New Zealand's most prestigious craft beer festival turns 5

The New Zealand Beer Festival is celebrating its 5th year of bringing kiwis craft beer, gourmet food and great kiwi music to Auckland.

Beer drinkers have something else to “cheers” to, the New Zealand craft industry is growing rapidly, which means more BEER!!

The Brewers Guild of New Zealand announced that last year craft beer sales grew 11 per cent while overall beer sales have dropped.

Forget wine and cheese. Craft beer and BBQ’s are becoming the trend.

"Craft beer is surging right now. Most people haven't been made aware of this growing trend, and will be surprised to find out that craft beer is the fastest growing category in liquor in the western world." Luke Nicholas, Epic Brewing.

The New Zealand Beer Festival is the perfect time to get a taste for all the emerging craft beers on the market. With over 70 beers represented at the festival ‘just trying one’ will not be enough.

The entertainment for the day is bound to keep festivalgoers smiling, with music from Tahuna Breaks, Phil Edwards, Sam Hill, Sentimental Sound System, Franko and Sweet Mix Kids.

To keep away the munchies, the New Zealand Beer Festival will take you around the culinary world from a good old kiwi BBQ to European, Asian and Middle Eastern fare.

Gather your mates for a day of craft beer, music, food and summer.

Be there Saturday 26th March at Ellerslie Racecourse, gates open at 12:30 and close at 9pm.

Presale tickets are $25, available from eventfinder.co.nz and Hell Pizza Auckland wide. If you’re lazy and leave it to the day door sales are $35.

To boost your ego the festival is giving you the chance to win your very own personalizedbranded 6 pack of beer and six VIP tickets to the festival; check out http://www.beerfestival.co.nz/ and join the VIP mailing list to enter the draw.