Kereru Brewing
Kereru Brewing is an independent, award-winning craft brewery near Wellington, New Zealand producing traditional beers, a specialty gluten-free line, and a super-premium NZ Whisky Barrel-Aged range, selling via DTC e-commerce, a Beer of the Month Club subscription, wholesale stockists, cellar door, international shipping, and contract production services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersLower Hutt, New Zealand
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kereru Brewing does
Kereru Brewing Company Limited is an independent, founder-led craft brewery headquartered at 415A Maidstone Terrace, Upper Hutt, near Wellington, New Zealand. The company produces traditional craft beers (IPAs, lagers, stouts, porters, sours, Belgian-style ales), a specialty line of gluten-free beers (Auro, Apex, Flyboy, Hazee) brewed from sorghum, millet, rice, and buckwheat, and a super-premium NZ Whisky Barrel-Aged range aged in finite casks sourced from the NZ Whisky Collection at Wilson's distillery. Ciders are produced under partnership with Three Viking Maidens, and a non-alcoholic Ginger Beer Soda rounds out the portfolio.
Production relies on a single brewery with notable operational technology: a co-generation heat recovery system capturing waste heat from the chiller for free year-round hot water, an on-site Pneutech nitrogen generator for inert tank blanketing during packaging, and a Custom Food Control Plan registered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (License MPI000725) operating above HACCP principles. Gluten-free production uses a three-stage testing protocol with a 3PPM detection threshold, exceeding Australia/NZ, US, EU, and UK standards.
Revenue is generated through a multi-channel model: direct-to-consumer e-commerce on a WooCommerce platform with nationwide NZ shipping and a Beer of the Month Club subscription ($89/month with quarterly and semi-annual options), a physical cellar door (Thu/Fri 2-4pm, Sat 11am-5pm), an Online Wholesale Members program offering an 11% trade discount with a 12-can minimum, a stockist network of NZ bottle stores and pubs, international DTC shipping to Australia via FedEx and worldwide on request, custom gift boxes (Personalise, Barrel-Aged, Matariki Party Box) including corporate gifting, and a Contract Production service for third-party brands. The brewery self-identifies as the highest-rated and most popular gluten-free brewery in New Zealand, with multiple international awards including 2018 Champion Small International Brewery at the Australian International Beer Awards.
Kereru Brewing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kereru Brewing
- Legal name
- Kererū Brewing Company Limited
- Website
- https://kererubrewing.co.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Kereru Brewing is an independent, award-winning craft brewery near Wellington, New Zealand producing traditional beers, a specialty gluten-free line, and a super-premium NZ Whisky Barrel-Aged range, selling via DTC e-commerce, a Beer of the Month Club subscription, wholesale stockists, cellar door, international shipping, and contract production services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kereru Brewing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Beer
- NAICS
- Breweries (312120), Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (42481)
- SIC
- Malt Beverages (2082), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail) (CRANABAF), Bulk Beverage & Keg Distribution (AFAIAGAK)
Keywords
Where Kereru Brewing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lower Hutt
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kereru Brewing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Direct E-commerce Sales: Online sales through company website for individual consumers. Products include craft beers, gluten-free beers, barrel-aged luxurious beers, ciders, soft drinks, and merchandise. Prices range from $15 for mix boxes to $231 for premium barrel-aged beers.
- Beer of the Month Club Subscription: Monthly subscription service delivering newest craft beer releases. Options include New (12x440ml), Mix (6x440ml + 6 assorted), Gluten-Free Mix, or Custom selections. Billing options: Monthly ($89), Quarterly, or Semi-Annual (10% discount).
- Wholesale/Trade Sales: B2B sales to bottle stores, pubs, and retailers through Online Wholesale Members program. Minimum 12 cans per order with mix flexibility. Offers 11% wholesale discount via TRADE coupon code. Also includes 50L kegs and bulk volumes with trade terms.
- Contract Beverage Production: Contract production services for custom beverages allowing brands to trial products or test markets without physical plant investment. Also offers custom labelling and packaging services for businesses or events.
- International Export Sales: Direct-to-consumer export to Australia via FedEx with duties and taxes included. Other countries available upon request with separate freight charges. B2B export through local importers.
- Cellar Door Retail: On-site brewery retail sales at cellar door. Opening hours: Thursday-Friday 2pm-4pm, Saturday 11am-5pm. Sales by arrangement outside hours.
- Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise including Kereru hats ($30) and print-on-demand t-shirts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pick Your Mix - Build Your Own Box |
| Subscription | Monthly | Beer of the Month Club Subscription |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Luxurious NZ Whisky Barrel-Aged Beers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Personalise Your Gift Box |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pre-Picked Barrel-Aged Beer Box |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Auro Gluten Free Ale - 24 Pack Case |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Wholesale Trade Pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Kereru Brewing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kereru Brewing is an independent craft brewery near Wellington, New Zealand producing traditional beers, gluten-free beers (verified at a 3PPM threshold), NZ Whisky barrel-aged luxurious beers, ciders, and soft drinks. The brewery sells directly to consumers via its e-commerce store and cellar door at Upper Hutt, operates a monthly Beer of the Month Club subscription, supplies a wholesale trade program for bottle stores and pubs, exports to Australia via FedEx, and offers contract beverage production and custom labelling services for other brands.
Product overview
Kereru Brewing is an award-winning independent brewery based near Wellington, New Zealand offering a diverse portfolio of craft beers and beverages. The core product lineup includes traditional beers (IPAs, Lagers, Stouts, Porters, Sours, Belgian-style ales) and a specialty line of gluten-free beers (Auro, Apex, Flyboy, Hazee) made with sorghum, millet and rice. The company also produces barrel-aged luxurious beers using NZ Whisky Collection casks (Over The Moon, Night Spirit, Paloma, Seraphina, Amberine, Red Admiral, Black Swan), non-alcoholic options (Ginger Beer Soda), and ciders (Appley Ever After, Hidden Orchard). Distribution channels include direct-to-consumer e-commerce with customizable pick-your-own mix boxes (6/12/24 cans), subscription service (Beer of the Month Club), themed gift boxes (Matariki Party Box, Personalise Your Gift Box, Barrel-Aged Beer Box), wholesale membership for retailers, international export via FedEx, and contract production services for custom beverages.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Gluten-Free Craft Beer Range Range of gluten-free craft beers made with sorghum, millet, rice, buckwheat, hops, yeast and water, including Auro Gluten Free Ale, Apex Hoppy Gluten-Free APA, Flyboy GF Rice Lager, and Hazee Gluten-Free Hazy Ale. All beers are tested to ensure none detected at a 3PPM threshold, exceeding Australia/NZ gluten-free standards. Sold to individual consumers seeking gluten-free beer options.
- Traditional Craft Beer Range Range of traditional craft beers including IPAs, Pilsners, Stouts, Porters, Sours, and Belgian-style ales. Notable SKUs include Black Ruby Imperial Stout (2017 AIBA Gold Medal winner), Imperial Nibs Coconut Porter (2016 UK Beer Awards Best Stout/Porter), and Navel Gazer Imperial Stout. Brewed with NZ-grown malt and hops. Sold to individual consumers.
- NZ Whisky Barrel-Aged Beer Range Premium NZ Whisky barrel-aged beers matured in casks from Wilson's distillery through the NZ Whisky Collection. Includes Over The Moon Truffled Imperial Stout, Night Spirit Imperial Stout, Paloma Barleywine Ale (2018 AIBA Gold), Amberine Quadruple, Seraphina Scotch Ale, Red Admiral Dopplebock, Black Swan Dark Ale, Truffle Hound Belgian Quad, and Vanessa Belgian-Style Ale. Limited-edition super-premium offerings priced $18-$47 per bottle.
- Cider Range Traditional dry ciders made from hand-picked Wairarapa apples in collaboration with Three Viking Maidens. Includes Appley Ever After Dry Cider and Hidden Orchard Dry Cider. Sold to consumers seeking traditional cider options.
- Ginger Beer Soda Non-alcoholic ginger beer soda made with ginger, turmeric, cane sugar and beet sugar. Refreshing served over ice or as a mixer. Sold to consumers seeking non-alcoholic options.
- Beer of the Month Club Monthly subscription service delivering newest craft beer releases to subscribers. Four membership types: New (12x440ml new releases), Mix (6x440ml new + 6 assorted), Gluten-Free Mix, and Custom. Billing options: Monthly ($89 billed on 19th), Quarterly, or Semi-Annual (with 10% store-wide discount during membership).
- Matariki Party Box Seasonal themed party box for Matariki (Māori New Year) celebration containing 12 pre-selected beers and ciders. Includes 2 dry ciders, Pacific Pale Ale, Scotch Ale, Pilsner, Smoked Ale, Imperial Stouts, Coconut Porter, Lager, Hazy IPA, and Gose. Priced at $99.00.
- Personalise Your Gift Box Customizable 12-beer gift box priced $73-$94 depending on options. Includes 12 beers, gift top sheet, handwritten note card, and optional 285ml pilsner glass with Kererū logo. Mix options: Everything, Hoppy, Gluten-Free, Lower-Strength, or Dark. Top sheet themes available for birthdays and other occasions.
- Barrel-Aged Beer Box Pre-picked selection of 6 barrel-aged beers as a gift box. Contains Over The Moon, Seraphina, Black Swan, Paloma, Night Spirit, and Red Admiral. Priced at $149.00 (regularly $170).
- Pick Your Mix Custom Cases Customizable mixed case option allowing customers to pick their own combination of 6, 12, or 24 cans from the full beer range in 330ml and 440ml formats. Includes gluten-free mix option and the Pick 3/6 Luxurious NZ Whisky Barrel-Aged Beers option. Base prices from $15.00.
- Export Beer Sales International shipping service for super premium, rare and luxurious craft beers. Currently shipping to Australia via FedEx with duties and taxes covered. For rest of world, shipping available upon request with separate freight charges. Local importers can be contacted for bulk international orders.
- Online Wholesale Members Program B2B wholesale program for bottle stores, pubs, restaurants, and retailers. Minimum order of 12 cans with mix flexibility. 11% wholesale discount via TRADE coupon code. Also offers 50L kegs, 20L kegs, handpull bags, and bulk case orders with trade terms.
- Contract Beverage Production Contract beverage production service allowing brands to trial new product lines, test markets, or regularly produce beverages without physical plant and staff expenses. Also offers custom labelling and packaging services for businesses or events.
- Kereru Merchandise Branded merchandise including Kererū Hats ($30.00) and print-on-demand T-shirts featuring brewery branding.
Quantifiable outcome
- Gluten-free beer testing at none detected at 3PPM threshold
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Kereru Brewing
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Kereru Brewing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
Feature5 records
Kereru Brewing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Three Viking MaidensminorCollaboration on Appley Ever After Dry Cider - a dry and lightly carbonated traditional cider made from hand-picked Wairarapa apples. The cider is co-branded and sold through Kereru's distribution channels.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kereru Brewing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- BrewDog: Global craft brewery known for innovative, limited-edition and barrel-aged releases with strong DTC and subscription programs. Comparable on craft credibility, experimental barrel-aged line, and DTC/subscription mechanics.
Direct peers
- Panhead Custom Ales: NZ craft brewery producing IPAs, lagers and seasonal specialties with strong on-premise and retail presence. Comparable as a craft competitor chasing the same NZ bottle store and pub shelf.
- 8 Wired Brewing: NZ craft brewery known for bold, barrel-aged and specialty beers with strong international awards. Comparable as a small-to-mid NZ craft producer targeting premium and specialty drinkers.
- Sawmill Brewery: Independent NZ craft brewery with an on-site brewery restaurant, broad beer range, and national stockist distribution. Comparable on independent craft model and multi-channel NZ sales.
- Tuatara Brewing: Established NZ craft brewery with a broad traditional and specialty lineup distributed nationally. Comparable on craft positioning, NZ stockist presence, and taproom-led brand building.
- Garage Project: Award-winning Wellington craft brewery with a similarly experimental, barrel-aged, and limited-release focus. Directly comparable on craft credentials, NZ origin story, and DTC-led growth, though at a larger scale.
Broad incumbents
- Lion (New Zealand): Major incumbent NZ brewer (Steinlager, Speight's, Panhead owner). Comparable as the dominant competitor shaping NZ shelf space, tap rotations, and wholesale terms for craft independents like Kereru.
- DB Breweries: Largest NZ brewer (Export Gold, Tui, Monteiths). Comparable as the broad incumbent setting pricing, distribution, and retail relationships that Kereru must navigate across NZ on- and off-premise.
Regional players
- Stone & Wood Brewing: Leading Australian independent craft brewery with national distribution across bottle shops and on-premise. Comparable as a craft competitor in the same trans-Tasman market Kereru targets for export.
Others
- Wilson Distillery / NZ Whisky Collection: Supplier of the Wilson's distillery casks used in Kereru's barrel-aged program. Relevant as a strategic input partner whose finite cask supply directly constrains Kereru's premium SKU pipeline.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Kereru Brewing social profiles
Digital presenceKereru Brewing compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Kereru Brewing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kereru Brewing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Kereru Brewing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kereru Brewing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kereru Brewing
What does Kereru Brewing do?
Kereru Brewing is an independent craft brewery near Wellington, New Zealand producing traditional beers, gluten-free beers (verified at a 3PPM threshold), NZ Whisky barrel-aged luxurious beers, ciders, and soft drinks. The brewery sells directly to consumers via its e-commerce store and cellar door at Upper Hutt, operates a monthly Beer of the Month Club subscription, supplies a wholesale trade program for bottle stores and pubs, exports to Australia via FedEx, and offers contract beverage production and custom labelling services for other brands.
Is Kereru Brewing a public or private company?
Kereru Brewing is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Kereru Brewing founded?
Kereru Brewing was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Kereru Brewing based?
Kereru Brewing is headquartered in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Kereru Brewing make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Direct E-commerce Sales are the primary driver. The others are beer of the Month Club Subscription, wholesale/Trade Sales, contract Beverage Production, international Export Sales, cellar Door Retail and merchandise Sales.
Who are Kereru Brewing's main competitors?
BrewDog is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Panhead Custom Ales, 8 Wired Brewing, Sawmill Brewery, Tuatara Brewing and Garage Project. Broad incumbents are Lion (New Zealand) and DB Breweries. Stone & Wood Brewing is listed as a regional player. Wilson Distillery / NZ Whisky Collection is listed as an others.
Does Kereru Brewing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kereru Brewing.
What industry is Kereru Brewing in?
Kereru Brewing's product category is Craft Beer. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFALAB, Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service), with a secondary code of CRANABAF, Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail). Its NAICS code is 312120 and its SIC code is 2082.