BEER O'CLOCK IN THE BAY
It’s not surprising that the Bay’s relaxed, down to earth lifestyle has given rise to an innovative – and impressive – craft beer scene you'll find anywhere in the land. Each Brewery has their own unique story, taste and technique when it comes to crafting the perfect drop.
Mata Brewery
An hour from Tauranga along the picturesque Pacific Coast Highway is Whakatāne, and the Mata Brewery. This is the home of the Hop Lips IPA, the Hip Hop pilsner and the smooth-tasting Mānuka Golden Ale. If you can’t decide, grab a tasting paddle for $16 and a serving of their legendary pulled pork loaded fries from the in-house eatery Mama G's Kitchen.
While in the kiwi capital of New Zealand, why not try the The Kiwi Capital Pale Ale. Made in collaboration with the Whakātane Kiwi Trust and Mata Brewery, 8% of profits go towards supporting kiwi conservation efforts in the region. This is a feel good beer!
Mata Brewery, 17 Gateway Crescent, Whakatāne
Open Sunday to Thursday 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Friday & Saturday 12:00 pm – 9:30 pm
THE ISLAND
Brewing its own range of IPAs, larger, pilsner and cider on site, The Island at Pāpāmoa is a great spot to sit back in the sun and enjoy good food, good company and good times. Open daily from 12pm, you can dine in or order beer online for delivery nationwide.
The Island, 20 Domain Road Pāpāmoa Beach
The Cider Factorie
The Cider Factorie in Te Puna has been ‘crushing it in the Bay of Plenty since 2012’ with its Core, Artisan, Reserve and Specialty ranges of cider.
Owners Simon and Rowena Pearce – both qualified winemakers who have spent time working in the Hawke’s Bay, Margaret River and Yarra Valley wine regions – opened a restaurant on-site in 2017, that focusses on sharing plates and platters designed to complement their ciders.
The restaurant is set in a former avocado packing shed and enjoys views of the inner harbour and across the Kaimāī range. The outdoor cidery also makes for an impressive sight.
Give the feijoa apple cider a try for a distinctively New Zealand summer taste, or for something extra special, try the Reserve range which is crafted in the same style as many of the world’s top sparkling wines.
The Cider Factorie, 50 Oikimoke Road, Te Puna.
The Rising Tide
The Rising Tide is the cellar door to family run and operated brewery, Mount Brewing Co, which was established in 1996! Now reaching their 25th year of operation, the brewery are smashing out some real tasty brews which are big winners with the local Mount community.
The bar boasts a whopping 40 taps of craft beer, wine and cider from breweries all over Aotearoa, with MBC pouring from over 20 taps.
You can make a day or night of it by experimenting with a tasting paddle of x5 90ml beakers of any of the beers and ciders on tap. If beer isn’t your thing, The Rising Tide hosts a high quality wine selection and the On-Deck bar opens on weekends offering a different range of cocktails every week.
Johneys Dumpling House are the resident street-food vendor situated inside the massive brewery and all of their award winning dumplings are handmade by Johneys crew. There are burgers, bar snacks and sharing plates for the whole family to enjoy and the food and drinks menu cater widely to vegetarians and vegans.
The Soper reserve is situated right in front of the venue and soaks up all the sun in any season, making it not only a kid friendly place, canines love it too!
You'll also find The Rising Tide in the coastal paradise of Ōmokoroa. Opened in the summer of 2023 their latest location offers the full range of Mount Brewing Co beers, dumplings and burgers all to be enjoyed in the spacious beer garden.
The Rising Tide Mount Maunganui
107 Newton Street, Mount Maunganui
Open 7 days a week, 11:00 am – late
The Rising Tide Omokoroa
168 Omokoroa Road, Omokoroa
Open Wednesday - Sunday, 11am - 10pm
FITZPATRICK'S
Combining a passion for classic cars and craft beer has resulted in Fitzpatrick’s Brewing Company’s range of fresh, flavoursome beer. The brand pays homage to a classic era of automobiles and you can fill a flagon on Fridays and Saturdays while admiring the cars in the shed.
Fitzpatricks, 19 Keenan Road, Pyes Pa, RD3, Tauranga
Lumberjack
This small craft brewery originally from Pukehina has IPAs, larger and porter which you'll find stocked in liquor outlets and supermarkets right across the Bay. With names like ‘hatchet’, ‘log splitter’ and ‘throttle lock’, this beer is as manly as it comes. Visit their bar The Packhouse in Te Puke for great food and of course great beers.
Lumberjack Brewing / The Packhouse 4 Palmer Place, Te Puke
ElementApiProduct.ss --- Grid