When it comes to drinking craft beer, Queenstown has some great options.
In this post, you’ll learn about four Queenstown breweries and four great places to drink craft beer in Queenstown.
The best part? They’re all easily accessed by public transport or with Uber/YourRide etc (Queenstown has lots of ways to get around).
Or, you can sign up to a Queenstown brewery tour on BookMe where you can get some good discounts.
Not that I need to say, but there are zero excuses for drinking & driving.
Before I get into the individual places, the map below has the four breweries (red) and four craft beer bars (yellow) on it.
You’ll need to click the image to explore the map in a new window.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Queenstown Breweries:
1. Searchlight Brewery
2. Altitude Brewing
3. Canyon Brewing
4. Whakatipu Brewing
Queenstown Craft Beer Bars:
5. Smith’s Craft Beer House
6. Atlas Beer Cafe
7. Beech Tree
8. Cargo Brewery
QUEENSTOWN BREWERIES
1. SEARCHLIGHT BREWERY
Lewis Gaskin started Searchlight Brewery in 2015 by converting a former tortilla factory into what today is a good-looking brewery and taproom (with a different owner now).
Despite being within walking distance of town, I wasn’t aware of Searchlight for my first couple of months making it one of the best hidden gems in Queenstown.
The space they’ve got allows them to have a beer garden onsite, in addition to the kitchen and taproom featuring 18 beverages.
The 18 beers they’re pouring includes their staple beers, but they’ll also have some new brews. I love the names of their beers!
The team at Searchlight is also great at putting on events, with comedy, trivia, and paint and pint nights. Check out their Facebook page for the next event they’re hosting and you’ll have more things to do in Queenstown on your list.
With a new fire pit installed in the outside area, is Searchlight the best brewery in Queenstown?
Address: 12 Industrial Place, Queenstown 9300
Online: Website | Facebook | Instagram
2. ALTITUDE BREWING
If you’re planning to walk/run/ride the Frankton Track (one of many Lake Wakatipu walks), then Altitude Brewing is a must-visit. And if you’re looking for a place that is all about the local community, Altitude fits the bill here too.
The small brewery was founded by a local, and you’ll see their branding plastered on events around town as they support the community (their 1% for Wakatipu Program is cool).
And the beers are good. As you’d expect, theirs some award-winning brews in their repertoire. Personally, I recommend the Mischievous Kea. They’ve always got something interesting on the go though, thanks to their exclusive hop farm.
You can see their 1200L brewhouse while you’re there before settling in and working your way through the 12 taps while taking in views of The Remarkables.
During the Queenstown winters the fireplace is cranking, and you’ll feel cozy with plenty of signs and memorabilia too look at on the walls.
Altitude is a super popular place to stop after a day at the Remarkables, that’s something to keep in mind.
Address: 827 Frankton Road, Frankton, Queenstown 9300
Online: Website | Instagram
3. CANYON BREWING
Canyon Brewing is a fun place to visit in Arthurs Point above the Shotover River (home to the Shotover Jet). They’ve got a large location with both indoor and outdoor seating.
When you walk inside you can see where the brewing operations, with all their beers, made on-site. They’ve got four beers that are regulars and an additional two that are seasonal.
I remember the first beer I had here was the Cardrona Hazy IPA which has the following in the description: delivers a tropical fruit salad in beer form.
It’s fair to say they don’t mind taking risks with their beers 🙂
This is a great place to visit in combination with Cargo Gantley’s Pub & Cafe (number 7 below).
And if you love the beers, you can get them to takeaway too.
Address: 1 Arthurs Point Road, Arthurs Point, Queenstown 9371
Online: Website | Facebook | Instagram
4. WHAKATIPU BREWING
Opening in mid-2021, Whakatipu Brewing is the newest brewery in Queenstown. Located in the heart of the city, it’s an easy location to get to.
I prefer coming here during the day when there are people walking past rather than in the evening.
In my experience, it doesn’t always feel like a brewery after the sun goes down with bottles of spirits behind the bar in prime position. Shouldn’t a brewery be showcasing the beer? And the music wasn’t exactly chill.
Maybe it’s different on a regular night.
The beer? Great! And I’ll be back to check out the food at some point. There are some good-looking options on the menu.
Address: Shop 5/24 Beach Street, Queenstown 9300
Online: Website | Instagram
BARS SERVING CRAFT BEER IN QUEENSTOWN
I’m not going to focus on the food options in this Queenstown craft beer post. But all the locations below serve a variety of meals, including vegan options as is common in QT.
5. SMITH’S CRAFT BEER HOUSE
Smith’s Craft Beer House has an unassuming entrance on Shotover Street.
There are a fair few beers to choose from…36, give or take, with a few of the options rolling in and out regularly. I like the sours!
Located on Shotover Street, the main road through town, you’ll have escaped as soon you go up the stairs. The first main room is the general pub area, but there’s also a sit-down area for those looking for a more formal setting.
The main area is where I spend my time with large glass windows giving you a view of all the action down below.
When Smith’s gets full I feel like it’s a good sign for Queenstown. The energy is thriving.
The bartenders here are legends too.
Address: 53 Shotover Street, Queenstown 9300
Online: Website | Facebook | Instagram
6. ATLAS BEER CAFE
Atlas is the most well-known place to drink craft beer in Queenstown.
Located in a highly trafficked area by the waterfront, Atlas is a great spot for people watching whether you’re outside or looking through the windows from inside.
I’m not a massive fan of Atlas due to its size, and compact feeling. So I tend to gravitate towards Beech Tree and/or Smith’s if I’m looking to have a beer in town.
But if you want a beer with lake views in Queenstown, this is the spot to be.
Address: Steamer Wharf, 88 Beach Street, Queenstown Town Centre 9300
Online: Website
7. BEECH TREE
This is the newest craft beer pub in Queenstown. Opening in 2019 Beech Tree Queenstown has battled through the global event and is still hanging around
It’s fast become the favourite place for many locals with its specials, low-key location, and rotating beers sourced from around the country.
They got about 23 taps on the go and I love the way they’re presented on a digital screen with all the details. Including if it’s a vegan brew.
If you’re looking for a dog-friendly place to have a drink in Queenstown, this is the craft beer bar to go to. They openly welcome all dogs 🙂
Address: 11/13 Beach Street, Queenstown 9300
Online: Website | Facebook | Instagram
8. CARGO GANTLEY’S PUB & CAFE
Cargo was founded in 2015, like any good brewery, from the back of the garage. Over the years Cargo has begun to explain their story in this cool format including the details of their second property, Cargo Gantley’s Pub & Cafe.
Update: Cargo Gantley’s Pub & Cafe won the Supreme Award at the 2022 Lion Hospitality Awards for Excellence.
The building in Arthurs Point is a great place to stop after skiing/hiking on Coronet Peak and in the summer it’s a great spot to hang outside on the bean bags.
At the bar, you’ve got more than enough options. But the most surprising thing is none of the options on tap are from Cargo Brewing themselves. All of their own brews are served in bottles. Note, they don’t brew the Cargo beers here (they do this in Invercargill).
While it’s popular in winter for skiers, the beer garden thrives in Summer too with plenty of bean bags to go around.
If you’re looking for the original location for Cargo, it’s here in the beautiful Gibbston Valley.
Address: 172 Arthurs Point Road, Arthurs Point, Queenstown 9371
Online: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Looking for other places to drink craft beer near Queenstown?
Here are a few other great places to check out:
- Cargo Cellar Door – Gibbston
- Gibbston Tavern – Gibbston
- Fork & Tap – Arrowtown
- Cardrona Hotel – Cardrona
Have fun drinking all the craft beer in Queenstown!
Leave a comment below, or email jub@churnewzealand and let others know what your favourite Queenstown brewery and/or place to drink craft beer was.
Hey, it’s Jub here. I’m the guy behind Chur New Zealand, helping you have the best time hiking, trekking, walking…whatever you want to call it…in NZ. I’m based in Queenstown and am always out and about exploring trails, old & new. If you have any questions, reach out.