Est. 2017
Our Story
Brewed with purpose since 2017
Finn & Kahu
How it started
Meet Finn & Kahu
Hawke's Bay Brewing Co started in Finn and Kahu's actual garage in 2017. What began as a homebrew obsession turned into 500L batches, then a proper brewhouse on Heretaunga Street. The taproom opened in 2019 — concrete floors, long tables, fairy lights, and the brewery right behind the bar. Every beer is brewed on-site with NZ hops and Hawke's Bay water. No shortcuts.
How we brew
The Process
Malt & Grain
NZ-sourced malt, milled fresh each brew day. The foundation of every beer.
The Mash
Hot water meets grain. We hold precise temperatures to unlock the sugars that become alcohol.
Boil & Hops
A rolling boil, then NZ hops go in — Motueka, Nelson Sauvin, Riwaka. Timing is everything.
Ferment & Pour
Yeast does its thing over days or weeks. When it's ready, it goes straight to the taps.
What we stand for
Our Values
Brewed on-site, always
NZ hops, local water
Community over profit
The crew
Small Team, Big Heart
We're a team of five — Finn and Kahu on the brew kit, two legends behind the bar, and one person who somehow keeps everything else running. Everyone who works here drinks the beer (quality control, obviously).
We're not chasing scale. We're chasing the perfect pint, the Friday night buzz, and the look on someone's face when they try something we made. That's the whole point.