Duncan's Brewing Company

Even though Duncan’s Brewing Company’s production warehouse and off-licence in Paraparaumu is tucked down an alleyway, keep your eyes peeled for a full wall mural of kooky illustrations in bright colours, familiar from the company’s beer cans, and you’ve come to the right location.

Step indoors and discover the petite cellar door space tucked in the brewhouse where all the magic happens. A fridge full of interesting options for takeaway sales sits neatly next to the counter, and there’s merch available here too if you want to fangirl or -boy the company while out and about. 

Ten taps offer a variety of pre-purchase tasting opportunities. To enjoy a full pint, you’ll have to take your purchase home to enjoy. That being said, once a month Duncan’s hosts a pop-up event, where the Sheffield Street warehouse fills with beer garden tables for people to sit back and enjoy the brewery’s offerings, along with food orders available from close-by restaurants or supplied by on-site food trucks. These events are ever-popular, so if you fancy joining in on the fun, make sure to book early.

Known for dessert style beers of sours and stouts, Duncan’s is on a mission to create wacky and interesting flavours that surprise and arouse curiosity. Think reverse-engineered desserts or ice creams in beer form, and you might come close to imagining what you’re in for here. The team thrives on developing new flavours, and often ideas come from tasting something like a delicious dessert or an ice cream Sunday and thinking about how to incorporate that taste into a beer. Some of the staples are Raspberry Ripple, Whippy Milkshake IPA and Coco Husk Stout, with plenty of other wildly different flavours to explore. If you’re just not that into experimental beer, try the brewery’s best seller lager or pilsner for a less-out-there, yet delicious-as experience.

Duncan’s beers can be found across the motu at well stocked supermarkets and liquor stores, and there is also, of course, the option of ordering yourself a bunch of cans online.