Looking for locally brewed craft beer in Queenstown? Every Searchlight beer is thought up, brewed, tested and canned in our brewhouse at 12 Industrial Place. We brew across distinct ranges, from the beers you can count on to styles almost no one else in New Zealand makes.
On tap
Core range
Easy Rider
Session Hazy Pale Ale
A big old breakfast juice with notes of tropical fruit, papaya and mango. Hops: Simcoe, Mosaic, Motueka & Citra.
Thieving Bastard
NZ IPA
A big, juicy hazy packed with Motueka, Riwaka and Nelson Sauvin, bursting with mango, guava and citrus.
Ladies of Dogtown
Hazy Pale Ale
Lime and grapefruit over soft tropical notes from Motueka, Nelson Sauvin and Taiheke hops.
John Beer
Hazy IPA
Full-bodied, creamy and loaded with tropical mango, guava and citrus aromas.
Iggy Hop
West Coast IPA
Balanced citrus, pine and fruity hops with guava, passionfruit and tropical juice on the nose.
Ella’s Escape
Low Carb Lager
Bright straw colour with soft citrus, floral aromas, gentle grapefruit pith and balanced bitterness.
Neon Jesus
Pale Ale
Juicy, citrusy hops with a soft malt cushion. Hops: Kohatu, Motueka and Nelson Sauvin.
Caterpilsner
Pilsner
Crisp and straw-yellow with floral spice, zesty lemon and a dry, spritzy finish.
Champagne Pilsner
Champagne Pilsner
Clean pilsner character with a bright, bone-dry sparkle, fine effervescence and an elegant finish.
Queenstown Draught
NZ Draught
Soft malt, a hint of toffee and biscuit with subtle bitterness and a full-bodied local character.
On tap
Seasonal range
Oatmeal Stout
Oatmeal Stout
Dark chocolate, gentle vanilla, roasted coffee and toasted malt with a soft, creamy finish.
Cherry Wit
Cherry Wheat Beer
Delicate cherry, orange peel and subtle banana esters with a soft, bready and lively finish.
Trench Coat
West Coast IPA
A bold West Coast IPA bringing together the punchy character of US hops with a bright NZ hop edge. A sturdy malt base gives the beer a rich deep-gold colour and a touch of chewy malt sweetness, providing balance against a firm bitterness and generous hop load. Aromas of ripe stone fruit and dank pine resin lead into a subtle citrus undertone, with the US hops taking centre stage while the NZ varieties add brightness and lift. Full of character, bitter, resinous and built for hop lovers.
Abbey Stained Glass
Belgian Tripel
A rich 8.6% Belgian Tripel.
Lembas Bread
Ale
Inspired by the legendary Lembas bread of Middle-earth, this collaboration with Choice Bros Brewing takes the idea of bread and turns it into beer. A soft, hazy pale ale with a distinctly bready and biscuit-like character, complemented by a gentle touch of vanilla. Malt-forward and comforting, with a creamy texture and just enough sweetness to evoke the rich, sustaining character of the Elves' famous travelling bread. A beer made for journeys, adventures, and second breakfasts.
On tap
Handpull
Summer Ale
English Summer Ale
A bright, easy-drinking ale with an earthy backbone, subtle spice and soft fruit esters.
Woolly Bugger
English IPA
Fruity and smooth with soft peach and apricot aromas and proper English pub character.
Lady of the Lake
Extra Special Bitter
Orange marmalade, earthy notes and toffee biscuit with a soft, balanced bitterness.
On tap
Sour lab
Peaches & Cream
Fruited Sour Beer
Juicy peach flavour, a smooth creamy finish and a softly tart, refreshing body.
Blueberry
Fruited Sour Beer
Bright and tangy with juicy blueberry flavour, gentle sweetness and a refreshing tart finish.
Strawberry Shortcake
Fruited Sour Beer
Juicy strawberry sweetness, creamy vanilla notes and a soft shortcake-like finish.