Altitude Brewing

Inside a red corrugated shed, one could easily mistake this for just another garage in the industrial neighbourhood of Frankton Marina. But when the roller doors fly up every day, the camouflage disappears revealing some of the greatest beer around.

Altitude Brewing was built from the ground up in 2013 by Eddie Gapper and Eliott Menzies. Since the get-go, they channelled everything into crafting the best beer possible – without getting distracted by unnecessary frills. This relentless focus has shot them to the top of Aotearoa’s beer scene, winning award after award – including New Zealand’s Champion Small Brewing in 2021. Known as the birthplace of the Mischievous Kea, their inaugural brew, this IPA remains a favourite among beer lovers, alongside the Sled Dog Session Hazy and Queenstown Lager. Additionally, the team is committed to giving 1% of gross revenue to local charities and community organisations, such as the Whakatipu Reforestation Trust, Wild for Nature Trust, and Queenstown Mountain Bike Club.

In 2018, Eddie and Eliott opened the Frankton Road venue, boasting stunning views of the lake and mountains, making it one of New Zealand’s most scenic taprooms. Visitors can enjoy beer flights (great for first-timers) as well as a changing blackboard showcasing what’s on tap for the week. Local food trucks also park up, offering delicious accompaniments to your brew – best enjoyed at picnic tables in the sunny outdoor area.

While each beer has a tale to tell, so too do the ingenious furnishings and fixtures around the taproom. Old kegs take on a new life as dining stools and lampshades, snowboards serve as benches, mirrors are salvaged from hotel refurbs, rimu cladding is sourced from an old Oamaru residence, a statement bar top was gifted by an arborist, and customers have contributed to the walls of artwork. 

Looking at the bustling taproom it is today, it seems strange to think that Eddie and Eliott neglected to provide any seating on opening day, convinced that no one would show up. Needless to say, they quickly rectified that oversight.