So an interesting concept. A meat lovers dream with a brewery next door…read more The menu is meat, meat ... oh and meat! Everything meaty and very little light or vegetarian or really variety. I had hogget taco and my partner had pork taco. Kinda small, and not presented that well. Meat looked dry. However it was quite tasty but could have had more flavour and the tortilla corn taco an overwhelming taste. Corn and nectarine side salad very fresh and tasty. Although not sure that two thin slices of nectarine really qualify as top billing. Amazing chocolate honey drizzle cake. Mixed messages from staff. Some very nice, some dismissive. So 50/50 on everything. Would go back if friends wanted to but would make that choice on my own.

Surprisingly good BBQ! We are visiting from the southern United States and we're happy to find this…read morespot with great food and vibe close to the train station.

This might have been my favorite brewery stop on my New Zealand trip. They're setup more like a…read morewinery cellar door than a brewpub. It's basically a lobby in front of their production facility where you can take away bottles or growlers, or get a small (~25ml) taste of any of the beers they're currently filling. I was really impressed by their porters and sours, and I didn't hate their IPAs which is rare for me. They're a short walk from Boneface and Panhead, so it might make sense to start with a tasting at Kererú before having a bite at one of the brewpubs.

Can one go to Wellington without going to Garage Project?! We'd heard so much about this well-known…read morebrewery - it was one of our good friend's favorite spots while she lived there. It's quite a hike up from the main area, and all uphill - we opted to taxi up and walk back down. First, the address took us to their production facility so we had to walk a block or so to their taproom. We were expecting it to be much bigger than it was! It's similar to the layout of most spots in Wellington: super long and skinny, with seating along the side of the walkway back, with bar in the far back. For how popular it is, we were so surprised it's this small. We grabbed a table by the entrance and ordered at the bar in back. The guy working the bar was wearing an Iowa Hawkeyes shirt?! It was so incredible, and we had a great chat with him about it. We really enjoyed our beer and seltzer, and liked people watching by the front door and inside. The ambiance is great, with cool edgy decor inside. It's a very hipster energy here - ambiance and guests! We asked about merch, and they pointed us to their brewery/production facility down the block. We went over and they had a good amount of beer and some stickers, but otherwise didn't have much at all for merch. We definitely would have bought something if they had more options!

Garage Project, boasted as one of NZ's most popular brews, true to their name, started in a garage,…read moremoving to a service station- offering lots of drink in and/or takeaway variety. We anticipated visiting, not just because of the sheer popularity, but because of the fabulous sounding ambiance of the locations-offering 'big brews with low-key vibes'- and this was exactly what we got (& loved). Visiting the brewery 'house' (not the service station)- I immediately fell in love with the artistic graffiti, the hanging beaker bottles of brews (displaying the colors of the beers), the creative beer label signs, and the friendly bartenders. Overwhelmed by taking it all in, the bartenders took the time to talk with me about the brewery, the history, and walked me through a few beer samples to explain their core beer flavors. We tried: -Pernicious Weed a hearty-dry hopped-dank double IPA with heavy but deliciously smooth quality -Fresh Oct 22-smooth, creamy, hazy-with an orange kick -Haze Daze-a blend of well balanced hops, with a nice citra mouthfeel Only woe-why not 5 stars?- no free wifi & the tap water is seltzer water-smoking allowed

During a recent visit I set up a private tour and tasting with the manager Adrian, who gave me more…read moreof his time than I expected. Black Dog is owned by DB Breweries, which means their beer can be found all over New Zealand on draught and in bottles. The benefit of visiting the brewery in Wellington is that it serves as an experimental bar with new and consistently rotating small batches. It's located on vibrant Cuba Street; the brewery is easy to spot along street level, but the main area to sit and drink including the full bar is upstairs. The bartenders are knowledgeable about their beer. Adrian led me through a tasting of everything on tap in an order that kept the palate fresh. We also split a savory meat pie, one a few snacks they have to order. If you're in Wellington and love beer, this is a stop worth your while!

Had the pork tacos. Perfect spice and ample meat make for a nice dish. The ambiance is bar all the…read moreway. Pounding music, ample brews with outdoor seating available.

Very nice atmosphere with a ton of seating outside to overlook the harbor, or inside to watch the…read moregame. The beer was good, but it was hard to get service. It was easier to just order at the bar, even though the waitstaff said they would take care of it & then not show up for 30mins.

What a fantastic gem of a brewery! Greeted with super enthusiastic bar tender who is happy and…read morehelpful. Outstanding menu of beer and great food too. Had the hazy ipa and it was juicy with tropical notes, what a palate pleaser. Lots of seating in a big open area. Wonderful visit highly recommend if visiting Wellington and also ask about the craft beer tour. You can get a sheet and stamp 8 breweries on the list and get a souvenir!

After a morning of exploring Wellington and avoiding the cruise ship crowds, it was great to find a…read morespot that was bright and sunny and friendly. Upstairs (do they have an elevator?) is a pretty massive dining room with lots of booths, some big tables and a balcony area in the Sun. Not quite ready for a big meal, I had a beer and a plate of the jalapeno poppers. They arrived after only 6 minutes, hot and fresh from the fryer. Delicious and a little spicy with a tangy dipping sauce, it went well with my pilsner. I stayed at Fork & Brewer for about an hour and enjoyed my time. This is a peaceful spot and the beer was delicious! [Review 510 of 2024 - 157 in New Zealand - 21542 overall]

Every trip I go on, there's always a standout brewery experience. On my most recent on to…read moreWellington, it ended up being Parrotdog and I can't wait to go back. This is a NZ beer staple, available on tap and in stores in cans. This is their new facility, just a few minutes walk from the beach. It's below Mount Victoria, and near the airport in a newer commercial/industrial area, perfect for a large working brewery and cozy taproom. The interior felt like a 70s living room, with wood, carpet, and nice lighting. They also had big windows for sunshine, and a large bar. Both regular and sparkling water are on tap, plus a bunch of local sauces to try. I was in on a Wednesday, which is $10 burger day; it was delicious with fries. This was also a spot I got two tasting paddles just because of the quality of the beer. Bartender Heidi was super friendly with me about the beer and swapping some stickers. It seemed like a popular working lunch spot as well, with lots of brewery employees enjoying a shift beer together. They have a large outdoor patio as well, plus clean restrooms, and a little brewery store with merchandise, beer to-go, and where the tour starts. This is on the Wellington Ale Trail, and is a must-visit for anyone in town that loves beer. Cheers!

We had such an awesome experience here! Our trip in Wellington was quite short but we definitely…read morewanted to check this place out. I ordered a flight and enjoyed all of them, especially the Marzen and Deadcanary. Tori was fantastic and made us comfortable during our time. We had just left the airport and had our luggage with us so we were a bit frazzled at first. We also had the crispy chicken and cauliflower appetizers, both of which were delicious. Most of all we really appreciated Tori's willingness to go out of her way to make our trip special. We will definitely make a point to come back next time we are in Wellington!

The first time I was in Wellington, this was a brewery I only got to experience in the airport…read more(that location has since closed). I made it my mission to come here first on this trip and was thankful I did. Fortune Favours has gone through some ownership changes, but is once again independent and making great beer. This is a working brewery, taproom, and lounge. They have cozy booths, bar stools, plus an upstairs bar including outdoor seating. It's right off of Hannahs Laneway, which is a must-visit area of the city with other amazing art galleries, restaurants, cafes, and bars. The staff was super welcoming that day, thank you Phill and Grant for the fun conversation, a couple free beers, and gift of neckerchief for my pup! I ordered a flight and stuck with some of the rarer styles: thankfully I was there during their anniversary so they had a number of throwback kegs on tap. All the beer was delicious; I also ordered a Gorilla Burger from next door and really enjoyed it. One of the only souvenirs I bought for myself this trip was a pint glass with their signature font, it's a new favorite. If you're a beer fan in Wellington, this is a must-visit and part of the ale trail.

Ok. Stay with me, my review requires a bit of side-back-story. You see, my husband and I were on…read moreholiday in NZ; having only one free night in Wellington, after 20hours of flying, decided this was to be the night of the Wellington Beer Trail! Having started at Fork & Brewer, which was an old favorite spot from our previous visit in 2018- their fantastic brewer helped us circle must-try spots on the Beer Trail map, based on our preferences. Fortune Favours was not circled. Along our journey, in-between bars, we decided we wanted to stop and grab some grub and began our search for a recommended dumpling spot. Along our route, we smelled something absolutely delicious & also saw an amazing dinosaur graffiti down a long back alley..and bam! we found ourselves at Fortune Favours. Entering the bar, we asked, 'what smells so good?!' while perusing the menu-only to be told they were baking dog biscuits with the spent grains..whomp whomp. So we awkwardly decided to just leave & carry on our dumpling search, asking the friendly bartender if he could give us some better directions-to which he provided ample recommendations for eating. Arriving to our dumpling spot- we discovered a 'short staff closed sign' and decided to return to the friendly bartender at Fortune Favours. Glad for the misadventure, and friendliness, because the beers were quite delicious! I can understand why they weren't recommended to us, because the beers we ended up with weren't hazy citra ipas, so it was a veer from our normal enjoyments- but we were glad for the variety. I got the Rye Pale Ale- a piney, roasty, smooth malty hops- while my husband got a cold brut ipa-crisp and dank. We got to spend time with the bartender talking impact of shortages on the breweries, and learning more about the local area Beer Trail. Really glad we ended up here, if anyone asks us moving forward to circle spots on a Beer Trail map we will most certainly circle this location!!

Malthouse is one of the best beer bars in Wellington, a city already known for great beer. It has a…read moremixed modern and contemporary vibe, it's cozy and fun. Tables and booth seating are along the left wall, with a large bar taking up the right. They have a great tap list of local/NZ beer, plus cans/bottles, and food. The night I planned to come in I was running a little late, but even though it was close to closing, they let me in and were welcoming. I also had such a fun time meeting brewers from Australia in town for Beervana; it was a friendly place. The bartenders were great, glassware clean, and I definitely would've been back if I had more time.

Something off center has happened in the craft beer scene. I'm not sure if it's the surprising…read moreAmerican influence, or the cultural melting pot that is NZ, but NZ has been turning heads and creating quite a frenzy in the craft beer world. I even dare to say, the beer here is better than Aus. Maybe that's too bold a statement, but I'm standing by it. Malthouse is the craft beer haven epicenter of Wellington. With over 150 national and international beers, this beer bar hosts the largest range of beer in NZ. A full tap range, staple beers and rotating ones all keep this beer bar "in the know" with its ever changing selection. Behind the row of taps, is "Malty's Wall" with fridges keeping beers cooled at the right temp, ready for tasting and consuming. Many of NZ beers come from small boutique breweries, which make them harder to find outside of NZ, but Malthouse hosts a great focus on local breweries. The menu is a beer bible. I've never seen one like it. It's leather bound and very extensive, filled with beer choices and all the information to accompany such a vast beer bar. Seating is cozy with both indoor and outdoor options. High tables, bar seats, lounge tables as well. With food options, they've got the perfect munchies which compliment beer. Try their famous Ugly Bread. Or the pizza. I'm a strong believer of great beer bars having pizza. It's something about cheesy tomato bread that goes so well with beer. All in all, this place is hands down, great.