$17,385 - new record! We’ll be sending one of those giant cheques to our friends at Rare Disorders NZ ? On a serious note we want to say thanks to all of the breweries and beer drinkers who joined us for the Rare Beer Challenge. It’s because of you we are able to make a record donation to Rare Disorders NZ  A special thanks to 16 Tun and the Auckland beer drinkers who tried a Rare Beer, your support has helped make this record donation a possibility. Above all else we are most proud of the awareness the Rare Beer Challenge has been able to make for an under funded organisation fi ..read more

Cuba Dupa you were amazing ? After the disappointment of last year there was no doubt this was going to be big and boy were we right - Our city knows how to put on a party?? This year saw a whole new array of out-of-this-world offerings come to the heart of Te Whanganui-a-Tara. The Cuba Street precinct was alive with colour, art, music, theatre, dance, food and over 1200 artists performing over the weekend.  To all of you who stopped by the Fortune bar or dove mouth first into a tropical haze (AKA the Cuba Dupa beer) thank you! We can’t wait to see you next year ..read more

-Author Denise Garland, Pursuit of Hoppiness Lingonberry pancake farmhouse ale brewed by Heyday Beer Co. was this month crowned the 2023 Rare Beer Champion, beating out 20 other wacky, wild and just plain weird beers to take out the winner’s cap. The Rare Beer Challenge is an annual event hosted by Fortune Favours to raise funds and awareness for Rare Disorders NZ. Breweries create a unique beer inspired by the charity, promoting it — and the cause — on social media. Now in its third year, the event was extended beyond just Wellington, with several breweries from across the country invited to ..read more

A drop that tastes like prunes, barley wine, or smoke - those at the Rare Beer Challenge being held in Wellington and Auckland today will get to decide for themselves. While the concoctions might sound unusual, the challenge was raising much-needed funds for Rare Disorders, with $3 from each pint going to the charity. On a backstreet in Lower Hutt, at the Abandoned Brewery production centre, head brewer Charlotte Feehan offered up a taste of her monstrous creation - a double IPA brewed with energy drink. "Yeah look, I'm not going to lie, it's a lot better than I was afraid it was going to be ..read more

The 3rd annual Rare Beer Challenge was bigger than ever with 21 breweries from around New Zealand taking on the challenge of brewing a rare beer for Rare Disorders NZ. Aucklanders were also treated to a taste of rare with 16 Tun pouring Rare Beers over the weekend.  Heyday Beer Co. took out the top prize with their Lingonberry Pancake Ale, based on the 90s cult movie The Big Lebowski. Rare Beer new comers Alibi Brewing Co. took out 2nd place with A heart Full of Cherries Barrel Blended Tart Ale aged on Cherries. Last years winners Choice Bros took out 3rd place with SAKE BOMB Ginjo Beer ..read more

We’re all about doing our part when it comes to sustainability, so we asked our staff what we could do to make it easier for them to cycle to work, the overwhelming factor being there was no where to safely park their bikes. After a little research we found that Wellington City Council offer the Active Transport Workplace Fund which helps business in Wellington encourage their staff to actively commute to work. We were able to use this fund to build a safe and secure bike parking shelter for our staff to use. We also encourage our customers to use it too if there's free space. This project ..read more

The Rare Beer Challenge is back for 2023! With a line up of 21 breweries this is the biggest year yet for the Rare Beer Challenge. The Rare Beer Challenge is a fundraiser for our mates at Rare Disorders NZ, we ask breweries from around NZ to use weird and wonderful ideas along with rare ingredients and brewing techniques to produce their version of a rare beer. This is competition where brewers can let their imaginations run wild. There are no specific rules except- each brewery has to produce 2 kegs and help promote rare disorders along the brewing journey.  Last year's winners Choice Br ..read more

                                         Here at Fortune Favours HQ we are all about pushing the limits when it comes to new beers and our entry for this years Rare Beer Challenge was no different. Head brewer Dale had the idea of making New Zealand's strongest beer - coming in at 31% this beer was not for the faint hearted.  Hyper Fuel 31% is New Zealand’s strongest beer, it has been fortified and is comparable to Port or Sherry. ⠀ ⠀ How it was done:⠀ Produced high gravity wort ..read more

Wow what a night! The Rare Beer Challenge was huge, thanks to the hundreds of you who came through to try the beers and support Rare Disorders NZ Congratulations to ? Choice Bros for taking out the title with their version of a rare beer - A LA LA LA LA LA LONG Imperial Isotonic Sports Beer. ?2nd- Bone Face Brewing - Cola and Tayberry Sour⠀ ?3rd - Waitoa Beer - Peach Lichtenhainer ..read more