Brew Of Islands 2025: Brews, Beats, Feast, Repeat!

Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025

Location: Bay of Islands

Brews, Beats, Feast, Repeat – Experience it all at Brew of Islands 2025! One day. Two immersive sessions celebrating craft beer, live music, matched with gourmet street food cuisine, showcasing some of Northland's best!

Northland’s premier craft beer festival, Brew of Islands 2025, is set to return on June 28, 2025, offering a unique Northland themed celebration of some of Aotearoa's top craft beer breweries, dynamic live performances, artisanal cocktails, and gourmet street food. This year’s festival promises to be another winter highlight for all attendees.

Brew of Islands 2025 proudly features eight standout craft breweries from around the North Island, each bringing their own spin on flavour and innovation. Wellington’s Garage Project leads with its boundary-pushing, experimental brews, while Northland Locals, PhatHouse Brewing Co., brewed right on-site in the Bay of Islands, keeps it hyper-local. From Waipu, McLeod’s Brewery serves up coastal character and quality through traditional methods. Auckland’s Urbanaut delivers bold, creative styles for every palate, and Parrotdog, also from Wellington, brings a crowd-pleasing lineup of flavourful, easy-drinking beers. Another Northland champion, Kainui Brew Co. of Kerikeri blends farmhouse roots with experimental flair, and 8 Wired out of Matakana pushes limits with barrel-aged and sour gems. Making their Brew of Islands debut in 2025, Double Vision Brewing Co., also from Wellington, rounds out the list with a fresh take that bridges tradition and innovation. Together, this diverse lineup answers every beer lover’s dreams – from hop heads and sour seekers to fans of clean, classic styles.

Every brew at Brew of Islands will be matched by an epic lineup of Northland’s very best gourmet street food, keeping you fuelled throughout the day. Making his Brew of Islands festival debut is American pitmaster Mat Fulton of Wingless Angel, serving up his authentic low’n’slow BBQ straight from the smoker, using his own rubs, seasoned oak wood, and time-honoured technique. Also joining the lineup is the fresh to the Northland scene, Taco Bandit – a culinary outlaw known for hand-rolled tortillas, rich birria, and slow-cooked flavour that hits all the right notes. Returning favourites Northland Fine Foods are back with their crowd-pleasing Northland-style bratwurst, while seafood lovers can enjoy fat, creamy oysters, from Northland’s Tasty Tucker alongside their fresh, sustainably farmed paua cooked in cream. Finally, who can resist a tasty Mussel fritter from the legendary local Mrs Miller - the perfect pairing to a nice crisp lager. From smoky BBQ to kai moana and bold street eats, there’ll be something to satisfy every craving while you sip, snack, and soak up the festival vibes.

The atmosphere at Brew of Islands 2025 will be electric, with a packed lineup of live music, DJs, and surprise performances throughout the day. The Live Hall will host three incredible bands: Superhero Second Line will bring the heart and soul of New Orleans with their high-energy, brass-heavy second-line sound (and yes, they perform dressed as superheroes!); Albi & The Wolves will light up the stage with their award-winning indie-folk; and local legends Kōhia will deliver a soulful blend of roots, rock, and reggae with an unmistakably Aotearoa sound. Merv Pinny, Kerikeri’s own global sensation, will also take the stage for a powerful hometown set.

Meanwhile, the ever-popular Nightclub Zone returns with house, D&B, and electro sets from top DJs including Rhys, French Kiss, Sye, and PAWS, whose electrifying performances are backed by stunning visual displays.

And you’ll never be bored when just around the corner you might run into Street Entertainer Conrad Comb, back with another wild array of surprise characters and interactive roaming performances – last year it was the gnome army… wait ‘til you see what he has in store this time!

For those after something beyond the beer, Kindred Spirits will be mixing hand-crafted, artisanal cocktails and mocktails, adding a splash of sophistication to the lineup. Meanwhile, the Gin Bar by Bay of Islands, Black Collar Distillery offers a curated selection for gin lovers chasing bold botanicals and a top-shelf experience.

Join us for a day of exceptional brews, electrifying beats, and mouth-watering feasts. Brew of Islands 2025 invites you to immerse yourself in a celebration of craft culture in one of New Zealand’s most picturesque settings. It’s the perfect chance for a last hurrah before Dry July!

Tickets: On Sale now via The Turner Center (in person) and iTicket

Website: www.brewofislands.co.nz

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