Punky Brewster

For craft beer, local wine, handcrafted spirits and all the food that goes with, head to Punky Brewster in Addington. Punky opened back in 2015 as a craft beer fillery and quickly earned a huge loyal following. Fast forward and they’re a complete destination for eating, drinking and hanging out with an on license and full menu. As they have been since day one, Punky is a come as you are kind of place. Beer nerds and those just getting familiar with the stuff are equally welcome here. 

The Norcross family are the people behind Punky Brewster and even the name here holds a story. The Norcross kids used the sitcom's name as you might say ‘hunky dory’ and it stuck. The ‘Punky’ part speaks to the business’s mentality. The bar itself is concealed by a big roller door, in a pretty industrial part of town. Even so, it’s full of personality. An overhead projector shines the tap beer list onto the wall and while this was meant to be a quick fix, it’s become “the beating heart of the business.” On it you’ll find 23 tap pours from a host of NZ’s best craft breweries. Think Garage Project, Behemoth, McLeods, Rhyme and Reason, MorningCider, and Craftwork. To the left of the bar there's a huge selection of chilled cans which can be enjoyed in house or takeaway. True to their roots, Punky still fills riggers, too.

While the pun in the ‘Brewster’ half of the name may seem obvious there’s a bit more to it. A brewster is a female brewer which fits perfectly because as Rachael Norcross put it, “beer is for everyone”. Whether you’re an age old enthusiast or are just figuring out what you like to drink, Punky is the place. Rach and the crew love their work and here they get to lean into being beer nerds everyday. They know most of the brewers themselves so really have the down low when it comes to the hoppy stuff and how it's made. Don’t stress about finding your fave straight away - having a few tasters first is the norm here.

Whiskey, gin and wine are very much celebrated here, too. Punky Brewster stocks NZ made Thomson Whisky, Curiosity Gin from Sydenham, Bone Line and Silverwing wines from Waipara and a host of other locally made tipples. On top of all of this Punky also has a solid food offering. The menu is short but effective - tasty food that goes excellently with craft beer or otherwise. Grab some chips and salsa or a bowl of Taiwanese horse beans (crispy broad beans plus garlic and salt) for nibbles and then check out the toasties. Made with Bellbird sourdough these come filled with combinations like brie, gruyere, parmesan, caramelized onion, red onion and pickle.  

On top of everything else they do, Punky Brewster still hosts frequent events that draw beer drinkers, foodies and winos from all over. They’ve done McLeods beer paired with cheese, a NZ Stout night and a Craftwork tasting to name a few. These fun evenings are a chance to try a ton of new things at once and to meet the brewers/distillers/makers, too. Follow along on social media for the latest.

If you can’t get enough, check out Punky’s website where you can order the good stuff straight to your doorstep.