Speight’s

Pride of the South – Speight’s is a kiwi icon, with a brewing heritage dating back to 1876. In 1879, a cask of Speight’s Strong Ale won the fledgling brewery its first international award at the Sydney International Exhibition. Sales soared and the future of Speight’s was secured. Now the highest selling beer in the country, Speight’s continues to be a key contributor to the Dunedin community supporting the likes of rugby, the infamous Speight’s Coast to Coast event and more recently local environmental groups via the Speight’s Brewery Environment Fund.

Speight’s Gold Medal Ale

Speight's Gold MedalSpeight’s Gold Medal Ale has been brewed in Dunedin since 1876 and is now New Zealand’s favourite beer.


Originally Speight’s Ale, this beer has gone from strength to strength, winning major international awards and several gold medals – hence the name change to Speight’s Gold Medal Ale in 1983.

Speight’s Gold Medal Ale is full-flavoured, grassy and bitter. The bitterness and full malt flavour sets it apart from other draught beers and makes it a great accompaniment to any meat dish and superb with gamey Southern dishes such as venison, duck and rabbit.

Date of Launch 1876
Style Draught
ABV 4.0
Standard drinks 1.0/330ml
Total carbs g/100ml 2.8
Energy kj/100ml 137
Energy cal/100ml 33

Speight’s Summit Lager

Speight's Summit LagerThe summit is where you see nature at its best. Where the artificial elements in life are unnecessary. Where you see all things with clarity. Where the fresh wind in your face promises exhilaration.

This is the view that created Speight’s Summit Lager – a refreshing golden lager brewed with only natural ingredients.  Pacific hallertau hops sourced from Nelson have been used to create a clean, crisp, refreshing golden lager with a 4% ABV.

Date of Launch 2008
Style Lager
ABV 4.0
Standard drinks 1.4/330ml
Total carbs g/100ml 3.4
Energy kj/100ml 146
Energy cal/100ml 35

Speight’s Traverse

Speight's Traverse LagerSpeight’s Traverse is a 4.2% ABV low carb golden lager, with a refreshing full flavour and less than half the carbs of regular beers.

Traverse has been carefully slow-brewed to ferment out the things you don’t need – like excess carbs. While removing the carbs can lead to a loss of body or taste, our brewers have added carefully selected ingredients such as crystal malt (as used in Speight’s Distinction and Speight’s Old Dark), and Pacific Jade hops (as used in Speight’s Gold Medal Ale), to ensure you still get the great taste you expect from a beer in the Speight’s family.

Speight’s Traverse is great for everyday beer occasions, like a quiet beer with your mates after a tough game of sport, or to relax after a hard day’s work.

Date of Launch 2009
Style Lower Carb Lager
ABV 4.2
Standard drinks 1.1/330ml
Total carbs g/100ml 0.8
Energy kj/100ml 111
Energy cal/100ml 27

Speight’s Old Dark

Speight's Old Dark

Speight’s Old Dark was launched in 1992 to meet the consumer demand for a ‘dark’ beer. The dark malty character of this beer is similar to many old English and Scottish ales.

This dark malt ale is brewed with masses of roasted malt. The full-roasted malt flavour has a hint of chocolate and is balanced with extra hops and just enough sweetness.

The luscious malty and chocolate flavours make it perfect for serving with hot, rich desserts like steamed puddings. It can even be used to make ice cream or mousse. On the savoury side, it goes well with cheese boards, oysters or meat dishes.

Date of Launch 1992
Style Porter
ABV 4.0
Standard drinks 1.0/330ml
Total carbs g/100ml 4.1
Energy kj/100ml 158
Energy cal/100ml 38

Speight’s Distinction Ale

Speight's Distinction

Speight’s Distinction Ale is a traditional full flavoured malt ale with hints of caramel, malt and butterscotch flavours. Five malts have been blended to create a full malty bitterness that sets it apart from  other beers.

The full flavour of this ale is not intimidated by big red meat dishes and it holds its own against casseroles, steaks and venison.

Date of Launch 1992
Style Dark Ale
ABV 5.0
Standard drinks 1.3/330ml
Total carbs g/100ml 3.7
Energy kj/100ml 175
Energy cal/100ml 42

Speight’s Pilsener

Speight’s Pilsener originated from recipes of a bygone era in a quest to recreate flavours as true as possible to the original style. Speight’s Pilsener is fermented in kauri gyles – open topped wooden fermentation vats that are lined with beeswax. Only one other brewery in the world is still known to use kauri gyles.

Speight’s Pilsener is only available on tap in our Speight’s Ale Houses and selected bars around the country.

Date of Launch 2002
Style Pilsner
ABV 5.0
Standard drinks 1.3/330ml
Total carbs g/100ml 4.7
Energy kj/100ml 191
Energy cal/100ml 46

Speight’s Pale Ale

Speight’s Pale Ale has a distinctive golden hue and follows the classic pale ale style delivering a distinctive hop aroma. Generous amounts of New Zealand Saaz hops are added late in the boil – resulting in full tropical fruit notes, which complement the high temperature flavours from the open gyle fermentation.

Speight’s Pale Ale is only available on tap in our Speight’s Ale Houses and selected bars around the country.

Date of Launch 2001
Style Pale Ale
ABV 4.5
Standard drinks 1.1/330ml
Total carbs g/100ml 3.0
Energy kj/100ml 158
Energy cal/100ml 38

Speight’s Porter

Speight’s Porter originated from recipes of a bygone era in a quest to recreate flavours as true as possible to the original style. Speight’s Porter is fermented in kauri gyles – open topped wooden fermentation vats that are lined with beeswax. Small volume and labour intensive, these open shallow vessels help to bring out the seamless character and full aromas of the brew. Only one other brewery in the world is still known to use kauri gyles.

Speight’s Porter is only available on tap in our Speight’s Ale Houses and selected bars around the country.

Date of Launch 2002
Style Porter
ABV 5.0
Standard drinks 1.3/330ml
Total carbs g/100ml 4.7
Energy kj/100ml 191
Energy cal/100ml 46

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