We’re from the very heart of hop country.

Six cans of Hop Federation beer in various flavors arranged on a surface with a brick wall background and a potted plant.
A man wearing a blue cap, glasses, and black shirt pouring green hops from a metal bucket into a large brewing vessel in a brewery.

Like many great projects, we began with a late-night Trade Me search.

It turns out, searching the term ‘brewery’ wasn’t such a long shot after all. We found a brewery in rural Riuwaka and it was on!

In 2013, we moved from the big city life in Auckland with our daughter Lily. By September that year, we had opened as Hop Federation, a small independent brewery with just four New Zealand style ales.

Now, we’ve got a wider range of brews that are hop-forward, fresh and well known for exceptional quality and craftsmanship. Just good, clean beer.

A hand reaching into a cooler filled with ice and cans of Hop Federation beer, which feature colorful hop illustrations on the labels.

In 2025, we Joined our mates over the hill, becoming part of the DNA Brewing family.

Led by renowned brewer, Dave Nicholls, joining forces has ensured that production of our brews remains firmly rooted in the Top of the South.

Our mutual dedication to brewing bloody great beer and having a good time whilst doing so, is only going to result in our legacy continuing on the epic trajectory that we had alwasy envisioned.

Cheers!

Owners of Hop Federation, Dave Nicholls, Ant Moore, Simon Nicholas sitting on a log, smiling, clinking glasses of beer, with plants and blue sky in the background.
Person pouring beer from a can into a clear plastic cup outdoors.