Wellingtonians will get to sample some of New Zealand and the world's premium brews, with the Beer Festival making its way to the capital next year.
The event will take place at Waitangi Park in Wellington in February, before returning to its birthplace at Auckland's Ellerslie Racecourse in March.
The New Zealand Beer Festival is less about swilling the cheap stuff, than it is craft brewing, featuring the likes of the hop-laden (15 per bottle) Epic Pale Ale and Mexicali's chili beer.'
Event director Andrew Somerville says taking the event to Wellington is a no-brainer, as it has a great craft brewing culture.
The capital venture comes alongside growing evidence that New Zealanders are switching from run-of-the-mill beers to premium drops.
Breweries are experiencing an upturn in sales of premium beers, with Lion Nathan's profits for the year to September boosted by the trend.
New Zealand Beer Festival organisers noticed the same jump in interest at their event in Auckland this February, triggering the decision to expand their horizons to Wellington
Somerville says beer drinkers are becoming more discerning, realising it's about quality rather than quantity and matching beers with food.
Tickets for the Auckland and Wellington festivals go on sale from nine a.m on Thursday from Liquorland and www.iticket.co.nz.
