Beer brewing 'explodes' in NZ

Brewers Guild of New Zealand chairman Bob King said New Zealand was recognised as a major player in global brewing.

Friday is International Beer Day with New Zealand's industry reaching a worth of $2.2 billion a year.

Brewers Guild of New Zealand chairman Bob King said New Zealand was recognised as a major player in global brewing.

"It's no secret that beer brewing has exploded in recent times - among hobbyists and professional brewers alike.

"We're enjoying a golden era for brewing in terms of the variety and quality of beers produced.

"In the past five years, the number of professional brewing operations in New Zealand has almost trebled, while beer exports have almost doubled."

The 2014 ANZ report into New Zealand's craft beer industry found craft brewing was the fastest growing segment of the brewing sector, at about 25 per cent per year. In the US - one of New Zealand's biggest beer export markets - demand for craft beer has grown 10 per cent year-on-year.

ANZ estimates that the potential export market to Asia could be up 300 per cent in the next decade.