Rare Disorders NZ brings the Rare Beers Challenge to Tamaki Makaurau

NEWS | ISSUE FOUR/20 | RONGOĀ / DRUGS

Written by Liam Hansen they/them | @liamhanse.n | Associate Editor

One in seventeen people live with rare disorders in Aotearoa - a catch all term for the thousands of specified health conditions that, on their own, affect a small handful of Kiwis that are left without a unified health organisation to provide them with support, care, and community. Rare Disorders New Zealand fills this gap, fighting for over 300,000 Kiwis through education, campaigns, and advocacy since the turn of the millennium. 

This is why, since 2021, RDNZ has presented the Rare Beer Challenge - uniting craft breweries from across Aotearoa to compete in making ales, lagers, stouts, pilsners, and whatnot with ingredients often better suited to soups, sundaes, and a witches' cauldron. Previous winners include a stout infused with peppercorn and mushrooms, and a vanilla mint ale. 

After five years at Fortune Favours in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, the event moved up to Tāmaki Makaurau in March, taking over 16 Tun in Wynyard Quarter with a flavour selection ranging from spicy tomato to matcha & earl grey. The Debate team tested out some of the drinks and learned about how they all came together - you can watch that over on our Instagram here. 

The 2026 winners held their title from last year, with Shining Peak producing a vintage cuvée combining five years of barrel-aged stout across 2019-2024 - they were also behind the aforementioned peppercorn and mushroom stout from 2025. Other winners included a hot honey pilsner from Alibi Brewing, and a people's choice winner in a Sake Lager from Kingsland locals Saint Leonards. 

The RDNZ team reported that “the event was an all-round success, not only helping to raise awareness of rare disorders but also raising over $8,600 for Rare Disorders NZ, from both 16 Tun and the satellite event in Wellington at The Malthouse.”