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HALLERTAU BREWERY

1171 Coatesville-Riverhead Hwy

Riverhead’s Hallertau bar and restaurant boasts an expanded beer garden now, where you can sit in the sun, tuck into good food and enjoy craft beer on tap. Each item comes with a beer match: there are smoked chicken drums with chimichurri and braised beef croquettes to whet your appetite, chorizo and mushroom pizza to share around, and roasted lamb shoulder for something heavier. Hallertau is known for its jalapeno poppers — and they don’t disappoint. Down a couple and you’ll have to order another beer — they recommend their pale ale #2.

BROTHERS BREWERY & JUKE JOINT

5 Akiraho Street, Mt Eden

Brothers has sister sites in central Auckland and Orakei, but Mt Eden is where you’ll find their main production brewery. Its retro interior overlooking the brewery has expanded out into a sunny courtyard, where you can enjoy one of their six beers — go for Tropical in summer, Black in winter, and their pale ales any time — then order from an impressive barbecue-inspired menu that includes brisket slowcooked for 14 hours, lamb smoked in kawakawa, and lamb and pork ribs. Vege? Go for the smoked tofu sandwich, with plenty of pickles on the side.

THE BREWERS CO-OPERATIVE

128-132 Victoria Street West

If you’re looking for craft beers, Brewers Co-op has one of the best ranges in Auckland. You’ll find Epic, Tuatara, Liberty and Good George all side-by-side. Confused? There are descriptions of each above the taps, so you’ll know what you’re in for. Their seafood-heavy menu is large too; go for the four pepper squid, the coconut fire prawns or the popcorn shrimp, and add a few crumbed oysters into the mix. If that’s not enough seafood, you can order fresh fish in a burger, taco or curry. And if that’s not enough, there are beef and fried chicken burgers to help soak up the beers.