Beervana 2023

Overview

New Zealand's biggest beer festival is returning to Wellington's Sky Stadium on Saturday, August 18–Sunday, August 19, and tickets to the booze-soaked extravaganza already selling fast. More than 50 local and international breweries will be showing off 340 of their best brews at Beervana, with up to 16,000 beer-lovers ready to slurp up every last drop.

If you think this festival is just about beer, you'd be wrong — prepared to be entertained over drinks by an aerial show, synchronised swimmers (minus the water), the Fashion Police and the appearance of a beloved Queenstown gondola.

The emerging trend amongst the brews in 2023 is — surprisingly — pastry. Examples of this buttery goodness can be enjoyed in Duncan's Brewing Co Imperial Pastry Stout, which is made from rescued bananas; Altitude's Brewing's Salted Caramel and Hazelnut Pastry Stout; and Three Sisters Brewery's Chocolate Cream Thick Shake.

For those who want to join in on the fun, but aren't the biggest beer fans, Beervana will have something for you — whether it be cider, seltzer or piping hot mulled wine to warm you up on a chilly Wellington evening. For the sober drivers and non-drinkers among the crowd, New Zealand's only zero-alcohol brewery State Of Play will be serving up frothy non-alcoholic pints.

You'll also want to come hungry, with Boulcott Street Bistro, House of Dumplings, Soul Shack, Wilson's BBQ and Mahurangi Oysters among the Wellington food outlets serving up snacks to line your stomach.

Tickets start from $49.50 per person, with fan passes for multiple sessions ranging from $88–130.