Hawkes Bay Independent Brewery

In 1995, a passionate group of professional people consisting of lawyers, publicans, accountants and brewers got together and decided to build a new brewery, with the main focus of providing Hawke's Bay with a traditionally brewed, high quality, draught beer at a price more realistic than their competitors and so, in 1995 'Hawke's Bay Independent Brewery' was developed and established in Napier.

Trading as 'Mates Brewery' and under the watchful eye of their Master Brewer, the Hawke's Bay Independent Brewery 'specially' brewed and introduced their new quality draught beer into the highly dominated and fiercely competitive commercially controlled market place.

With the focus on brewing beer and not on glitzy advertising, they selected and used only the finest malt and hops available to make their first full strength draught ale. From their first initial release Mates beers and the Mates brands have flourished with steadily rising success and Mates Draught is still the preferred drink for a traditional beer drinker today.

In 2007, after 12 successful years, Hawke's Bay Independent Brewery relocated into their new State of the Art purpose built brewery and introduced a new concept with the tasting & drinking of premium beer, 'The Filter Room Ale and Cider House' Visitor Complex.

Relocation to their new site has enabled Hawke's Bay Independent Brewery to launch a brand new variety of premium packaged beers. All traditionally brewed and bottled on site. Surrounded by orchards and vineyards, these new premises boast not only the new brewery complex, but also the 'Tasting Room' where you can select your own choice of premium range beers to be tried, tasted and bought, or accompanied with the excellent cuisine of The Cider Tree Cafe.

Hand crafted beers
Naturally brewed and hence are naturally low carb i.e. no sugar is added to speed up fermentation.
No preservatives
Use only the pure waters of the South Island