The Sawmill Brewery + Smoko Room

The Sawmill Brewery + Smoko Room New Zealand's first B-Corp certified Brewery. Independent | Resourceful | Real Our brewing is underpinned by this heritage of craftsmanship and tenacity.
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Sawmill is an independent, New Zealand owned brewery run by a small and talented team. The Brewery was established in 2004 on the site of what was once a local timber mill established in the 1860’s. We appreciate our place. This raw landscape has a bearing on everything we do and people here are resourceful, creative and hardworking. In February 2016 we moved from the original site in Leigh, and w

e now work from premises just out of Matakana at 1004 Leigh Road. In July 2016 we opened the doors to the Smoko Room, a place in the brewery to visit for generous hospitality, food with gumption, 14 beers on tap and a drinks list that showcases organic wines and the best New Zealand producers. We also offer our full range of beer to takeaway as well as flagon fills.

17/06/2026

Built on shared values of craftsmanship and doing things properly, we have teamed up with Norsewear to celebrate a collaboration between two independent New Zealand businesses.

This cold-fermented NZ IPA is brewed entirely with local ingredients and designed for maximum drinkability.

Clean, refreshing, and highly sessionable. 🍻

16/06/2026

What do great beer and great socks have in common?

More than you’d think.

For our latest Aotearoa Series collaboration, we’ve partnered with Norsewear — the legends behind some of New Zealand’s toughest socks since 1963.

Both of us believe in backing local, working with the best ingredients and materials we can get our hands on, and giving you something of quality.

Whether you’re heading into the hills, onto the farm, or just settling in with a well-earned beer, this one’s for the people who appreciate things made well.

Norsewear X Sawmill - made here, always has been.



Aotearoa Series #73 is now on tap at:

Auckland:
Fantail & Turtle
Tiny Triumphs
Hoppers Garden Bar
My Bar Auckland

The Brewers Co-Operative
16 TUN
The Birdcage Tavern Freehouse

South Island:

5Tapped Ltd
Matthew Bainbridge
The Good Drop
Verve

Wellington:
Little Beer Quarter
Rogue & Vagabond
Golding's Free Dive

Other North Island bars:
The Hamilton Beer & Wine Co.
Luke’s Kitchen
Smoko Room at Sawmill Brewery

We’re incredibly proud to be the winners of this years Lewisham Award for Outstanding Beer Experience.Voted by our peers...
15/06/2026

We’re incredibly proud to be the winners of this years Lewisham Award for Outstanding Beer Experience.

Voted by our peers in the hospitality industry, this award recognises our dedication to great beer, generous hospitality, and creating an experience worth coming back for.

We are especially proud to offer beer styles for all the people - a good beer experience is as much about the company you keep as the ingredients. Lets not overcomplicate it!

Here’s to the best New Zealand beer and really good people 🍻

11/06/2026

We were on the town last week - hosted generously by Ozone Coffee New Zealand and followed up with drinks at The Grey Lynn Firehouse and dinner at our long time favourite Coco’s Cantina Dining Room & Bar.

Our team really is phenomenal. Loud applause for them and their commitment to bringing the best New Zealand brewed beer to the good people of Aotearoa! 🍻

We are very proud to display the recently launched NZ Grown Grain Mark  - the easiest way to see if the products you are...
11/06/2026

We are very proud to display the recently launched NZ Grown Grain Mark  - the easiest way to see if the products you are buying support New Zealand farmers.

 
Look out for this mark on beer, bread, cereals, oats and plant milk – it tells you those goods are made using New Zealand grown grains.

New Zealand growers produce some of the worlds best grain and we are lucky enough to also have one of the best Maltings Gladfield Malt - family owned, family run and world class.

Eat New Zealand

12 years. Countless relationships. One well-deserved award. 🏆Congratulations to Logan Richmond, winner of the Lewisham A...
07/06/2026

12 years. Countless relationships. One well-deserved award. 🏆

Congratulations to Logan Richmond, winner of the Lewisham Award for Hospitality NZ’s Outstanding Sales Experience.

For the past 12 years, Logan has been an incredible ambassador for Sawmill Brewery, building connections, supporting our customers, and sharing our beer with passion and authenticity.

We’re proud to celebrate this achievement with you, Logan. 🍻

Crowd pleaser 🍻
05/06/2026

Crowd pleaser 🍻

Our Filipino chefs are bringing a feast of authentic dishes to the Smoko Room! Bold flavours and the perfect balance of ...
01/06/2026

Our Filipino chefs are bringing a feast of authentic dishes to the Smoko Room!

Bold flavours and the perfect balance of sweet, sour, salty and savoury. A vibrant cuisine that is hearty and satisfying.

Choose any two courses for $50 or three for $60.

Bookings encouraged.

See you Friday! 🌶️

Bon Voyage, Maayke!✈️After 9 years of running absolutely everything at Sawmill (officially and unofficially), Maayke is ...
29/05/2026

Bon Voyage, Maayke!✈️

After 9 years of running absolutely everything at Sawmill (officially and unofficially), Maayke is off on a 6-month sabbatical.

From calendars and meetings to marketing, labels, orders, design, and pouring beers, she's been our Dutch engine room, chief organiser, and occasional herder of cats.

We're not entirely sure who's going to remind us what we're supposed to be doing now, but that's a problem for future us.

Travel safe, have an incredible adventure, and try not to enjoy yourself too much — we need you back.

Tot ziens, Maayke — you'll be hugely missed! ❤️

Our people 🍻 Meet Tom - a magician behind the bar, crafting potions, syrups, and a little bit of wonder in every pour. H...
26/05/2026

Our people 🍻

Meet Tom - a magician behind the bar, crafting potions, syrups, and a little bit of wonder in every pour. He’s got an ear for killer playlists, a pun always at the ready, and more than a few hidden talents tucked behind that smile.

Name: Tom Leuschke
Position: Bar Manager
Time at Smoko Room: 2.5 years.

What’s your go-to beer at the brewery?
At the moment it’s Sawmill BLACK! Our new Irish stout.

What’s your favourite thing about working behind the bar?
Slinging delicious, inventive, sustainable and extremely fresh beer to our many wonderful customers, and coming up with playlist that excite and infuriate the brewery team.

What’s a beer you’d recommend to someone coming to Smoko Room for the first time?
Pilsner or XPA.

Favourite Smoko Room dish?
Currently it has to be the steak skewers with bone marrow aioli. Delicious.

What’s the weirdest or funniest thing that’s happened behind the bar?
We recently had a massive swarm of bees move hives into our trees from over the road, we happened to have customers come in moments after who were bee keepers and they grabbed their gear and swiftly collected the bees. Was weird and wonderful.

What’s your perfect day off look like?
Beach day with the family, cold beer in the afternoon and a good pasta dinner. Add in some night time kiwi spotting at Tawharanui and that is a great day.

What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you? When I’m not behind the bar or with my kids I am an abstract artist who has recently been specialising in bespoke commission pieces.

What is your style/medium?
Large scale abstract paintings. I use acrylic, aerosol and ink.

Which artist has influenced you the most?
So many influences but I keep coming back to José Parlá.

If you could share a beer with any artist, who would it be?
Have to be Salvador Dali.

Where can people see more of your artwork?
Check out my website www.tomleuschke.com or find me on the gram…

Address

1004 Leigh Road
Matakana
0985

Opening Hours

Monday 12pm - 9pm
Thursday 12pm - 9pm
Friday 12pm - 9pm
Saturday 12pm - 9pm
Sunday 12pm - 9pm

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