Just like that, Lovebucket is gone. Rather than being a casualty of the punishing COVID-19 pandemic, Hallertau owners Stephen and Hayley Plowman used the time to transform their beloved K' Road watering hole into another tap house and fillery.
This new city-side venue from the west Auckland brewery is located at the end of the shared occupancy K' Road Food Workshop. In line with Alert Level 3 restrictions, the Tap Haus originally operated as a contactless off-licence slinging fresh 1.25-litre flagon fills for take away. With bars now allowed to unshackle their beer taps under Level 2, the venue officially swung its doors open to the public last week.
The same friendly Lovebucket team remains behind the bar, although the drinks list looks a bit different. Instead of gin-led cocktails, the Tap Haus is slinging Hallertau's full 15-strong beer and cider lineup in pint, jug and flagon form. After settling into one of the venue's cosy nooks, visitors will need to decide whether it's going to be a pale ale, session IPA, rice lager, sour red saison or granny smith apple cider.
Sustenance comes from fried chook specialists Electric Chicken, who opened their latest outpost in the communal Food Workshop space earlier this year. Also on hand for a pre- or post-beer fix are El Sizzling Lomito, Fort Greene, Poké Poké, The Pie Piper and Six Barrel Soda.
Hallertau Tap Haus is now open at 309 Karangahape Road. It's open Tuesday to Thursday, 4–8.30pm and Friday to Sunday, 12–9pm.