Searchlight Brewery

We have traveled New Zealand from Auckland to Queenstown and Searchlight is by far the best brewery in New Zealand! We had a couple that were very good in restaurants around Queenstown so we went to the source. Six out of six beers/styles were amazing and the service and atmosphere were first rate!

Great selection of beers in a local brewery and not to far but away from the hustle and bustle of Queenstown centre. Friendly staff. Highly recommend a visit.

Searchlight Brewing is exactly what you want from a small independent brewery with a real presence in Queenstown. Every beer feels like a true expression of style, and you can tell the calibre of a brewer by their lagers. Fewer ingredients, nowhere to hide, and a more technical process, and they absolutely nail it. The Mexican Lager and the Caterpilsner are both outstanding, crisp, clean, and properly executed. But they are not a one trick pony either. The Lady of the Lake Extra Special Bitter is a standout, full of flavour and beautifully balanced (on CO2). And the Queenstown Draft is a brilliant take on a local session beer, complex enough to keep it interesting, but still ridiculously drinkable. If you’re in Queenstown and you care about well-made beer, this is the spot.

A great little spot to down a few beers, rustic and friendly with a great selection of brews. Had a nice pie as well, although food was a little limited when we visited, but it’s a brewery so obviously the beer is the main thing here.

Lovely food ! Great spot for a few beers :)

Cute brewery with good beer and food! The beer selection is wide, and everything we tried was tasty. The quesadilla was just okay, but the house made black bean burger my husband got was awesome.

Outstanding, well worth a walk from town! Zoe and Fraser were fantastic hosts and the beer is world class. Try the Champagne Pilsner while you can!!

Best brewery in NZ we absolutely love coming here when we are in Queenstown the beer is always great with a huge selection, don’t miss this brewery when in Queenstown. The John beer hazy was a #1

Search, Seek, Evolve In Queenstown, my other half booked some outdoor activities while I set out to visit a brewery. In Queenstown proper, a large tourist area, there are only two one of which was closed. That brought me to Searchlight Brewery, and I'm happy it did! This was a bit too far to walk, so I used a ride-share. It's located north of the town in an industrial area. Tucked behind some buildings, you'll easily find it with the posted signs. The area is kept really cozy. Outside they have seating areas that look over the mountains and forests all around. It was a bit too cold during my visit, so I headed inside. They had a fire pit, many small tables, games, and the bar. The majority of the space is taken up by the working brewery. The beers are posted behind the bar and on the tap handles. I told the bartender I was there to try them all and she helped me organize my flights. I sat at a nice table looking outside to the top of the mountain. I indulged in two soft pretzels to ease my tasting; water is also available. I was also happy for the free wifi while being parked there a while. As it got darker, the twinkle lights over the outdoor seating area turned on. I did try all the beers; it wasn't expensive. I liked the focus on New Zealand hops and styles, while having a great selection for all. If you're a beer lover, it's worth the journey.

Find gold off the beaten path! I had found this brewery while searching places for our trip. It wasn't a far walk from our hotel, and we got a nice scenic view of the suburbs of Queenstown. It was nice to get away from the tourist scene. This little brewery is located in a small business park. It was nice because everyone there seemed like locals. The beer was excellent! We really enjoyed it! They have board games and a very nice outdoor seating area as well. This is a hidden gem. Don't be afraid to walk and discover it :)