Home to the first brewery in NZ, the godfather of craft beer, and countless award winning beverages - this trail takes you behind the taps to discover the passion behind every pour. With 10 breweries and distilleries, 80+ beers and spirits (plus seasonal releases) and more than 150 years of brewing history, the Dunedin brewing and distilling scene is a must-do experience. Great drinks deserve great food, and Dunedin’s culinary offerings won’t disappoint. Most of the mentioned establishments serve food thoughtfully curated to enhance the flavours of your favourite brew. We’re all for a good time, but enjoy Dunedin’s brewery and distillery scene responsibly. Cheers to safe adventures.
Breweries
Emerson’s Brewery
Born from four and a half litres of ambition in his mother’s kitchen in 1991, Richard Emerson has been on the search for the ‘holy ale’ ever since. Emerson’s has grown into one of New Zealand’s most popular and varied craft breweries. Now churning out over 15,000 litres of liquid gold weekly, you can get a taste of their story, process and beer on a guided tour. In the taproom restaurant, pair a Bookbinder with roasted pork belly, or an Orange Roughy with Korean fried chicken and enjoy the buzzing atmosphere under outdoor lights or inside by the fire.
Noisy Brewing Co.
Making noise in the craft beer scene since 2018, Noisy Brewing Co offers an ever-changing lineup of bold brews, from porters to sours, with no core range to limit their creativity. Their taproom, located near the Dunedin Railway Station, is going full steam ahead crafting beers that are a departure from the ordinary. With twelve rotating taps to keep you on your toes and a delicious menu from neighbouring Ironic Café & Bar, Noisy is all about being nimble with its offerings, forcing you to return to see what concoction they’ll come up with next.
Speight’s Brewery
The Pride of the South since 1876. Speight’s was New Zealand’s first brewery, conveniently built upon a natural spring - a key ingredient in their gravity-fed brewing process. Take a tour, soak up almost 150 years of brewing history and grab some Speight’s stubbies (shorts and/or bottles) from the gift shop. The tour finishes in their tasting room – the place of dreams for any beer lover, where you’ll discover there is so much more to Speight’s than their famous gold medal pale ale – they even brew whisky. Pop next door to the Ale House for hearty food, perfectly paired with the brewer’s choice.
DogStar Brew Lab
A couple of mates with a shared love of music and beer – an origin story similar to craft breweries all over the world. What makes DogStar Brew Lab different is where they find inspiration for their next drop – music. Founders, Saul and Hadden, have dreamed up most of their wild creations during a jam session, like their ‘Bat S#!t Hazy’, which hits all the right notes. Brewed onsite at Moons Restaurant and Bar, enjoy live music and seriously good food while you work your way through more than a dozen flavoursome beers on tap.
Steamer Basin Brewery
Tucked away in No Name Alley, Steamer Basin makes seasonal beer using ingredients from their backyard (or not too far away). Their goal is simple: make well-balanced beer that's enjoyable to share. With a rotating selection on tap you’ll find a fresh take on old favourites, from Honey Pils to Gooseberry Saison. The stylish taproom - once a derelict heritage building, has been lovingly restored, with communal tables perfect for striking up conversation and sharing a slice of Roman sheet pan pizza.
Arc Brewing Co.
After a day exploring Dunedin’s northern coastline, Arc Brewing Co. is the perfect pit stop on your way back to the city. A destination in its own right, this family-run brewery serves handcrafted beers in a laid-back setting. With an ever-changing lineup of live music, local food trucks and flavoursome beers on tap, they achieve the perfect balance of creativity and drinkability. Favourites like the Oat Cream Hazy IPA is made for sunny afternoons in the beer garden, or the seasonal Peanut Butter Chocolate Stout beside the fire on cooler days. For a novel adventure, hop aboard the Seasider train and relax knowing you have a dedicated driver.
Distilleries
No8 Distillery
A fusion of French flare and foraged local fauna, Julien Delavoie is a 4th generation distiller with a knack for producing innovative, award-winning boutique spirits. Using a unique blend of foraging, macerating, distilling, and mixology techniques, No8 Distillery claims to have a spirit to match your mood - with a range of gins, aged rum, absinthe and liqueurs. Join in on a workshop or take a tour where you can forage local botanicals and learn more about their commitment to sustainability.
Sandymount Distillery
Nestled on the Otago Peninsula, Sandymount Distillery bottles the area’s wild beauty into small-batch gins and vodka. Harnessing a natural spring, foraging native botanicals on-site, and utilising smart technology, this distillery leads the way as the country’s first certified carbon-neutral producer. Hand crafted by distiller Richard Wilson, each spirit tells a story of the land and his passion for the place he calls home. Standouts in their award-winning lineup include Gull Rock Vodka and Lovers Leap Dry Gin, both multiple gold medal winners that capture the essence of the Otago Peninsula in every sip.
Dunedin Craft Distillers
The Harbour Basin precinct is home to a number of artisanal producers, one of them being Dunedin Craft Distillers. Founded by two local women, this small-batch distillery uses surplus bread and bakery products from local cafés, that would otherwise go to landfill, to create their signature Dry Gin, award-winning Cacao Vodka, Bay Gin, and Naked Spirit. Take a tour through their revamped brewhouse with traditional open fermentation and stunning 500L copper still. Their unique ‘bread to bottle’ process is a true upcycling success - the best thing since sliced bread, you might say.
Saddle Hill Brewery & Distillery
Traditional craftsmanship and Otago’s natural beauty combine to create exceptional small-batch craft beer, gin, and whiskey. Located on Scroggs Hill, Saddle Hill Brewery & Distillery draws inspiration from its stunning views of Saddle Hill and the coastal landscape. The centrepiece of their process is an impressive copper still built by brewer Ben Hanrahan himself. The beautifully designed copper elements remove impurities and enhances the flavours of the locally foraged botanicals. Tours offer an intimate insight into their ethos, innovation and a taste of the region’s artisanal spirit.
Events
Dunedin Craft Beer and Food Festival
For over a decade, the Dunedin Craft Beer and Food Festival has been a must-do event on the beer festival calendar. Showcasing New Zealand's vibrant craft beer scene, paired with mouth-watering food, thousands of people pack into Forsyth Barr Stadium for an unforgettable weekend. Live music featuring local and Kiwi legends, DJ sets and karaoke keeps the energy high, while tasting room sessions and homebrew showcases remind you why you are there. R18 one day, family-friendly the next - and the best part? Being under the roof means summer vibes are guaranteed.
Otago Spirits Festival
Meet the distillers and immerse yourself in the heart of region’s spirit scene. This winter mini-festival held at No8 Distillery is brimming with flavour, offering a variety of signature cocktails and some surprises for your taste buds. Whether you’re a cocktail connoisseur or just looking to try something new, there’s something for everyone. Don't miss the cocktail masterclasses where you'll get the chance to hone your mixology skills with expert guidance, while the live entertainment creates the perfect backdrop to discovering your new favourite drink.
