Beer in New Zealand

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Epic pale ale Epic Pale Ale with New Zealand flag.jpg
Epic pale ale

Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in New Zealand, accounting for 59% of available alcohol for sale in 2023, down from 65% in 2009. [1] At around 61 litres per person per annum, New Zealand was ranked 27th in global beer consumption per capita in 2019. [2] About 85% of beer available in New Zealand in 2023 was produced locally, and 15% was imported. [1] The vast majority of beer produced in New Zealand is a type of lager, either pale or amber in colour, and typically 4–5% alcohol by volume. [3]

Contents

Although the two largest breweries in New Zealand, Lion Nathan and DB Breweries, control almost 90% of sales by volume between them, [4] there are over 200 [5] [6] smaller craft breweries and brewpubs producing a vast range of beer styles, including many ales. [7] [8]

History

There is no oral tradition or archaeological evidence of the indigenous people of New Zealand (Māori) brewing beer before the arrival of Europeans and major ingredients of beer were not introduced to New Zealand until Europeans arrived in the late 18th century.

Captain Cook was the first to brew beer in New Zealand, on Resolution Island while anchored in Dusky Sound, Fiordland. He experimented with the use of young rimu branches and leaves as a treatment against scurvy, plus wort, molasses and leaves of the mānuka (tea tree). [9] It was brewed on Saturday 27 March 1773. [10]

We also began to brew beer from the branches or leaves of a tree, which much resembles the American black-spruce. From the knowledge I had of this tree, and the similarity it bore to the spruce, I judged that, with the addition of inspissated juice of wort and molasses, it would make a very wholesome beer, and supply the want of vegetables, which this place did not afford; and the event proved that I was not mistaken.

—  Captain James Cook, A Voyage Towards the South Pole and Round the World, Volume 1

The first commercial brewery in New Zealand was established in 1835 by Joel Samuel Polack in Kororareka (now Russell) in the Bay of Islands. During the 19th century, the brewing methods of Great Britain and Ireland were introduced to New Zealand, being the countries from which the vast majority of immigrants originated during that time – thus the dominant beer styles would have been ales, porters and stouts.[ citation needed ]

20th century

During the late 19th and early 20th century, the temperance movement in New Zealand had become a powerful and popular lobby group, as in the UK and the US. In 1919 at a national referendum poll, prohibition gained 49% of the vote and was only defeated when the votes of returned servicemen were counted. [11] However, one aspect of wartime regulation was made permanent: a 6 pm closing time for licensed premises. This created the culture of the six o'clock swill, a law that was not repealed until 1967, and was to have an influence on the styles of beer brewed and drunk in New Zealand.

In the 1930s, the New Zealander Morton Coutts invented the continuous fermentation process. [12] Gradually, beer production in New Zealand shifted from ales to lagers, using continuous fermentation. The style of beer made by this method has become known as New Zealand Draught, and became the most popular beer during the period of 6 pm closing.

During the same period, there was a gradual consolidation of breweries, such that by the 1970s virtually all brewing concerns in New Zealand were owned by either Lion Breweries or Dominion Breweries. Later, in the 1980s, small boutique or microbreweries started to emerge, and consequently the range of beer styles being brewed increased. The earliest was Mac's Brewery, started in 1981 in Nelson. Some pubs operated their own small breweries, often housed within the pub itself.[ citation needed ]

21st century

In recent years, pale and amber lager, the largest alcoholic drinks sector in terms of volume sales, have been on a downward trend as a result of a declining demand for standard and economy products. [13] Conversely, ale production in New Zealand is primarily undertaken by small independent breweries and brewpubs, the Shakespeare Brewery in Auckland city being the first opened in 1986 for the 'craft' or 'premium' sector of the beer market. In 2010, this 'craft/premium' sector grew by 11%, to around 8% of the total beer market. [14] This has been in a declining beer market, where availability of beer has dropped 7% by volume in the two previous years.

With a growth rate of 25% per year, craft beer and microbreweries were blamed for a 15 million litre drop in alcohol sales overall in 2012, with Kiwis opting for higher-priced premium beers over cheaper brands. [15] [16] The craft beer market in New Zealand is varied and progressive, with a full range of ale and lager styles of beer being brewed. As of 2025 there were around 200 breweries in New Zealand, with two-thirds being in the North Island. [6] The brewing industry is worth $3.3 billion annually to New Zealand's economy. [6]

Given the small market and relative high number of breweries, many breweries have spare capacity. A recent trend has seen the rise of contract brewing, where a brewing company contracts to use space in existing breweries to bring the beer to the market. Examples of contract brewers include Epic Brewing Company, Funk Estate and Yeastie Boys. [17]

New Zealand is fortunate in that it lies in the ideal latitude for barley and hops cultivation. A breeding programme had developed new hop varieties unique to New Zealand, [18] and many of these new hops have become mainstays in New Zealand craft beer. During 2011 and 2012, New Zealand faced a shortage of hops, which affected several brewers countrywide. [19] The shortage was primarily caused by a hop shortage in North America. Brewers Guild president Ralph Bungard noted that Americans were scrambling to get their hands on Kiwi hops as they were becoming more trendy in the American micro-brew market. [20] One specialty brewery, Tuatara Brewery, had just commenced production of an American Pale Ale — when the American hop shortage arose, they then created an Aotearoa Pale Ale, with New Zealand hops. [21]

New Zealanders are drinking less than previously. Beer consumption fell by 4.4% in the year ending December 2023, the largest decrease since 2012, but the amount of zero- and low-alcohol beer drunk increased by 750% between 2019 and 2023. [6]

Styles

The most widely recognised style of beer to have originated in the country is New Zealand Draught. This is generally a malty, lightly hopped amber lager with 4–5% alcohol by volume. Martyn Cornell, the British beer writer, has suggested that New Zealand Draught is partly an evolution of the late 19th century mild ale, which was popular with the British working classes, many of whom emigrated to New Zealand. [22] However, the beer is usually brewed using the continuous fermentation process and a lager yeast. During the latter period of the six o'clock swill, the beer was dispensed from kegs directly into customer's beer jugs using a hose and tap. [23]

Much of the original ale lineage lingers on in the branding of nearly all New Zealand Draught beer, e.g. Speights Gold Medal Ale. In addition to this, the New Zealand Consumers' Institute criticised Tui for claiming to be an "East India Pale Ale" when it is in fact an amber lager that bears no resemblance to the traditionally hoppy, bitter India Pale Ale style. [24]

Breweries

The tower of the Canterbury Brewery before demolition Canterbury Brewery 38.JPG
The tower of the Canterbury Brewery before demolition

Large breweries

In addition, some international brands are brewed under licence in New Zealand. Some examples are Heineken, Amstel, and Tiger [26] (DB Breweries); Kingfisher, Carlsberg, Holsten, and Tuborg [27] [28] (Boundary Road); and Kilkenny, [29] Corona, Budweiser, Guinness, Stella Artois, and Beck's [30] (Lion Nathan).

Microbreweries, nanobreweries and contract brewers

The following list contains some of the notable craft breweries of New Zealand. There are numerous other small breweries and brands. [31]

Brewery NameLocationFoundedNotes
Bays BreweryNelson1993
Emerson's Brewery Dunedin1993In November 2012 the brewery was purchased by Australasian company Lion. [32]
Epic Brewing Company Auckland2006
Garage Project Wellington20112017 Champion Brewery.
Harrington's Breweries Christchurch1991Sold to Lion in 2018.
Invercargill Brewery Invercargill1999Went into receivership in March 2018 [33] and liquidation in 2019. [34]
McCashins Brewery Nelson1981Sold to Lion in 2000. [35]
Moa Brewing Company Marlborough Region 2003
Steam Brewing Company Auckland1995Contract brewer for independent brands. [36]
Yeastie Boys Wellington2008Brewed by Urbanaut Brewing in Auckland.

Brewpubs

Retail sale of beer

Beer for home consumption can be bought at some breweries, specialist liquor stores (often known as 'bottle shops') and in supermarkets. Beer is packaged in kegs, glass or plastic bottles in various sizes or in individual-serve aluminium cans. It was formerly possible to buy beer in a refillable half-gallon (later 2 litre) flagon (also known as a 'half-g' or 'goon') at a pub or bottle store but this became much less popular in the 2000s as consumer tastes changed and suppliers were reluctant to fit out new premises with the equipment needed. [38] Breweries may offer their own refillable flagons.

Beer to be consumed in bars and restaurants is sold in cans or individual-serve bottles or, in the case of tap beer, by the glass or jug. It is common to order a 'pint' of beer in a bar, but although a pint was a standard unit of measurement in the former imperial system, there has never been a standard measurement for a pint of beer in New Zealand. [6] A 'pint' or large glass of beer may contain anywhere from about 400 ml to 560 ml of beer. [6] [39] [40] A 'jug' of beer (typically 1 litre but occasionally 1.5 litres) is sold in many pubs and taverns. [41]

Individual-serve bottles and cans of beer may contain more than one standard drink, which is defined as a drink containing 10 grams of pure alcohol. [42] A 330 ml can or bottle of 4% ABV beer is one standard drink. [43]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Beer is an alcoholic beverage produced by the brewing and fermentation of starches from cereal grain—most commonly malted barley, although wheat, maize (corn), rice, and oats are also used. The grain is mashed to convert starch in the grain to sugars, which dissolve in water to form wort. Fermentation of the wort by yeast produces ethanol and carbonation in the beer. Beer is one of the oldest alcoholic drinks in the world, the most widely consumed, and the third most popular drink after water and tea. Most modern beer is brewed with hops, which add bitterness and other flavours and act as a natural preservative and stabilising agent. Other flavouring agents, such as gruit, herbs, or fruits, may be included or used instead of hops. In commercial brewing, natural carbonation is often replaced with forced carbonation.

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References

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  2. ↑ "Kirin Beer University Report Global Beer Consumption by Country in 2019" (PDF). www.kirinholdings.co.jp. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  3. ↑ "LiquorLand". www.shop.liquorland.co.nz. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  4. ↑ Brewer's Association letter to Justice & Electoral Committee, 20 May 2009
  5. ↑ Brewed: A Guide to the Craft Beer of New Zealand; van Cruysen, Jules; Potton and Burton Publishing, 2015
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jacobson, Julie (18 January 2025). "Why New Zealand beer-lovers might feel short-changed". www.thepost.co.nz. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  7. ↑ "Beer Pages". www.beer-pages.com. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  8. ↑ New Zealand breweries directory RateBeer. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  9. ↑ "Captain Cook's Method of Making Spruce Beer". Victoria University of Wellington. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  10. ↑ Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Mānuka beer". www.teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  11. ↑ "Voting for prohibition" www.nzhistory.net.nz, retrieved 14 June 2011
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  13. ↑ Alcoholic Drinks in New Zealand
  14. ↑ Carroll, Joanne (20 March 2011). "Beer hops off buyers' lists". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  15. ↑ Anthony, John (28 January 2015). "Craft beer demand froths over". Stuff . Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  16. ↑ "Craft beer sales increase by 20 million litres". 3 News NZ. 26 February 2013. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
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  18. ↑ "New Zealand Hops". nzhops.co.nz. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
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  20. ↑ Peter Watson And Fairfax (23 October 2012). "Co-op confident of avoiding hop shortage". Stuff . Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  21. ↑ "Aotearoa Pale Ale » Tuatara Breweries". Archived from the original on 2 November 2014.
  22. ↑ Amber, Gold & Black; Cornell, Martyn; The History Press UK, 2010, p.32
  23. ↑ Photo: New Zealand pub scene, 1967, www.nzhistory.net.nz
  24. ↑ "Ales and lagers -whats the difference?" Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine NZ Consumer Magazine, June 2007
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  28. ↑ "Boundary Road Brewery • Boundary Road Brewery". Boundaryroadbrewery.co.nz. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  29. ↑ Charles Cole (29 December 2012). "Our beer, no longer here". Stuff . Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  30. ↑ "NZ Beer | Lion". Lionco.com. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  31. ↑ "New Zealand Breweries". brewers.org.nz. Brewer's Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  32. ↑ "Emerson's sold to Lion NZ". 3 News NZ. 6 November 2012. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013.
  33. ↑ "New name a fresh start for brewery". Otago Daily Times . 8 November 2018.
  34. ↑ "No buyers yet for Invercargill brewery". The Southland Times . 10 June 2019.
  35. ↑ "Lion buys Mac brand rights". 18 August 2023.
  36. ↑ "Steam Brewing Company - Contract Beverage manufacturer". www.steambrewing.co.nz. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  37. ↑ Malthouse. "Beer News | Fork Brewing: Champion Small New Zealand Brewery 2018 & 2019". www.craftbeercapital.com. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  38. ↑ Eames, David (4 March 2006). "Taste for beer in flagons dries up". NZ Herald. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  39. ↑ "Getting a handle on Kiwi 'pints'". NZ Herald. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  40. ↑ "The secret volume in your beer glass | Pursuit of Hoppiness". 30 June 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
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  43. ↑ "Is your drink just one drink?". cheers.org.nz. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
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