November 15, 2009
Popular, yet relaxed bar on busy Courtenay Place. Excellent beer range on draught, including 1-2 cask ales, with many local & imported bottled beers. A little disappointing to see Monteiths, which have their own chain of pubs, but a minor quibble. Staff are helpful & know their beers and friendly punters make for a pleasant atmosphere. Pizza & fries are available if you’re hungry and the loos are clean. Definitely worth more than one visit.

September 19, 2009 [ Updated September 29, 2009 ]
My favourite beer bar in Wellington, if not NZ! Nice atmosphere, friendly and knowledgeable staff (Scott is particularly good). Great range of NZ and European beers and have seen some Aussie craft beers on tap recently too. Alsways guest beers on- think they now have 29 taps... Heaven!

June 4, 2009
wellingtons no 1 spot! great selection and around 15 beers on tap! a definite must-go!

March 24, 2009
The Malthouse was a well embraced relief from the rain and wind cutting through the streets outside. Around 15-20 taps available and 100+ bottles. A great range for NZ micros and the beers are kept and served well. This should be your first stop in Wellington.

February 5, 2009 [ Updated June 17, 2009 ]
My favourite joint in Wellington. The atmosphere is great and the beers are fantastic. The best selection to be found anywhere (in Wellington anyway). The giant fridges behind the bar look like beer bookshelves, and the staff have to use a ladder to reach the top ones. Almost like a beer library. One minor note: the taps and handpumps are too cold. The food is the biggest let-down. The pizza and snacks are good, but over priced (appart from the fries).

August 1, 2008
I may be slightly bias as I work just above the Malt House, but this does make for a pleasurable Friday liquid lunch. Everyone in the office was jumping for joy when they moved from Willis Street to Courtenay Place in late 2007. We were more devastated when they stopped the bar food. The chiefs Fish and Chips (very deserving of the capital letters) was to die for. The range of beers is large even though the move has half the bar size. Like donfardz64 said, you need to get in early but people are polite enough to make room at the bar when you want a beer. My favorite place when I want a quality beer.

July 2, 2008
Would have to be the best beer bar in New Zealand. The ’new’ Malthouse is a good mix of minimalist at the front and loungey at the back. And the selection - impressive in the fridge, and ridiculously good on the taps. If it coudl relocate to Auckland, it would be even better...

March 9, 2008 [ Updated July 27, 2008 ]
Awesome staff, very knowledgeable about the beers. Cool lounge, largest selection of beer I’ve seen in NZ. Yummy chips too! But its all about the beer and with around 20 tap beers and countless bottled this is the place for the Wellingtonian beer enthusiast. Nice during the afternoon before 4 when it gets a bit busy.

February 21, 2008 [ Updated October 15, 2008 ]
20 beers on tap 17 of them NZ beer. 74 bottles in the drinks menu. Very nice and friendly service. Nice waiters that offer to bring you the next round at the tables. Nice music and renovation. Check out the urinals in the mens room.

December 14, 2006
The Malthouse (Wellington) Joe McPhee’s review is spot on. Great renovation and fit-out of what must be a 100 year old building. Very spacious and classy – nice. This type of venue would be full of CUB import taps in Australia so makes for nice change. Must be at least 40 taps, some standard fare but plenty of interest – Emerson’s Monteiths, Epic, Renaissance, Tuatara etc (dare to dream Australia!). Food is solid albeit in a standard upmarket pub grub format. As per elsewhere in Wellington honest, enthusiastic service. 60 – 70 bottles as well. Pricing a touch on the high side at around $6 for 400ml.