This home brew pub has become something of an icon, being known to travellers originating far from these shores..as well as more local drinkers.  Despite the aged appearance the building presents, apparently it was only built in 1992.  It is sited in a wooded grove, with a plentiful supply of outside tables, chairs and benches.

Inside the bar has rimu walls, a large open fireplace, a stage (it is a regular music venue) and bucket loads of character.

The beers on tap are Golden Goose Lager, Dark Horse Black Beer, White Heron Wheat beer and, the famous, Captain Cooker Manuka beer.  All are 4%.  Ther is also a cider - Apple Roughy (4%).

Bottled beers include Strong Ox Strong Dark Ale (6%), Pale Whale Ale (6%), Lean Lamb gueze (4%) and Monkey Puzzle (10%).

The bar has no licence for off sales, but the lager, black beer and manuka beer are all available in 1.3l riggers from the Fresh Choice supermarket in Takaka.

Some of the Mussel Inn beers may be found at: Jester House (Tasman), The Abbey (Appleby), Hopgoods restaurant, Maen Fiddler and Customhouse Hotel (Nelson).

Heresay suggests that the pub closes for approx 6 weeks in winter.

You won't find a better range of beers in any other NZ bar !  Apart from some standard keg beers from the Monteiths range etc you will find a couple of Tuatara beers served on hand pump, plus examples of beers from Renaissance, Cock and Bull, 3 Boys, Emerson, Epic, Limburg, Gisbourne Gold and occasional specials served on tap.  This range is supplement by a stock of over 80 different bottled beers, drawn from different parts of the world.

Food is also available.

Opening hours are Su - Tu 3pm to late, We to Sa midday to late. 

The (organic) brewery and bar/cafe are situated within Founders Historic Park and can be visited without paying the park entrance fee, however the Park certainly justifies the time and cost of entry.  During my visit there were plenty of punters turning with riggers to be filled for home consumption.

Seating can be either inside or out in the cafe's courtyard.  Opening hours vary according to the season, being 10am to 4:30pm in winter and 10am to 6pm in summer.  The cafe only opens We - Su in winter, though the brewery is open on the other days of the week.  On Friday evenings in summer, hours are extended and an increasing number of people are turning up to enjoy the beers and atmosphere - so many now, that they are having to turn up with their own seats and blankets, as the cafe's own seats are quickly taken.

The full range of Founders beers (Long Black, Tall Blonde, Red Head, Generation and Fair Maiden) are available on tap.

Founders is a SOBA sponsor and will give free tastings and brewery visits to card carrying members.

Their beers are also available on tap at The Boathouse (lunchtimes and Fri evenings) in Nelson and The Wholemeal Cafe at Taka.

Situated a little out of the centre (close to the Hospital) but well worth the effort of getting there.  More of a locals bar than those in the centre and a genuine freehouse to boot!  The owner, James, is a strong supporter of SOBA and its aims.

Beers on tap include Tuatara Pilsner and Belgian Ale, Emersons Bookbinder and Pilsner plus Nallys Cider (from Invercargill).

There is a broad range of bottled beers - from the Continent there are Belgian beers such as Duvel, Chimay, Westmalle, Orval and Timmermans Framboisen plus a couple of German beers.  Other international imports include Kingfisher, Asahi, and Singha.  The range is rounded off with bottled beers from Limburg, TaaKawa, Emersons, Macs, Monteiths, Stella, Gisborne Gold etc.

Opening hours are 4 - 10pm Mon & Tue, 3 - 11pm Wed, 11am to 11pm Thu to Sat and Midday until it is not worth staying open longer (9pm-ish?) Sun. 

This was a real suprise in more ways than one.  Externally it looks like a small, old wooden house (unfortunately dwarfed by the concrete structures which surround it) but once through the front door, it opens up, Tardis like, to present a large dining area (on two floors) and a bar.  The building originally belonged to the Plimmer family, one of the early, influential settler families.

The Bistro describes it self as a winebar/restaurant but has a very respectable range of bottled beer.  At the time of our visit there were beers from NZ (Emerson, Epic, Founders), Australia (Little Creatures, Boags, Cascade and Coopers), then from further afield (Old Speckled Hen, Asahi, Grolsch, Chimay, Pilsner Urquell, Hoegaarden, Verboden Vrucht, Peroni and Singha).  For the less adventurous there was Monteiths and a couple of others.  The barman suggested that as one brand of beer is finished they discuss amongst themselves and customers, which beer(s) they should bring in next - we drank them out of Cascade and Epic !

Opening hours:

Mon - Fri: Midday to late; Sat 3pm to late: Sun and public holidays - CLOSED.

Don't rely on seeing the sign advertising this little known gem, as it is only about 30 x 40cm in size.  The entry is down a flight of stairs on your left as you go through the entrance.

According to the historical info at the front of the menu, up until about 90 years ago this was an opium den controlled by the Chinese "Cosa Nostra".  The current owners, who also own the San Francisco Bath House, had to pump out about a meter depth of water before they could start reconstruction/fitting out.  The lighting is very subdued and moody, the idea being to re-create something of the ambience of old.

 Be advised that there is a seperate lap dancing room, which has a cover charge.

 Whilst the bar is primarily aimed at cocktails, there is a respectable beer range, which at the time of my visit (Dec 07) consisted of Tuatara Pilsner, Macs Sassy Red, Asahi and Sapporo on tap plus Epic, Leffe Blond, Coopers, Bennetts, Gisborne Gold, Asahi, Tsingtao and Tiger in bottle.

Opening hours are 5pm to 3am Tu to Sa, 7 ish pm to 3am Su.

This is a bar you could walk past several times without even knowing it was there (I know I did!).  The sign is above you as you walk along Feathersone Street and the bar is upstairs. 

The two Irish owners, apparently, both came from the same postcode area of Dublin...hence D4.

The bar is a tidy, lounge bar much frequented by staff from the local offices.

The beer highlights are the Epic, Emerson Bookbinder Tuatara Pilsner and Porter on tap.  These beers are supported by Erdinger, Speights, Asahi, Amstel, Guinness, Tiger and Macs.  At time of writing, one of the owners was expecting, in the near future, to install a handpump for the Tuatara Porter - once this was done, the freed up tap would be used for a guest craft beer.  Beer is served in 350mm and 500mm glasses.

The bottled beers available include the Moa range, Monteiths, Grolsch, Heineken, Budvar, Becks, Carlsberg etc.

Opening hrs: 7am to 10pm (or later if reqd) Mo - fr, 9am to 10pm (or later) on Sa/Su.

Interesting bar with an eclectic (abstract ?) collection of bric a brac and lively decor - described elsewhere "as a haven of kitsch".  It also has a jukebox, pinball machine and a Space Invaders game.  Mighty Mighty is a popular venue for live music.

The tap beers are Macs Gold, Sassy Red, Hopsmaker, Great White and Black Mac plus Guinness.  Of more interest is the bottled beer range: Emerson Pilsner and Oatmeal Stout, Epic, Limburg (if still available). Tuatara Ardennes and Hefe, Wanaka Brewski, Stella, Castlepoint, Becks, Coopers, Duvel, Hoegaarden, Leffe Blonde and Little Creatures.

Opening hours: We - Sa Opens 4pm thru to 3am, Closed Su & Mo, May open Tu depending upon the time of year.

Tempted to give 4*, on the basis of the decor, but will settle for 3* for now 

Another one of Wellington's unlikely looking beer venues -  externally you'd expect a Lounge bar and nothing much of interest (beer wise) on the inside.  The reality is that the bar stocks a regularly changing range of beers that, at the time of my most recent visit, consisted of Emerson Pilsner and Monteiths on tap, and bottled beers from Croucher, Harringtons, Coopers, Peroni, Emerson, Leffe, Brakspear, Duvel, Unibroue and Tuatara!!

To be reviewed at some stage is the adjacent bar "Confidential" - same owners - that stocks much the same range as that available in Liquidate.

Closed weekends. 

Tucked away in an unlikely back street, behind Chow on Tory Street, and having either a doorman or a bell to gain entry, the reviewer wondered what exactly would be found within.  The reality is a cosy cocktail bar, described by staff as a "speak easy".  The cocktail menu is themed and at time of the review was shortly to change from 1930's Shanghai to Modesty Blaise.

The beer range is varied and includes some respectable craft and imported, bottled beers, namely Epic Porter (due Jan 2008), Wigram Heffe, Limburg Hopsmacker, Coopers, Duvel, Chimay Blue, Budvar, king Cobra, canned Guinness draught, Sapporro and Singha.

This Belgian themed bar has quite an authentic feel to it - the food is also fairly reminiscent of that found in Belgium.  The beer range is respectable, though, as an ex Antwerp resident, it would have been good to find tap De Koeninck !

Beers on tap: Stella, Leffe Blonde & Brune, Belle Vue Kriek and Hoegaarden.

Bottled beers: Boon Framboise, Leffe, Radieuese & Tripel, Pauwal Kwak, Hoegaarden Grand Cru & Verboden Vrucht, Duvel, Westmalle Dubbel & Tripel, Palm, Chimay Cinq Cents, Grand Reserve, Rouge & Bleu, Orval, Delerium Tremens, Gouden Carolus & Gulden Draak.  There are a couple of local beers as well - Stella, Speights, Macs and Steinlager.

Opening hours: Mo - Fr 7am until 11/12pm, Sa/Su 9am - 10:30/11pm.   

Lively, smart pizza cafe that serves decent beer.

Apart from having Emerson Bookbinder and Pilsner on tap, Emerson, Founders and Coopers beers are available in bottles.

Open daily between 9 am thru to about midnight

Easy going, relaxed bar in converted house, situated on the eastern edge of the city centre.

Has some 15 taps for the different Tasman Bay brewery (a Harrington relation) beers, though not all may be available at any one time.

 Beer range (according to menu) at the time of visit: Fern Lager, Pilsener, Ginger Lager, Wheat, Tasman lager, Fern Draught, Pale Ale, Best Bitter, Fern Dark, Porter, Stout, Wee Heavy, Dopplebock, "limited release".

Popular restaurant with Medditerranean/organic style food menu.  Olive tree in the backyard, hence the name. 

Good beer range for what is not a large venture - Emerson Pilsner, Founder Tall Black, Coopers, Tuatara, Taa Kawa and Macs in bottle.

Opening hours: Mon 8 - 5, Tue to Fri 8 - 11pm/late, Sat 9:30 - late, Sun 9:30 - 5

Comfortable, popular cafe/restaurant situated in Island Bay (south of the city centre).  There is a small stand up drinking area adjacent to the bar, which is situated to the rear of the building.  Works by local artists, in different mediums, decorate the walls.

A commendable approach to beer has been taken by the owner (also of Blue Note Bar), there being Tuatara IPA and Pilsner plus Gisborne Gold on Tap.  The bottled beer range is fairly standard except for the Peak Brewery Cornhill Porter - the other beers being Amstel, Heiniken, Tui, Tiger, Steinlager, Stella and Sol.

Opening hours are from 10am through to 9:30pm (last food orders) or later, every day except Monday, when closing is earlier. 

Uninspiring entrance belies what has been something of a beer haven due to the landlord being a part owner of the Tuatara brewery, however as of end Nov 2007 the bar was undergoing a change of owner.  It is to be hoped that the the craft beer connection will be maintained by the new owner, but only time will tell.

 The bar is a regular host to up and coming bands; the new owner is said to be a music entrepreneur.

Historically the bar has served Tuatara beers, Emerson Pilsner and occasional unexpected brews such as Belgian Kriek.  You will also now find such as Monteiths and Amstel on tap. 

Re-opened under its new guise in mid June 2008 and has already been described as having "the look of a Venetian palazzo colliding with an English gentleman's club" - this is going a little over the top but gives you an idea of the decor.  The target market is passing trade calling by for some Medditerranean themed snacks and a drink, on their way to/from the theatre etc.  As the locale has only recently opened the menu is a work in progress.

Beers: Emerson Pilsner on tap, Emerson 1812 and Oatmeal Stout, Peroni, Becks, Leffe Blonde & Brun, Duval and Amstel available in bottles.

Open from 0900 to late every day. 

Famous for its 3D characateurs of the political "elite" - well the pub is just across the road from Parliament and the Beehive!

Stocks a fair selction of the Macs range of beers on tap plus Speights, Kilkenny and Stella.  A few other beers (inc Leffe and Duvel) are also available in bottle.

On a monthly basis beer tastings are held in the basement (aka Cellar Vate), any surplus bottles from which, occasioanlly find their way upstairs to the bar.

Opening hours are nominally 11am to 3am but they will close earlier if there is no demand. Open 7 days a week.

Bar with something of the feel of a 1930s cottage, tucked away in back streets, close to the Southern Cross bar.

Opening hours are 5pm to 3am, Tue - Sat.  Whilst there is no tap beer, there is a respectable bottled beer range: Tuatara Pilsner/Porter, Mata Artesian/Manuka, Gisborne Gold, Emersons, Founders, Little Creatures, Corona, Budvar, Heiniken, Asahi, Sapporo, Hoegaarden & Verboden Frucht, Coopers and Schiffelfer.

Related to Fidels Cafe.

Laid back multi roomed cafe/bar, with covered eating/drinking area alongside.  Not suprisingly, the decor runs to Cuba/Fidel related photos and souvenirs.

Bottled beers: Founders, Mikes Mild, Heiniken, Becks, Pilsner Urquell, Hoegaarden and Gisbrone Gold.

Opening hrs: Mo - Fr 0730 - midnight, Sa & Su 0900 to midnight.