What Renaissance Brewing does

Renaissance Brewing is a New Zealand craft brewery with approximately 20 years of brewing heritage, founded in 2005-2006 in the Marlborough region and operating from 1 Dodson Street, Mayfield (Blenheim). The company produces 30+ SKUs across IPA, APA, Scotch Ale, Porter, Lager, Pilsner, Witbier, low-alcohol, and limited-edition seasonal styles, with a stated emphasis on New Zealand-grown hop varieties (Nelson Sauvin, Riwaka, Motueka, Nectaron, Waimea, Azacca, Huell Melon, Pacifica, and experimental Kiwi hops) and innovative techniques such as fresh-hop, bamboo-infused rice lager, and barrel-finished collaborations. The portfolio includes flagship lines (Voyager IPA, Stonecutter Scotch Ale, Elemental Porter, Hazy 20 anniversary IPA, Kaleidoscope NZ IPA), seasonal releases (Pōhutukawa Sunset Red NZ IPA, Laminar Flow Fresh Hop 2026 series), and Funk Estate craft cider as a wholly owned sub-brand.

The business operates exclusively as a direct-to-consumer e-commerce retailer via a Shopify-powered online store at renaissancebrewing.co.nz, shipping to New Zealand consumers with age verification at checkout. There is no evidence of wholesale, retail, or export distribution. Pricing follows a unit-pricing pay-as-you-go model in NZD, ranging from NZD 4.99 (Lager single can) to NZD 9.99 (Kaleidoscope single can), with multi-packs at NZD 34.99-79.99 and premium limited editions such as the Renaissance x Lost Barrel Porter Cask Rum at NZD 110. Customer acquisition is driven by a 10% email-signup discount, and the company maintains an active New Zealand alcohol off-licence (60/OFF/28/2026).

Renaissance Brewing is privately held under the legal entity Sahara New Zealand Limited, has 1-10 employees, and is led by founder and CEO Brian Thiel and chairman Gareth Lyne. Capital history consists of a single disclosed 2014 funding round of approximately USD 700,000, with no subsequent institutional raises indicated. The company has not raised venture or growth capital at scale, operates without subsidiaries beyond Funk Estate, and has not pursued an IPO, acquisition of scale, or geographic expansion beyond New Zealand.

Name

Renaissance Brewing

Legal name

Sahara New Zealand Limited

Website

https://renaissancebrewing.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Renaissance Brewing is a New Zealand craft brewery with 20 years of heritage, producing 30+ award-winning beer styles emphasising local hop varieties. It sells exclusively direct-to-consumer via its Shopify e-commerce storefront under the Sahara New Zealand Limited entity, with Funk Estate craft cider as a wholly owned sub-brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Craft Beer Retail & Bottle Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cider & Perry Producers & Brands (CRADAIAE)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• New Zealand IPA
• Hazy IPA
• Fresh hop pilsner
• Direct-to-consumer brewery

Headquarters

HQ city

Mayfield

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Craft Beer Sales: Direct sales of bottled and canned craft beer products to consumers through e-commerce. Products are sold in various formats including single cans, 6-packs, 12-packs, and 24-packs. One-time transaction model for each purchase.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Renaissance Brewing crafts and sells a diverse portfolio of award-winning New Zealand craft beers through direct-to-consumer e-commerce. The range spans over 30 SKUs across IPAs, APAs, hazy IPAs, scotch ales, porters, lagers, pilsners, witbiers, low-alcohol beers, and limited seasonal/fresh hop releases, featuring New Zealand-grown hop varieties. Products are sold in 440ml cans and 330ml bottles in single, 6-pack, 12-pack and 24-pack formats, alongside a sub-brand cider (Funk Estate) and limited-edition collaboration spirit releases.

Product overview

Renaissance Brewing is a New Zealand craft brewery offering a diverse portfolio of beers primarily in IPA, lager, and specialty styles. The core product line includes flagship IPAs (Voyager IPA, Hazy 15/20 IPA, Kaleidoscope NZ IPA), Belgian and rice lagers (John Wit Witbier, Pandageddon Bamboo Rice Lager, West Coast Pilsner), malt-forward ales (Stonecutter Scotch Ale, Elemental Porter, Discovery APA), low-alcohol options (Empathy Low Alc IPA), and seasonal limited releases (Pōhutukawa Sunset Red NZ IPA, Fresh Hop series). The company also produces a sub-brand cider (Funk Estate Purple Rain) and a limited-edition rum collaboration (Lost Barrel Porter Cask Rum). Products are sold primarily through the company's Shopify-powered e-commerce store in 440ml cans and 330ml bottles, with mixed packs and seasonal bundles available.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Funk Estate: Craft cider brand offering products such as Purple Rain Cider.
• Renaissance Brewing

Products and services

• Renaissance Pōhutukawa Sunset Red NZ IPA A limited seasonal NZ IPA inspired by the colors of a New Zealand summer sunset; deep ruby-red to burnished copper with vibrant tropical and citrus notes and caramel/toffee biscuit malt character at 5.9% ABV. Targeted at craft beer enthusiasts seeking distinctive NZ hop-forward seasonal releases.
• Renaissance Kaleidoscope NZ IPA A copper-gold NZ IPA with aromas of tropical fruit, citrus and white grape zest showcasing classic and modern New Zealand hops; awarded the Clayton Hops Growers Award at the 2026 Smiths Craft Beer House NZ IPA Challenge at 5.9% ABV. Targeted at craft beer enthusiasts and collectors of award-winning hop-forward beers.
• Renaissance Voyager IPA An old-school British-style IPA pouring light amber with lime, pine, citrus and caramel supported by a rich malt backbone at 6.0% ABV; sold as a flagship core-range IPA in 440ml cans and 330ml bottles for traditional craft beer drinkers.
• Renaissance Stonecutter Scotch Ale A complex warming scotch ale blending nine malts for layers of caramel, toffee, liquorice, chocolate and roasty flavours balanced by tart raisiny fruitiness at 7.0% ABV; a flagship malt-forward ale for dark-beer drinkers.
• Renaissance Elemental Porter A dark, rich and mellow modern-style robust porter with hints of chocolate and a cleansing hop-driven finish; a core-range dark beer for porter enthusiasts.
• Renaissance Hazy 15 IPA A hazy IPA brewed to celebrate 15 years of Renaissance Brewing, fermented with kviek yeast for a massive tropical fruit character layered with Azacca, Huell Melon and Motueka hops at 6.5% ABV; targeted at loyal fans and tropical-hop enthusiasts.
• Renaissance Hazy 20 IPA A juicy, hazy anniversary IPA celebrating 20 years of Renaissance Brewing, brewed with Nectaron hops and Pomona yeast at 5.0% ABV; targeted at loyal customers and long-term supporters of the brewery.
• Renaissance John Wit Witbier A classic Belgian-style witbier brewed with wheat, coriander and orange peel; light, hazy, effervescent with subtle citrus and spice notes at 4.2% ABV for consumers seeking a refreshing Belgian-style ale.
• Renaissance Pandageddon Bamboo Infused Rice Lager An innovative bamboo-infused rice lager brewed with rice for a light dry body with subtle bamboo notes, lemongrass and citrus lift at 5.2% ABV; targeted at consumers seeking experimental craft lagers.
• Renaissance West Coast Pilsner A crisp pilsner blended with bold hop-forward West Coast IPA character featuring a subtle dank edge and clean dry finish at 5.9% ABV; for hop-forward pilsner drinkers.
• Renaissance Apollo Hazy IPA A hazy, juicy NEIPA brewed with American El Dorado hops and an experimental Kiwi hop layered with Gladfield's Big O wheat and oats for tropical fruit character; targeted at hazy IPA enthusiasts.
• Renaissance Lager A pale lager celebrating New Zealand flavour as a tribute to everyday Kiwi culture; clean, refreshing at 4.0% ABV for everyday lager drinkers.
• Renaissance Empathy Low Alc IPA A low-alcohol 2.4% ABV craft IPA using specialty malts and late-hopped with Nelson Sauvin, Waimea, and Riwaka hops for tropical fruit and spice flavour; targeted at health- and session-conscious craft beer drinkers.
• Renaissance Discovery APA An American Pale Ale showcasing resiny American hops combined with locally grown Nelson hops for grapefruit-like zestiness and lingering tangy resins at 4.5% ABV; for APA drinkers who want bright hop character with a sessionable ABV.
• Renaissance Long Drive Lager A flagship lager from Renaissance Brewing's 330ml bottle range; targeted at everyday lager drinkers seeking New Zealand craft alternative.
• Renaissance Paradox Pilsner A NZ Pilsner featuring signature passionfruit and citrus aromas of Riwaka hop with biscuity malt sweetness; flavour-packed yet crisp for hop-forward pilsner drinkers.
• Renaissance Revolution IPA An exceptional pale ale with a distinguished malt base mashed with Kiwi hops; beautifully balanced and bold for full-flavour IPA drinkers.
• Laminar Flow Series Motueka Fresh Hop NZ IPA A NZ IPA from the Laminar Flow Series brewed with fresh Motueka hops from Garston Hops in Southland; once-a-year seasonal offering capturing wild southern edge of NZ hop growing at 5.8% ABV.
• Laminar Flow Series Pacifica Fresh Hop NZ Pilsner A crisp NZ Pilsner from the Laminar Flow Series brewed with freshly harvested Pacifica hops from NZ Hops farm in Nelson, Tasman; once-a-year seasonal with bright fresh-from-the-field character at 5.2% ABV.
• Renaissance Anthology Mixed Pack A mixed 24 x 330ml bottle pack containing 4 bottles each of 6 different Renaissance beers at mixed ABVs; targeted at consumers wanting variety across the brewery's range.
• Funk Estate Purple Rain Cider A sweet but tangy blackcurrant cider under the Funk Estate sub-brand at 4.5% ABV; targeted at cider drinkers seeking a fruity drop for warmer months.
• Renaissance x Lost Barrel Porter Cask Rum Limited Edition A limited-edition 700ml cask-strength rum collaboration aged 10 years in the Caribbean then finished for 6 months in ex-Imperial Porter barrels from Renaissance Brewing in New Zealand; 50.9% ABV with just 618 bottles produced for collectors and gift buyers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Clayton Hops Growers Award for Kaleidoscope NZ IPA at 2026 Smiths Craft Beer House NZ IPA Challenge

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Lost Barrel RumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration between Lost Barrel Rum and Renaissance Brewing to create a Limited Edition Porter Cask Rum. Lost Barrel's aged rum is finished in Renaissance Brewing's ex-Imperial Porter barrels for 6 months in New Zealand. This local South Island collaboration celebrates craftsmanship with just 618 bottles produced.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Panhead Custom Ales: NZ craft brewery specializing in bold IPAs and pale ales; directly comparable in hop-forward craft positioning and NZ market focus.
• Hop Federation: Small NZ craft brewery with strong emphasis on New Zealand hop varieties; very close analog to Renaissance in scale, hop terroir story, and craft positioning.
• Tuatara Brewing: Established NZ craft brewer producing a wide range of IPAs, lagers, and specialty beers; overlaps Renaissance in portfolio breadth and NZ off-premise/on-premise distribution.
• Kererū Brewing: NZ craft brewery producing IPAs, lagers, and seasonal releases; comparable in scale, DTC strategy, and NZ craft enthusiast targeting.
• 8 Wired Brewing: NZ craft brewery with strong hop-forward and barrel-aged programs; comparable to Renaissance in style innovation and NZ specialty beer positioning.
• Garage Project: Wellington-based NZ craft brewery known for experimental and hop-forward beers; directly comparable to Renaissance in size, style diversity, and DTC-plus-taproom model.
• BrewMoon Brewing: Marlborough-region brewery sharing Renaissance's home geography; directly comparable craft beer portfolio and tourism-adjacent positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Mac's Brewery: Larger NZ beer brand with broader mainstream reach; competes for the same off-premise shelf and consumer occasions as Renaissance but at greater scale.
• DB Breweries: Major NZ brewer (Heineken-owned) producing mainstream and craft-adjacent brands; relevant incumbent peer for off-premise and on-premise competition in NZ.
• Lion New Zealand: Dominant NZ brewer (Speight's, Steinlager, Waikato) operating at much greater scale; competes for distribution, retail listings, and consumer mindshare across the same channels as Renaissance.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/renaissancebeer
• Facebookfacebook.com/renaissancebrewing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/renaissance-brewing-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Renaissance Brewing