By Charlotte Cowan
South Korean brews are hitting the taps at Beervana 2025, bringing Wellington closer to its sister city Seoul and serving up flavours never before tasted by Kiwi beer lovers.
Tickets to the country’s largest beer festival are on sale now, with the event returning to Sky Stadium from 22 to 23 August.
Three breweries from South Korea will travel to Wellington for Beervana, where they’ll be joined by more than 60 brewers from across New Zealand, as well as from Australia and the Pacific, showcasing the depth and diversity of the Asia Pacific craft beer scene.
Festival Director Ryan McArthur says the global lineup connects Aotearoa to the international beer community, offers something new for brewers and punters alike, and reinforces New Zealand’s standing in the world of craft beer.
“Every time we’ve invited a brewer to Beervana, they’re genuinely excited to come to New Zealand’s largest and most unique celebration of beer. It’s a dream for me and the crowds,” he says.
South Korea’s craft beer scene has undergone significant growth since 2014, expanding from 54 breweries in 2014 to 182 in 2023.
“Beervana is all about the experiences you can’t get anywhere else – whether it’s your local brewery putting on something wild for the weekend, or trying a Korean craft beer that’s never been poured on New Zealand soil before,” says McArthur.
“Some of the best friendships and collaborations in beer have started at Beervana, and every international brewery that comes wants to return the following year.”
Last year, the German brewers made a big impression, collaborating with local brewers and even securing export deals to bring their beer into New Zealand.
“Beervana isn’t just a festival – it’s a launchpad. Welcoming international brewers opens the door for exports, collabs, and moments you just can’t recreate,” says McArthur. “You might be the first to try something mind-blowing.”
This year’s festival also celebrates the long-awaited return of some of the most legendary breweries from Aotearoa’s home shores, as Emerson’s, Parrotdog, Sprig + Fern, Lakeman, Urbanaut and more are set to join the lineup for Beervana 2025.
This article originally appeared on our sister title, The Shout NZ.