Mascot Liquor

Mascot Liquor Mascot is an advocate for the independent craft beer community in New Zealand.

AUCKLAND BEER WEEK. DONE. Turns out the best way to explore Auckland is to follow the taps.We bounced around a bunch of ...
09/08/2026

AUCKLAND BEER WEEK. DONE.

Turns out the best way to explore Auckland is to follow the taps.

We bounced around a bunch of spots over the weekend. Some new, some old favourites.

BBC Beer NZ had Altitude Brewing on the taps. Obviously the beers were great, but the crew behind the bar stole the show. Proper beer knowledge, good banter and the kind of service that makes you immediately jealous of everyone who gets to call the place their local.

Twofold Bistro Brewery was a first for us and absolutely pumping. DJ spinning some tunes, good food coming out of the kitchen, beers flowing.

Cornerbar was tiny little bar, Sawmill Brewery was all over the taps and it had more vibes than places three times its size. Another Auckland bar added to the “we’re definitely coming back here” list.

On Saturday we found time for a few Auckland favourites. Saint Leonards Brewing Garage Project Kingsland Taproom & Cellar Door Urbanaut Brewing Co

And I reckon that’s what Beer Week gets right.

There’s a lot of bloody good beer out there. Sometimes you need to give people a reason to go looking for it.

Take over some taps. Throw a party. Bring in a DJ. Do something a little different.

Suddenly people aren’t just buying your beer. They’re crossing town for it, discovering a new venue, buying merch and probably finding a few new brand to obsess over along the way.

That’s good beer marketing.

More of that, please.

06/08/2026

Sometimes the best ways to get people talking about your brewery is to take over someone else’s bar

I caught up with BBC Beer NZ and Altitude Brewing to chat Auckland Beer Week to talk about what happens when a brewery and venue get behind the same idea.

For Altitude, it’s a chance to get their beer and their brand in front of a completely new Auckland audience.

For Birkenhead Brewing Company, it gives people another reason to come through the door, try something different.

We talked about the thinking behind the tap takeover, beer paddles, drinking pints, and why collaborations like this can be such a useful bit of marketing for everyone involved.

Good beer gets people interested. A good event gives them a reason to show up 🍻

I went into the day looking forward to trying some super hoppy beers. I wasn’t let down.What surprised me was the theme....
02/08/2026

I went into the day looking forward to trying some super hoppy beers. I wasn’t let down.

What surprised me was the theme. This year the West Coast IPA Challenge went West End.

Turns out the secret to good beer marketing might just be giving brewers a theme and letting them cook. And cook they did.

Same stage. Same beer style. Same theme. But every brewery found their own way to play with it. Quirky names, ridiculous musical references and some hilarious artwork. It was a pretty great reminder of how much personality you can squeeze into a single beer. And it’s something NZ breweries do bloody well. Give them half an excuse to get weird and they’ll turn a beer release into its own little world.

More importantly, they delivered 32 damn tasty hop-forward West Coast IPAs. But there can only be one standing ovation.

neckofthewoodsbeerco took home the Golden Gumboot and the title of best West Coast IPA for 2026.

Stood in front of the fridge telling myself I’d try something new. Ended up grabbing the same six-pack I usually do.Fami...
02/01/2026

Stood in front of the fridge telling myself I’d try something new. Ended up grabbing the same six-pack I usually do.

Familiarity isn’t boring. It’s reassuring.
That’s what good branding does.

Most people aren’t comparing stats or overthinking the fine print on a label. They grab something they know, trust, and get on with their day.

What’s your go to six pack?

I don’t usually play favorites, but are certainly at the top of my list. Out of all the breweries in New Zealand, these...
27/10/2025

I don’t usually play favorites, but are certainly at the top of my list. Out of all the breweries in New Zealand, these guys stand out for all the right reasons. The moment you step inside, you can feel it. Awards scattered everywhere, it’s clear they’ve put in the work, and know exactly what they’re doing, and their hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. My loyalty feels well placed.

It was pretty quiet when we dropped in, but to be fair, it was a Labour Day/Monday lunch. Not exactly peak beer hour, but it was still early afternoon, plenty of time for things to pick up later.

The brew bar and burger shop run separately but share the same building, so you can grab a burger and bring it into the bar. And you should. Those burgers are outrageous. Smashed flat, edges crispy, dripping in ketchup and mustard, piled high with pickles. Absolute perfection.

I washed the burger down with the Yakima Monster, one of my favorite APAs, and it tasted completely different fresh from the source. Brighter, more refreshing, a little less malt-heavy. It’s one of those beers that makes you grin after every sip because you just know, it’s near perfection and you’re in the right place.

Tucked away in the sleepy surf town of Waipu, feels like a secret worth keeping, though you’ll want to tell everyone yo...
24/10/2025

Tucked away in the sleepy surf town of Waipu, feels like a secret worth keeping, though you’ll want to tell everyone you know.

A convenient lunchtime drive when missioning north from Auckland, but once you’re there, the world slows down. The place has this rare, unpolished warmth, part coastal cottage, part local haunt, where you could easily kick off your shoes, sink into a pint, and forget about wherever else you were meant to be.

I didn’t have that luxury as we had places to be. After a quick pizza and a pint of their NZ-hopped IPA, fruity and unapologetically fresh, I grabbed a box of 440s for the road.

Punk Rat Double IPA by This beer doesn’t mess around. From the first sip, it reminds me why I love a good double IPA. B...
12/10/2025

Punk Rat Double IPA by

This beer doesn’t mess around. From the first sip, it reminds me why I love a good double IPA.

Big flavour with a little berry and lime cutting through the hops, bold but beautifully balanced. It’s a little unfiltered, a little gritty, and all punk spirit.

By the end of the glass, I remember why doubles hit different. Smooth, punchy, and far too easy to enjoy at 8%, this one doesn’t just go down well, it kicks the door in and makes itself at home and fist bumps your tastebuds.

Finally made it to and it didn’t disappoint. Every beer I tried was spot on. Great to finally visit such an iconic spot...
14/09/2025

Finally made it to and it didn’t disappoint. Every beer I tried was spot on. Great to finally visit such an iconic spot in the Aussie brewing scene and see what all the hype is about. Well worth a visit:

teamed up with for a modern IPA that’s straight up good vibes. It’s like a tropical juice box for grown-ups. Creamy ma...
14/09/2025

teamed up with for a modern IPA that’s straight up good vibes. It’s like a tropical juice box for grown-ups. Creamy malt keeps it smooth, while Nectaron and Nelson load it with juicy vibes. Motueka jumps in with the citrus aroma. Big flavour, easy to love.

Rolled into and the place is a vibe. Huge space, heaps of indoor room, sunny seats outside looking over the park. Add M...
13/09/2025

Rolled into and the place is a vibe. Huge space, heaps of indoor room, sunny seats outside looking over the park.

Add Mexican street food on one side and Lucky’s Pizza slinging pies on the other and you’re pretty much set.

I grabbed a margherita, because sometimes you just have to test the basics. Crispy base, cheesy, gone in about two minutes. Washed it down with not one but two different West Coast IPAs. Bitter, clean, straight-up tasty.

Beer, pizza, sun. That’s the perfect trifecta.

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