Aro Taproom

Welcome to hop-head heaven. Garage Project’s taproom is a slick little hole-in-the-wall, set just a few houses down from their eponymous Aro Valley brewery. Jos Ruffel and the Gillespie brothers have made a name for themselves by thinking differently, and the taproom has established itself as something of an altar to the craft beer movement.

Inclusivity, or at least the idea that beer can appeal to more than those who enjoy a glass of watery yeast, has always been an integral part of said movement. Aro Taproom is exactly the kind of place to find out what happens when you add horopito, toasted coconut or the juice from pressed Pinot Noir grape skins. There are always taps dedicated to special brews, wild beers, beer cocktails and house-made urban natural wine or hard seltzer, alongside juicy hazy IPAs and crisp lagers. On top of a humble line-up of no fewer than twenty taps is a long list of some of their most famous and recent releases in cans or bottles. A menu of rich cheeses, cured meats, toasties and kiwi classics like cheerios rounds out the sensory experience.

Influences from Garage Project’s iconic labeling are writ-large through the swirling, muralled interior, which runs from a doorstep embossed with ‘Try Something New’ in golden lettering, to a long bar flanked by small tables and bar stools.