Harrington's Brewery began in 1991 on the site of the original Wards Brewery.  The Kilmore St brewery had only a 1000 litre brewing capacity and hoped to brew 3000 litres a week.  The first brews were a draught, lager and dark beer.  The beers were brewed to the German purity laws, and the only ingredients are water, malted barley, hops and yeast.

Set up next to the brewery was a bottleshop for the whole malt beers to be available in flaggins and riggers, at a price to suit the working person's pocket.  Within two weeks of opening, John Harrington (founder & director) had realised he'd underestimated the brewery's potential.  The brewery underwent some alteration so they could extend the brewing capacity to approximately 12500 litres per week.

In 1993 a second brewery was opened in Ferry Road.  Batches of up to 6000 litres were made to help keep up with demand, and 35000 litres in total were brewed weekly.  We now had a range of eight different naturally brewed beers, and an alcoholic ginger beer.

In May 1999 Castle Rock Brewery was purchased by Harrington's in Ferrymead, which is at the opposite end of Ferry Road.  This purchase expanded the breweing capacity by 30%.  The Ferrymead brewery was ideal for lower-volume brewing, and freed up capacity at the main brewery as we geared up to move into the bottled beer market.  The bottlestore beside the Ferrymead brewery would become the seventh Harrington's bottlestore in Christchurch.

Today we produce over 17 different styles of beers, including limited release and special editions, an alcoholic ginger beer and a non alcoholic version too.  We also produce a number of different R.T.D's (ready to drink) and we also produce spirits in bottled form or available when you bring in your own bottle for a refill.

How's that for selection?  Our range is huge so try one of our many award winning brews.

Cheers and Good Health