From humble origins in 1868, the Monteith’s family-owned Phoenix Brewery became the Coast’s most popular brewer for its strong tasting, full-bodied ale. The Phoenix Brewery later merged with a group of small breweries to form the Westland Brewing Company, predecessor to today’s Monteith’s Brewing Company. Our livelihood depends on making great beer, so we take our time crafting every single batch. It’s the only place where the beer is made the same way it always was.

Time changes many things, but not the beer.

• 1868 ~ When it all started ~ Monteith’s family-owned Phoenix Brewery
• 1889 ~ Beer in abundance with 105 hotels in Hokitika and three breweries, 87 of these hotels were on one street. Greymouth had 56 hotels and one brewery.
• 1927 ~ Part of a bigger family as Westland Breweries Ltd formed under the Companies Act of 1908 from: Mandl’s Brewery, Hokitika; Pearn’s Brewery, Kumara; Davies Bros (Crown) Brewery, Hokitika (previously purchased Klappe & Kortegast Brewery); Monteith’s-Phoenix Brewery, Reefton. New head office established at present Greymouth site.
• 1928 ~ A bottling-only operation began at the Greymouth site as there was not enough water available for brewing to commence.
• 1929 ~ Hotel numbers drastically reduced ~ Hokitika had 16 hotels and Greymouth had 21 hotels.
• 1942 ~ The Kumara Brewery closed. Due to the war, packaging material shortages, sugar restrictions and increases in duty occurred.
• 1948 ~ 'Beer Boycott' lasted for some three months as beer drinkers protested the price increase. June 26th, fire damages the main Greymouth building and bottling plant.
• 1959 ~ New chilling and refrigeration was installed at Greymouth and the brewing process improved at Hokitika. Fermented beer was transported to the Greymouth plant, where new glass lines and tanks were installed. Brewing discontinued at Reefton.
• 1960 ~ Aluminium kegs introduced to replace wooden barrels.