a brewery, pub, and restaurant all wrapped up into one. It's on Mt. Eden and just a quick walk from many other excellent beer places - don't skip this one. The exterior looks like a historic meeting house; inside feels like an English pub with high ceilings, wood door and glass windows, carpet, and a big old bar. On entering to the left is the bar and restaurant area, to the right is the working brewery, restrooms, and quieter tables for those interested in conversation over whatever is playing on TV. The night I came I was so excited to see their tap list of their own beers, all with a traditional focus on British styles and serving methods. They had two tasting trays listed, one all their hand pull cask styles, and one of their more popular contemporary styles like IPAs on draft. For those from the USA reading, hand pull casks are served more close to room temperature using gravity or muscle power to pump the beer, it's not the effervescent beer you're used to but the soft mouthfeel imparts different flavors. I absolutely loved getting to try four different styles all done in this method. The staff here were extremely friendly, happy to explain their beer and business, and always checking on me. I sat at the bar as that night a World Cup match was on and it was loud and exciting inside. I ordered their shepherd's pie which was one of the best meals I ate on my entire trip - especially soul warming on a cold and rainy evening outside. Following my meal and cask ales, I ordered the contemporary flight and loved all those beers as well. Everything was well made and delicious. I also appreciated not being chased out immediately after they closed - a few people like me quietly finished our drinks before heading out. If you're in Auckland for beer or exploring the Beer Mile, this is a must-visit place; come hungry and thirsty.

Spotted a banner stating oldest brewery in Auckland from my hotel room window... Well, say no more,…read moreI am on it. Especially since I was hungry from travel anyway. I didn't quite understand the set up, but there seems to be a brewery on the ground floor and a restaurant upstairs and a hotel too? Since I was still in my travel clothes, I decided to just stay in the brewery part. Ordered a nice cold beer and fish and chips. Now I have read the other reviews and I must say, I liked the beer, the bar tender was helpful and friendly and I did not have to pay as I went. The fish and chips I received were the best of my life. A huge portion, lightly breaded, fried crisp, the fish in the middle nice and moist. Crinkle fries along with it, also done very nicely. There was a small serving of salad that came with it and that too was delicious. House made tartar sauce and a side of lemon. I found it to be a delight.

One of those things we came to do just cuz, AND it was conveniently located across from our hotel…read more Their beers brewed in house aren't bad, pretty decent. What I HATE when it comes to pubs (now anyways lol) is a pay as you go format. Maybe it's because they're worried about people skipping out on their checks. I've never come across a pub where you pay as you go. Or maybe this is just something that's common in New Zealand? Anyways, it's got a weirdly old yet modernish feel. Like it feels like they are trying to maintain their old feel but the vibe just doesn't match. They have typical bar food like burgers, fries and fish & chips. I must say though that their fries (chips) are well executed. Thick cut, crisp on the outside, and fluffy on the inside, paired with a nice aioli.

Delish tasty dishes, great service and lovely ambiance with the fire going. A great place to eat…read moreout and relax.

Really cool brewery we stopped at on the way back from Goat Island. Reminded me of some places in…read morethe US. Very generous samples! The bartender's here were very friendly and more than happy to give recommendations to anyone who is walking by. I had the pork cheek dish, it was very fatty which I really enjoyed. Had great dinner here. Really liked the ambiance of the space , the restrooms were very clean.

Great Fish & Chips and friendly service!! Location is perfect for when you're touring about the…read morecity.

We walked into the Shakespeare about 7:15pm on Wednesday. The restaurant was closed but the bar was…read moreopen; we had to sit outside, which was just fine. There were four of us; we each ordered fish and chips and a drink and paid up front; the drinks were in our hands immediately. After half an hour of waiting for the food, I asked the manager what was going on and she told me "10 minutes". 15 minutes later, I asked again - this time, the barmaid went upstairs to talk to the cook and told me "10 minutes". 15 minutes later (an hour after ordering), I went back AGAIN and this time the manager went up and promised we'd have our food in just a few minutes; she offered us a free drink. We finally got the food about 70 minutes after ordering. To be fair, it was hot, fresh, and tasty - but it was NOT worth waiting that long for. Go for the beer; ask lots of questions about the wait for food.

Stopped by based upon the suggestion of a local guide for a lunch place…read more Ended up ordering wayyy too much food; including a veggie and dip plate, a pulled pork burrito, a veggie taco (disclosure- they legit mean single taco) and a Greek (feta, olive and garlic pizza). Food was fantastic! First place in all of New Zealand where they had fresh salsa AND black beans. The beers were equally as good. Being used to US New England style beers the NZ beers we had tried prior fell short. The beers here were all great...specifically the IPA, XPA and the Session were our favorites. A great little extra was the tastings of local liquor offered by the brewery, which also owns and operates a local winery and distillery. Everything was great and the owner (?)/server made our experience. Only suggestion I'd make is adding a sheet explaining what liquor is what like provides for the beer tastings Would definitely come back even tho it's a bit out of the way from the town center....hoping they serve this beer locally!

One of the main reasons I visit a brewery is to taste a range of beers.. Unfortunately here they…read morewon't allow you to even sample a beer before you buy it to check you want to commit to a pint. Given it's the brown brewery's beer I'm sure they can spare 20ml and one of the sample glasses to a paying customer who'd already bought a few rounds. The option is a tasting paddle, but that includes styles of beers I know I don't like so it's pointless. We ordered a platter, priced at $29.50 we expected a bit more than we got. The food we did have was okay but didn't really stand out. The rest of the menu was very overpriced (average of about $30 for most menu items) which was more than we were willing to spend on a lunch. Hallertau around Auckland is the benchmark for me in this category and is cheaper/better quality. Sort your stuff out guys.. You have a lot going for you but you're failing at the basics. Lucky for you, you have a captive market given the lack of other options in the area.

Finally an awesome bar in town…read more I'm just a hipster Australian looking for a cool place to drink a beer god damn it! This place is rad, i love it.

Cool atmosphere, great service, good beers. Mr brother and I both especially liked the raspberry…read morelemon cider.

We stopped here for a late lunch. With time zones all messed up on our first day here, we wanted to…read moresplit something and keep it light. We chose the Caesar salad with chicken. It came with a hard boiled egg, bacon, grilled chicken, Romain lettuce, garlic bread and a yummy dressing. It was so good and really hit the spot for healthy and hearty. When we arrived, we were handed 2 menus and instructed to sit anywhere we chose. Lots of seating, both in and outdoor. The outdoor patio had a cover which helped those patrons as it was drizzling on and off most of the day. I had a nice sauv Blanc. We got a pitcher of water. Everything was well done and absolutely delicious. Plus, we got to watch some Sunday night American football as we had lunch.

Great lunch burger and beer special. Location was perfect to enjoy a delicious burger, fries, and…read morebeer.

After sitting in the SkyBar in the Tower, it was time for dinner and I spotted this place (from…read moreYelp, not from the window). A short walk and a few minutes later, beer in hand. I found a comfy spot in the back, connected to their wifi and checked in for tomorrow's flight back to the USA. And then dinner. I ordered the fish and chips which was the biggest piece of fish ever. Crispy battered outside, light and flaky inside. Super hot from the fryer and with enough delicious fries to float a battalion. Wifi was speedy and the seating was comfortable and I'm just a little bit sad that my New Zealand adventure is coming to a close. [Review 531 of 2024 - 176 in New Zealand - 21563 overall]

Went out of my way, by myself, and walked over a mile to go to Brothers Beer, which I was told by…read morethe locals that it was closed... While walking back to where my wife was shopping, I got lucky and walked by this place! This place got extra credit because it was much needed after my wasted walk. Quality/Quantity - Good selection of beers on tap. They offer samples if asked. Liberty Knife Party IPA - # 1 seller and an "always" on tap beer. 7.1% so beware. This was good, very smooth. Almost did not even taste like an IPA, not too hoppy. Eddyline West Coast IPA - 7.3%, wow this was even smoother. Borderline dangerous drinking this as it went down too easily. I cut myself off after this second beer (third one for the day). Beer flights are also available. Atmosphere - They cater to the locals here, perfect for me. :) Cool decor, sorry I should have taken more pictures. 7+ weeks out here and I still do NOT have an Australian or New Zealand accent, LOL. Indoor/outdoor seating. No people watching as it is a weekend, a Saturday today. They mainly cater to the local downtown businesses. Free wifi, but you need a password; just ask. Open 7 days a week from 11:30am to 10pm. Service - Good. Price - $28.50 NZ, approximately $8.55 US per beer. Expensive for a non tourist area... Owner Comment - Congrats on your success.

This is probably some of the best beers I've ever had. I was recommended to come here when I'm in…read moreAuckland. I got the taster and just told them to get me what they recommend/what their most popular ones were. I ended up with the Peacenik Pilsner, Back in Black, Raspberry and Mango Sour, Fear & Loathing WCIPA, and Hazesteria. Honestly, I thought all of them was good, except the sour but I never liked sours in general. I think my favorites would be either the Fear & Loathing or the Hazesteria. The Back in Black was good as well. For food from Juke Joint I also ordered the steak & cheese burger, which was also great and definitely filled me up. I also felt a bit of a buzz after finishing the third glass but the burger definitely saved me. Service was good. I ordered at the counter and they gave me a number to put on my table. They checked up on me once in a while and were quick to bring me water when I requested it. The food wasn't life changing but the beers here are definitely worth trying out, even if you're not typically a beer drinker. I'm not, but I still loved them.

Brothers Brewery is a New Zealand staple beer producer, but unfortunately on my visit they…read moreannounced the brand was not doing well and the location close to my hotel was closing for good. I was thankful at least to visit their main location near Mt Eden and along the Auckland Beer Mile; based on my time here, I hope they turn things around and this place stays open for another visit next time. If you're in Auckland and a beer lover, this is worth the stop. Located in a quiet residential neighborhood, the big old factor is cozy and welcoming despite the large profile. They have areas of big comfy sofas, high top tables, and seating for any size group. You walk in along the offices, with restrooms toward the back. The night I was there pub trivia was going on - I jumped in with a team and won $50NZD! The brewery area takes up most of the space, with high ceilings you feel like you're in the middle of the production even at night. The staff here was all welcoming and super friendly to talk about the beer and put together a flight. This ended up being my last stop along the Beer Mile that day, but I was thankful I got a chance to come. Cheers and best of luck Brothers Brewery!