Beervana is Wellington’s creative beer festival

Based at Sky Stadium on Wellington’s magnificent waterfront, Beervana attracts over 16,000 people over two days. About 50 breweries set up shop on the covered concourse that surrounds the stadium. They represent a selection of beer brewers from around New Zealand, Australia, and further afield. Revellers can make a full circuit of the building and not miss anything. Visit stalls, taste some uniquely brewed beers, chat to the brewers, and catch up with mates. Adding to the atmosphere are food stalls and multiple live music performances. There are four sessions spread across the weekend. Each runs for five hours so there is plenty of time to enjoy the vibe, learn something new, and discover an amazing brew.

A person holds a tool applying smoke to the top of a pint of red and yellow beer at Beervana 2023, a beer and food festival in Wellington New Zealand.

3 people standing at a bar table eating hotdogs and drinking beer with colourful pop art of a mouth in the background.

A hand picks up one of three chicken tenders, drizzled with orange sauce, from a takeaway container.

Crowd of people standing in front of the Garage Project station at Beervana, with signage and lettering made to look like clouds.

Festivals bring out the best in people, especially the stallholders taking part. With so many brewers in one space, everyone brings their A-game. Every year sees the creative melting pot newly stirred. Among the hundreds of beers on offer around the stadium, you’re likely to taste an experimental beer or new flavour combination.

The creativity extends to the stalls as well. Beervana Manager Ryan McArthur says the event is famous for ingenious and eye-catching stalls. “Over the years we’ve had secret dance halls, giant D&D [Dungeons & Dragons] installations, and alpine gondolas. Breweries now vie for the honour of Best Stand, with punters voting for their favourites.”

This grand celebration of beer has had a long genesis. It began in 2001 under the name New Zealand Beer, Wine, and Spirits Council’s NZ Beer Expo. It included events across the region promoting the growing craft beer industry. It was held just after the New Zealand Brewers Guild Award. This meant brewers could make use of the leftover beer used for judging. It’s now grown into a huge festive occasion attracting brewers from Australia, the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

Close-up of a hand holding up a Beervana glass filled with an orange drink and foam atop.

Fantastic beer needs to be accompanied by fantastic food. Luckily, Beervana does not disappoint. Some of the breweries collaborate with local restaurants to provide quality kai , while other food providers travel from out of town. You’re likely to come across whitebait fritters, oysters, Korean fried chicken, pasties, and boutique ice cream. For those wanting something tried and true, there are plenty of pies, burgers, and fries, too.

Beer is always going to be the focus for Beervana, but it doesn’t stop there. Organisers cater for every liquid taste with a selection of ciders, alcoholic ginger beers, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beers. Equally, there are great activities to amuse yourself with while you’re there. You’ll find things like competitive table tennis, Cornhole, DJs, live music, and roaming entertainers. There are also informative talks on things like home-brewing and exclusive Meet the Brewer tasting sessions. Your circuit around Sky Stadium is sure to be a whirlwind of tastes, aromas, and entertainment.