Panhead Brewing Beer

Panhead Custom Ales is a prominent craft brewery founded in 2013 by Mike Neilson in Upper Hutt, New Zealand. From its inception, the brand carved out a unique space in the market by blending custom hot rod culture with precision-engineered craft beer, becoming a staple of the Wellington brewing scene. Its rapid success and distinctive branding caught the attention of major industry players.

In 2016, the brewery was acquired by Lion, one of the largest beverage companies in the region. This acquisition enabled Panhead to scale its production significantly while maintaining its identity as a high-quality craft producer. Today, the manufacturing remains centered in New Zealand, specifically at its specialized brewery in Upper Hutt, ensuring the local craft ethos remains intact while benefiting from international distribution networks.

The ultimate ownership of Panhead lies with Kirin Holdings, a Japanese multinational conglomerate. Under Kirin's global umbrella, Panhead operates as part of the Lion portfolio. This ownership structure provides the brand with extensive resources for research, development, and market expansion, solidifying its position as a leading name in the Australasian craft beer sector.