26 | Garage Project T T Kelly Deeks Cheers to winner of multiple awards Garage Project’s best-selling beer, Tiny, leads the fast-growing low- and no-alcohol market, accounting for nearly a third of non-alcoholic craft beer sales in New Zealand supermarkets. “We now have three bars in Wellington, and this is our biggest yet. It’s all about creating places where people can experience our beers fresh from the source.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Wellington’s trailblazing brewery Garage Project is once again proving that creativity and quality can triumph over scale, taking out four major honours at the 2025 New Zealand Beer Awards, including the coveted Champion New Zealand Large Brewery title. It’s the fourth time in five years the independent brewery has claimed the top spot in the large brewery category, where entrants must produce more than two million litres of beer annually. CEO Peter Fenton says it’s a massive achievement for a small, innovative team competing against major national players such as Asahi and Lion. “To be up there with the big breweries is incredible,” Peter says. “The award is judged solely on the quality of the beer, so it’s a true testament to what’s in the glass.” Garage Project also took out the Champion New Zealand Beer award for Chance, Luck and Magic 2021, a blend of three years of spontaneously fermented beer, brewed at the company’s Wild Workshop in Wellington. The brewery also won two category trophies for British & European Ale and Wood & Barrel Aged Beer, as well as 10 gold, 11 silver, and six bronze medals, the most of any entrant. “The Chance, Luck and Magic series is a very special beer for us,” Peter says. “It’s brewed using wild yeast and spontaneous fermentation, which means every vintage has its own character. The 2024 vintage has just been released from our Wild Workshop, and it’s something we’re really proud of.” The award success caps off a busy year for the Wellington-based brewery, which has just opened its newest venue, the Garage Project Leeds Street bar. The new 130-seat bar joins the intimate Aro Street taproom and the Kingsland bar in Auckland, further cementing Garage Project’s presence in the craft beer scene. “It’s great to bring new life to the old Fortune Favours space,” Peter says. “We now have three bars in Wellington, and this is our biggest yet. It’s all about creating places where people can experience our beers fresh from the source.” Garage Project has also been announced as the exclusive beer partner for the new restaurant being developed in Wellington’s iconic Oriental Bay rotunda. The project, led by restaurateur Ben Bayley, will transform the heritage pavilion into a waterfront dining destination opening late next year. “It’s going to be an incredible spot – the best place in Wellington to have a beer on a sunny afternoon,” Peter says. “We’re proud to be involved in bringing that venue back to life.” Innovation remains at the heart of Garage Project’s philosophy, with more than 100 new products released each year and an average of two new beers launched weekly. “We love collaborating with New Zealand artists on our packaging,” Peter says. “It’s all about creativity – both in the beer and the design.” Garage Project’s best-selling beer, Tiny, leads the fast-growing low- and no-alcohol market, accounting for nearly a third of non-alcoholic craft beer sales in New Zealand supermarkets. The brewery has also recently released Zinger, a brewed alcoholic ginger beer made with real ginger and no ethanol mixing. With export markets now expanding across Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and China, Garage Project continues to take its distinctive New Zealand flavour to the world. “The industry is all about relationships – with our suppliers, farmers, artists, and distributors,” Peter says. “We couldn’t do what we do without them. It’s been another exciting year for Garage Project, and we’re just getting started.” Garage Project Proudly supplying quality corrugated packaging to Packaging Central +64 6 367 6800 casectrl@ojifs.com ojifs.com
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