← BACK
Tauranga Taps Beer Festival
Sat
8 Aug
2026
Tauranga Taps Launches Inaugural Craft Beer Festival Celebrating Bay of Plenty Breweries
Local craft beer community Tauranga Taps is proud to announce the launch of the inaugural Tauranga Taps Beer Festival, bringing together some of the Bay of Plenty's finest independent breweries for an afternoon of great beer, food and community.
The festival will be held on Saturday 8 August 2026 and will feature six local breweries, food vendors, live entertainment and the opportunity for beer lovers to discover and sample a wide range of locally crafted beers.
Founded by local beer enthusiast Kevin Downie and friend Brian Jarreau, Tauranga Taps has grown into one of the region's most active beer communities, connecting locals through brewery visits, tasting events and organised bus tours throughout the Bay of Plenty and Waikato.
"We wanted to create an event that celebrates the fantastic breweries we have right here in our own backyard," said Downie. "This festival is about bringing people together, supporting local businesses and showcasing the quality of craft beer being produced in the Bay of Plenty."
The festival will be limited to 250 attendees, creating a relaxed atmosphere where guests can meet brewers, learn about the brewing process and enjoy a curated selection of beers from across the region.
Festival-goers will receive a commemorative tasting glass and have access to a range of beer styles, from hoppy IPAs and refreshing lagers to dark stouts and specialty brews.
The event is expected to attract visitors from throughout the Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Auckland regions and is planned as the first of what Tauranga Taps hopes will become an annual celebration of local craft beer.
About Tauranga Taps
Tauranga Taps is a Bay of Plenty-based craft beer community that organises brewery tours, tasting events, social gatherings and beer-related experiences throughout New Zealand. The group focuses on supporting independent breweries and creating memorable experiences for beer enthusiasts of all levels.
Media Contact:
- Kevin Downie
- Founder – Tauranga Taps
- 0223420502
- taurangataps@gmail.com
Event Dates
August 8, 2026
at
12:00 pm
Workshop
Join our hands-on Popping Boba workshop. You’ll learn the science behind these juicy flavour bursts and create your own colourful popping pearls from scratch. Experiment with flavours, get creative with colours, and discover how to turn simple ingredients into something seriously cool. Best of all, you’ll get to take your homemade boba home (if you don’t eat it first!). Registrations essential.
7 Jul
Workshop
Hawkins Community Open Day - Tauranga High and District Court Project Rā Tuwhera a Hapori - Te Koti Matua Me Te Koti A-Rohe O Tauranga The community is invited to a special open day at the Tauranga High and District Court construction site, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of the region’s major public projects.
14 Aug
Talk / lecture
Inachord Singers Tauranga are proud to invite you to a warm, community‑minded afternoon with Southland soprano treasure Deborah Wai Kapohe. Deborah will share stories from her extensive and varied professional career — a life lived across opera, contemporary Māori music, musical theatre, songwriting, guitar performance, arts leadership, and law. Bring a cushion (though seats provided!) and your favourite mug to maximise feeling at home, and settle into a relaxed, family‑friendly atmosphere as she opens the door to her creative world with humour, insight, and generosity. Following an intensive workshop the day prior, the afternoon will also feature a small selection of songs from both Deborah Wai Kapohe and Inachord Singers Tauranga, offering a gentle touch of live music to complement the storytelling. With afternoon tea available, free tickets for children under twelve and a portion of proceeds supporting local charities, this gathering promises inspiration, wonder, beauty, and through fellowship, genuine community spirit. Come for the stories, stay for the songs, leave with connection.
23 Aug
