The Beer Garden Is Open!
Galbraith's Alehouse Site Logo

AUTUMN IS HERE…

and our Award-Winning Beer Garden is waiting!

Whether it’s a warm and sunny day, or a chilly autumnal evening, we’ve got it covered.
Our award-winning garden bar is the perfect spot to spend a sunny afternoon, sipping on cocktails or a crisp, cold lager.
Once the temperature drops, you can decamp to a table on the patio next to our open fire, or retreat indoors where our gas fire will keep you warm as you dine on some warming comfort food, like our homemade Sausages & Mash, a Smash Burger & Chips or a Scotch Egg.

On Tap Now: Mr G’s Luncheon Ale 3.7%
Not just for lunch, but any session!
Brewed with Maris Otter, Imperial and Crystal Malts, this light ale has biscuit, toasted bread crust and nutty caramel flavours, with UK Goldings and Celeia hop flowers bringing floral and spicy notes with a tangy and refreshingly bitter finish. This beer first appeared in 2008, and soon after found its way into JD Wetherspoon’s pubs in the UK. A representative visited Galbraith’s, tasted Mr G’s, and invited us to brew it for the 2009 Wetherspoon’s Real Ale Festival, where it was voted best beer by the festival-goers.

With the arrival of Autumn we are getting ready to bring back our legendary Sunday Roast. It is due to return once daylight savings ends. Stay tuned!

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Take care

Keith, Andrea and the Galbraith’s Team

Brewing and serving craft beer before it was cool

At the Alehouse we have been serving world-beating beers from our on-site brewery since 1995. Once again named one of Metro’s Top 10 Auckland Bars in 2020 and boasting one of the most extensive beer lists in the country, we are committed to being the best. Located in the beautiful lofty Grafton library building at the top of Mt Eden Road the feeling when you walk through the doors is welcoming and relaxed.

Our hand-made food showcases the heritage of our experienced team of chefs whilst staying true to our pub roots. Produce is sourced locally, delivered fresh every day and collected from the on-site gardens.

Dave (Teddy) O’Leary

Head brewer

Born and raised in Dublin, Dave joined the Alehouse family in 2011, training directly with Keith from the ground up. Always happy to have a yarn about what’s brewing, he is passionate about cask-conditioned ales and his family. In 2019 he became proud father to the newest additions to the Alehouse family, young twins Ted and Benji.

Keith Galbraith

Founder

Born in Hamilton across the river from the Waikato Brewery, Keith began his career working with wine. He quickly found that his skills and knowledge translated across to brewing. Seeing few true Real Ales being produced, he opened the Alehouse in 1995 with the desire to bring real, old-world beer styles, brewed with traditional techniques to New Zealand. Since opening the Alehouse, his beers have been recognised and acclaimed locally and at an international level, including in 2017 with two gold medals and a the trophy for world champion in the strong dark beer class at the prestigious International Brewing Awards in Burton-on-Trent, considered the Oscars of the brewing world.

Beers

Our specialty cask-conditioned, hand-pulled Real Ale and European inspired lagers are complimented by a range of seasonal beers from local and international producers. Available to enjoy here, or by the flagon to take home.

Real ale

Cask is cool 10°C

Galbraith’s Alehouse opened in 1995 as New Zealand’s only producer of cask-conditioned Real Ale in well over half a century. We make our real ales the same way we have for years with the finest English malt, noble English variety whole hop flowers and unique strains of ale yeast. Our ales contain no sugars (unless otherwise stated) or preservatives and are not filtered or pasteurised to retain as much flavor as possible. We are proud to be considered the best producer of authentic Real Ale outside of the U.K.

MR G'S LUNCHEON ALE SESSION ALE (3.7%)

12.9

Not just for lunch, but any session! Brewed with Maris Otter, Imperial and Crystal Malts, this light ale has biscuit, toasted bread crust and nutty caramel flavours, with UK Goldings and Celeia hop flowers bringing floral and spicy notes with a tangy and refreshingly bitter finish.
This beer first appeared in 2008, and soon after found its way into JD Wetherspoon’s pubs in the UK. A representative visited Galbraith’s, tasted Mr G’s, and invited us to brew it for the 2009 Wetherspoon’s Real Ale Festival, where it was voted best beer by the festival-goers.

Brew profile
  • Fermentation Method Warm/Open
  • Carbonation Level Medium
  • Malt Pale Ale and Red Crystal
  • Hops Goldings and Celia Flowers
  • Maturation Cask conditioned
  • IBU’s 25
  • Yeast House Strain
  • Water Soft with few minerals

BELLRINGER’S BEST BITTER (4.8%)

14.5

A classic Best Bitter with full palate and lingering fruity/bitter finish.

First brewed by Keith in 1987 when he worked for Larkins Brewery in Kent.
A recent upgrade has seen the ABV move up to 4.8% while the recipe remains relatively unchanged.
A classic “Best” brewed using Maris Otter Pale Ale and Crystal malts with a smidge of dark roasted malt. Goldings hops throughout lend a soft “Old World” aroma and bitterness.

Brew profile
  • Fermentation Method Warm/Open
  • Carbonation Level Medium
  • Malt Pale Ale and Medium Crystal
  • Hops Goldings Flowers
  • Maturation Cask conditioned
  • IBU’s 35.0
  • Yeast Southern England Strain
  • Water Medium hard

EDEN ALE RUBY ALE (5.8%)

14.9

A nod to the Real Ales that would have been served at the Eden Vine Hotel which stood at 1 – 11 Mt Eden Road across the street from our carpark in the mid – late 1800’s. Ales of that time were generally very low in bitterness & malt forward and Eden Ale is one such beer.
Light ruby-red with malt in abundance and just a hint of English hops to brighten the finish & give an aromatic dusting. Strong as all beers tended to be in those days, with flavours of Black Doris plum, wine gums, chocolate, caramel and Vintage Port. Old school, no-nonsense beer.

Brew profile
  • Fermentation Method Warm/Open
  • Carbonation Level Medium
  • Malt
  • Hops
  • Maturation Cask conditioned
  • IBU’s
  • Yeast House Strain
  • Water Medium

MAN OF KENT ENGLISH I.P.A (5.5%)

14.9

Man Of Kent shows strong but restrained aromas that East Kent Goldings have. There is bitterness for sure, but the rich malts used balance this beer out nicely. A dryness from hardened water that runs through the palate makes Man Of Kent very moreish, setting off the malt and hops in a game of ping pong.

Brew profile
  • Fermentation Method Warm/Open
  • Carbonation Level Medium
  • Malt
  • Hops
  • Maturation Cask conditioned
  • IBU’s
  • Yeast House Strain
  • Water Medium hard

Lager & ale

SERVED CHILLED 4°C

The last 10 years have seen us venture into the world of European lager and New World beer styles. Our recent modern brewery addition has allowed us to improve our offerings markedly. Our attitude to these creations hasn’t changed though, our focus is still to produce beer that is flavoursome, unique and not run of the mill. Beer that has real flavor, more than just a thirst quencher. Like our Real Ale these beers are made only from finest malt and hops we can find and various strains of brewer’s yeast. They are unpasteurised and contain no preservatives.

PRAHA LAGER (4.3%)

12.9
This Czech style session lager is pale in colour with rich malt flavours, soft bitterness and a spicy note from Czech Saaz whole hop flowers. Presented traditionally with a thick creamy head to the same volume as our other beer.
Brew profile
  • Fermentation Method Enclosed Conical
  • Carbonation Level High
  • Malt
  • Hops
  • Maturation Lagered in tank
  • IBU’s
  • Yeast
  • Water Soft with few minerals

LAGER MUNICH STYLE (5.0%)

14.5
A soft, malty lager with fine aroma and a balancing bitter finish. Batch brewed in time-honoured fashion using Bavarian malt and noble German whole hop flowers. Extended lagering has ensured a soft malty beer with a fine aroma and mildly bitter finish. The least challenging beer for those new to our range.
Brew profile
  • Fermentation Method Cold Enclosed Conical
  • Carbonation Level High
  • Malt German Lager, Carapils and Vienna
  • Hops Tettnager and Hersbrucker
  • Maturation Lagered in Tank
  • IBU’s 25.0
  • Yeast Bavarian
  • Water Soft with few minerals

SUNDOWNER SUMMER ALE PALE ALE (4.5%)

13.9
A moreish, quenching Ale brewed for Summer in The Garden. Soft, malty, aromatic, and very pale ale with the barest hint of bitter orange peel from Spain and light spice notes from a dusting of American Cascade hops. Don’t expect a Hop Bomb, balance is the key here
Brew profile
  • Fermentation Method Enclosed Conical
  • Carbonation Level High
  • Malt Pale Ale, Crystal
  • Hops Cascade
  • Maturation
  • IBU’s 25
  • Yeast Lager
  • Water Medium Hard

FOGHORN NEIPA HAZY PALE ALE (4.8%)

14.9
An East Coast USA classic. Juicy and low in bitterness, this hazy is bursting with tropical, orange citrus and stonefruit aromas and flavours from US Simcoe and Krush hops.
Brew profile
  • Fermentation Method Enclosed Conical
  • Carbonation Level Medium-Low
  • Malt Pale Ale and Pale Crystal
  • Hops Varies
  • Maturation Served Fresh
  • IBU’s 30.0
  • Yeast London Fog
  • Water Soft

NZPA NEW ZEALAND PALE ALE (4.4%)

13.9
A reintroduction of our original NZPA turned up a notch on the hop aromatics, but down on the hard hop bitterness. Made using both pale ale and lager malts along with Carahell in the mash tun and generous doses of Nelson Sauvin and Motueka hops in the boil and dry hop.
Brew profile
  • Fermentation Method Enclosed Conical
  • Carbonation Level Medium - High
  • Malt Pale Ale and Pilsner
  • Hops Nelson Sauvin and Motueka
  • Maturation
  • IBU’s 25
  • Yeast House Strain
  • Water Soft with few minerals

Bookings

To avoid disappointment please book below. For groups larger than 14, please email us on bookings@alehouse.co.nz. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.

Our Opening hours are:

  • Monday to Sunday: From 12pm
  • No public holiday surcharge

Gift cards

Join our Team

We are hiring:

Duty Managers

FOH staff



    Attach your CV

    Events