Husband-and-wife team Hamish Ward and Caroline Muller-Ward are behind Isthmus Brewing Company.
The name was chosen as a proud claim to establishing ourselves as an Auckland-based craft brewery at a time when not even a handful of others existed here. The company was incorporated in 2011, when New Zealand’s craft beer movement was still in its infancy.
Hamish began his career as a molecular biologist. He worked as a geneticist in the dairy industry and home-brewed beer in the backyard of the flat where he and Caroline were living, and later at our family home in Ellerslie. Here, he set up a 150L brewery, including a 100L conical fermenter, a three tap kegerator and glass fridges.
For Hamish, brewing is a case of science meets art, plus a strong love of beer! He honed his craft for more than 8 years, before deciding to go professional. He approached Deep Creek Brewing, who were brewing out of a bar in Brown’s Bay, to see if he could brew Isthmus’s beer there. In need of another brewer, they said yes to Hamish, but asked if he would also brew Deep Creek’s beer for them. He agreed, and thus began a journey of nearly 11 years heading one of NZ’s most reputable beer brands.
Hamish’s extraordinary skill as a brewer has been recognised with a number of prestigious awards, including: AIBA Champion Small International Brewery (2016), AIBA Champion Medium International Brewery (2018 and 2022), AIBA Champion International Beer (2021), AIBA Champion International Lager (2018); NZ Beer Awards: Champion Beer (2019), Champion Specialty and Experimental Beer (2023).
During that time, with Caroline working as a physiotherapist and later tied up at home with the couple’s infants, and Hamish working full tilt at the rapidly growing Deep Creek, Isthmus Brewing continued as a slow burn. In 2018, Caroline took the helm and Isthmus burst back on the scene with a new portfolio of exciting beers. Between raising a young family, renovating our home and working our other jobs, we have managed to grow a successful business, delighting discerning drinkers with our unique and flavoursome craft beers.
Rising stars on the craft beer scene, Isthmus now have a string of beer awards behind them. In 2025, they were awarded a gold medal and Top 25 selection at the New Word Beer and Cider Awards, as well as taking out the Supreme Champion title!
They have a previous New World Beer and Cider Awards Top 30 Gold medal (2021) and Top 100 (2022), a trophy for best in category at NZ Beer Awards 2024, and medals at NZ Brewers Guild Awards/NZ Beer Awards (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) and at AIBA (2022).
These awards are a great achievement relative to Isthmus’s size, a testament to their hard work and creative talent for producing exceptional brews.
With Deep Creek no longer operating, Isthmus continues to make beer by partner brewing with other industry leaders. Luckily, we have a lot of friends who are brewers! We partner with breweries who show the same attention to detail and quality as we do.
With the motto "Flavour first", Isthmus Brewing focuses on creating brews that the customer wants to drink repeatedly.
We shy away from using flavourings or other additives, instead relying on bringing the flavour solely from the brewing method. We use a combination of traditional and modern brewing techniques, and create greatness in a glass!
Our motto is 'flavour first,' and every brew we create proves it.
Find your next favourite beer among our portfolio of craft beers.
