Craft beer lovers descended on Farmer Auto Village on Friday for Liquorland's second celebration of micro-brewed ales, pilsners, ciders and stouts.

The festival was expected to attract 200 people for the chance it offered to talk to brewers and sample beers or ciders made by 14 breweries taking part, which followed a beer and food matching event.

Mike Neilson from Tuatara pours Dave Decke an APA beer.

Liquorland Mount Maunganui and Tauranga owner Lisa Parker said it was great to bring the event back after its debut in March – saying she decided to hold the spring festival to promote the growing number of good ciders for summer drinking.

Epic Brewing Company owner Luke Nicholas says he was excited to see the interest continue to grow rapidly in craft beers, as people rediscovered good brews.

'A lot of people don't think they like beer because they think it all tastes the same, then they are discovering all these great tastes,” says Luke – who believes the appetite for tasty, well-made beer will keep growing.

Sprig and Fern Brewery owner David Barrett says his experience running degustation evenings, where women had told him how impressed they had been by the interesting beers, showed craft beer was appealing beyond beer's traditional male market.

Tuatara Brewery owner Mike Neilson says craft beer fans recognise the higher price paid than mass beer was for a better product, and

'We use the best ingredients and are committed to a quality product and the price reflects that. People are fed up with having no real choice in the style of beer available, but now we are all fixing that.”

Richard Emerson – the ‘godfather' of New Zealand craft brewing who started his Dunedin brewery 20 years ago – says it is exciting times for craft brewing with interest taking off in the past six years.

Asked about the brewery's sale to Lion announced this week he said there would be no changes to his beer, but the factory's capacity would gradually be increased to help meet demand.

Festival organiser Lisa aims to make it a biannual event, but says this depends on attracting the brewers support.

Luke Nicholas of Epic, was quick to say he would support a biannual festival, describing it as a great event that was boosting the profile of craft beers in the region.

'It's great to support Lisa with what she's doing for craft beer up here.”

Food and beer match presenter Vicki Purple overflowed with enthusiasm as she described the appeal of matching well-made craft beers to a good food match.

'Everyone does the wine and food match, but the beer has more of a flavour profile which gives you a chance to do a lot more with it.”

Her matches included Tuatare ‘Hefe' (wheat beer) with smoked salmon and Cajun cream cheese on bruschetta; Epic's traditional IPA ‘Message in a Bottle' with mini balsamic baked potatoes with melted cheeses; Sprig and Fern `Berry Cider' with barbecue berry boneless pork spare ribs and Emerson's ‘London Porter' with a decadent dark chocolate and coffee liqueur mousse.

Jim and Gary MacIlwee learn about the malts that are used by director Ben Middlemiss, and sales and marketing manager Tim Middlemiss in their craft beer.

Liquorland CEO Rod Gibson and Tauranga Liquorland owner Lisa Parker enjoying the food on offer at the festival.

Mike's owner and brewer Ron Trigg serving up his beer at the festival.

Croucher's Mike Goldstein serves Steve Herbison some of their beer.

Guy Morgan has a sample of cider from Sam Cooney from Apple Tree Cider.

Magners and Stoke were on offer at the festival.