DB Breweries
A major New Zealand brewing company known for DB, Tui, Monteith's and other beer and beverage brands, and owned by Heineken.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
DB Breweries is a New Zealand brewing company whose roots date to 1930, when Sir Henry Kelliher and W. Joseph Coutts acquired Levers and Co. and the Waitemata Brewery Co. in Ōtāhuhu, Auckland. The business was initially known as Dominion Brewery, a name reflected in the DB initials that remain central to its corporate and consumer identity. Coutts became a director, and his son Morton Coutts later became an important figure in the company's development after joining its leadership in 1946. The company grew from an Auckland brewing operation into a substantial national brewer with a portfolio spanning mainstream lager, regional and heritage beers, premium imports, specialty products and, later, cider. Its best-known New Zealand brands include DB Draught, DB Export, Tui and Monteith's. The portfolio has also included or distributed brands such as Amstel, Heineken, Tiger, Sol, Kingfisher, Murphy's, Orchard Thieves and Tuatara. The precise composition of the portfolio has changed over time, with some labels discontinued and others managed under Heineken's broader brand arrangements. DB Breweries is associated with an important brewing innovation developed by Morton Coutts: continuous fermentation. Unlike conventional batch production, the process was designed to allow beer to be made continuously without stopping the operation for cleaning between batches. The method attracted interest beyond New Zealand and was sold or licensed to other brewing companies, helping give the business a place in brewing-technology history as well as in the domestic beer market. The company operates or has operated multiple New Zealand brewing sites. These include Waitemata Brewery in Ōtāhuhu and the DB Draught Brewery in Timaru. The former Mainland Brewery was renamed DB Draught Brewery in 2012, a change that recognized the importance of DB Draught in the South Island. DB also controlled the Tui Brewery at Mangatainoka and Monteith's Brewery in Greymouth, although in 2020 it announced plans to stop brewing at both of those sites. Such changes reflected the consolidation of production and the management of brewing capacity within a larger international group. Tui became one of the most recognizable beer brands in New Zealand, supported by a long-running advertising platform built around the phrase “Yeah Right.” Beginning in 1997, the campaign used ironic billboards and culturally topical statements to suggest that the preceding claim was implausible. Its humor, regional references and willingness to comment on public events made it unusually visible in New Zealand advertising, although some executions generated criticism or controversy. DB's corporate ownership changed significantly in the twenty-first century. Asia Pacific Breweries acquired DB Breweries in 2004, and Heineken subsequently bought out Asia Pacific Breweries' remaining ownership in 2012. DB Breweries therefore operates as part of Heineken's international business rather than as an independent listed New Zealand brewer. Its market role remains primarily domestic: it manufactures and markets beer and related beverages for New Zealand consumers while benefiting from the international group's brand portfolio, technical resources and distribution relationships.
History
DB Breweries was established in 1930 after Sir Henry Kelliher and W. Joseph Coutts purchased Levers and Co. and the Waitemata Brewery Co. in Ōtāhuhu, Auckland. The new enterprise was originally called Dominion Brewery. Coutts became a director, establishing a family connection that continued when his son Morton Coutts assumed a directorship in 1946. Morton Coutts later became associated with a major technical development in brewing: continuous fermentation. The process was intended to permit uninterrupted beer production rather than requiring the brewery to stop and clean between successive batches. It attracted attention from other brewers and was commercialized beyond DB, contributing to the company's reputation for practical brewing innovation. Over subsequent decades, DB expanded beyond its original Auckland base and developed a portfolio of New Zealand beers. Its operations included Waitemata Brewery in Ōtāhuhu and a Timaru facility that was formerly known as Mainland Brewery. The Timaru site was renamed DB Draught Brewery in 2012, linking the facility more directly with one of the company's principal brands. DB also became connected with breweries associated with Tui and Monteith's. Tui Brewery in Mangatainoka dated to 1889, when Henry Wagstaff and Edward Russell established the brewery there. The Tui brand later became one of New Zealand's most widely recognized beers. Tui is a pale lager named after the native New Zealand bird and has been marketed particularly effectively through the “Yeah Right” advertising concept. The campaign began in 1997 and used short, ironic statements on billboards and other media. Its executions drew on New Zealand political, social and regional references. The campaign became a notable part of the local advertising landscape, although several advertisements prompted criticism or public debate because of their subject matter. The billboard platform continued for many years, with the reference material identifying 2016 as its endpoint. DB's portfolio has included DB Draught, DB Bitter, DB Export, DB Export Dry, Double Brown, Tui, Monteith's and other beers. It has also produced or distributed international labels including Heineken, Amstel, Tiger, Sol, Kingfisher and Murphy's, as well as cider under Orchard Thieves. Some former products, including DB Lager, DB Natural, Joseph Kuhtze, Kiwi Lager and Mako, are no longer identified as active brands in the available reference material. Ownership shifted from local independence to international corporate control. Asia Pacific Breweries acquired DB Breweries in 2004. Heineken International later bought out Asia Pacific Breweries in 2012, and DB Breweries became part of Heineken's regional operations. The company continued to manufacture and market products in New Zealand while operating within the resources and brand structure of the global Heineken group. The company also became involved in a trademark dispute over the word “Radler.” DB registered the term in 2003, and the Society of Beer Advocates challenged the registration. In 2011, the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand ruled in DB's favor after a dispute that had lasted roughly two years. Critics argued that “radler” was a generic European beer style or product term and therefore should not be controlled as a brand identifier. The decision was criticized by the Society of Beer Advocates and by some intellectual-property commentators. In 2020, DB announced that it would cease brewing at the Tui Brewery in Mangatainoka and Monteith's Brewery in Greymouth. The announcement marked a further consolidation of the company's physical brewing network. DB Breweries remains an active New Zealand brewing business under Heineken ownership, with a portfolio centered on beer and related beverages and with local brands operating alongside international products.
- 2020
Brewing closures announced for Tui and Monteith's sites
[1]DB announces that it will stop brewing at the Mangatainoka and Greymouth breweries.
- 2012
Heineken becomes the ultimate owner
[1]Heineken buys out Asia Pacific Breweries and DB Breweries becomes part of the Heineken group.
- 2012
Mainland Brewery becomes DB Draught Brewery
[1]The Timaru brewery is renamed to honor the importance of DB Draught in the South Island.
- 2011
Radler trademark ruling favors DB
[1]The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand rules in favor of DB Breweries after the trademark dispute.
- 2004
Asia Pacific Breweries acquires DB Breweries
[1]The New Zealand brewer enters the Asia Pacific Breweries group.
- 2003
DB registers Radler as a trademark
[1]DB Breweries registers the word “Radler,” leading to a subsequent challenge by the Society of Beer Advocates.
- 1997
Tui launches the Yeah Right campaign
[1]Tui begins its long-running humorous billboard campaign built around ironic claims followed by the phrase “Yeah Right.”
- 1946
Morton Coutts joins the leadership
[1]Morton Coutts takes over as a director and later develops the continuous-fermentation brewing process.
- 1930
Dominion Brewery is founded
[1]Sir Henry Kelliher and W. Joseph Coutts acquire Levers and Co. and Waitemata Brewery Co. in Ōtāhuhu, forming the business that becomes DB Breweries.
- 1889
Tui Brewery is established
[1]Henry Wagstaff and Edward Russell establish the brewery at Mangatainoka that later becomes associated with the Tui brand.
Products and positioning
A broad-portfolio New Zealand brewer combining nationally recognized local brands, regional and heritage beers, and international Heineken-associated brands.
Mainstream lager
DB Draught
A core DB beer brand and one of the company's principal commercial offerings. The brand is particularly associated with the South Island, where the former Mainland Brewery was renamed DB Draught Brewery in 2012. It represents DB Breweries' mainstream New Zealand lager positioning.
Pale lager
Tui
A 4% ABV pale lager named after the native New Zealand tūī bird. Tui is one of DB Breweries' best-known brands and achieved broad recognition through its long-running “Yeah Right” advertising campaign. The associated brewery at Mangatainoka was scheduled to cease brewing under DB's 2020 consolidation plans.
Regional and specialty beer
Monteith's
A New Zealand beer brand associated with the historic Monteith's Brewery in Greymouth. The range has represented a more regional and specialty-oriented part of DB Breweries' portfolio, including products marketed around provenance and brewing heritage. DB announced in 2020 that brewing would cease at the Greymouth site.
Lager
DB Export
A DB Breweries lager family that has included DB Export, Export Dry and Export Gold. The Export labels form part of the company's established mainstream beer portfolio and have been marketed as nationally available New Zealand products.
Cider
Orchard Thieves
A cider brand included in DB Breweries' broader beverage portfolio. It extends the company's offering beyond beer into the New Zealand cider category.
International lager
Heineken
The global Heineken lager brand is among the international beer brands associated with DB Breweries' portfolio following Heineken's ownership of the business.
International lager
Amstel
An international lager brand listed among the beers produced or handled within DB Breweries' portfolio.
Craft beer
Tuatara
A New Zealand craft-beer brand included in the company's listed beer portfolio.
Beer
DB Bitter
A DB-branded beer product listed among the company's portfolio of New Zealand beers.
Beer
Double Brown
A beer label associated with DB Breweries' historic and mainstream product range.
Controversies
2011
Radler trademark controversy
The Society of Beer Advocates challenged DB Breweries' registration of “Radler,” arguing that the term was a commonly used European description for a beer-and-lemon beverage rather than a distinctive proprietary mark. The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand ultimately ruled for DB. The decision was criticized by the challenger and some intellectual-property commentators.
Controversial Tui advertising executions
Several Tui “Yeah Right” billboards attracted public criticism or controversy because they addressed politics, religion, same-sex marriage, road safety and other sensitive subjects. The campaign's use of irony was central to its identity but also exposed the brand to complaints about taste and appropriateness.
Marketing campaigns
- 1997Tui Yeah Right
New Zealand
A humorous Tui advertising platform used ironic claims, cultural references and the repeated response “Yeah Right.” The campaign became one of the most recognizable beer advertising concepts in New Zealand and ran through 2016.
Outcome. The campaign gave Tui strong public visibility and generated both acclaim and controversy through topical billboard executions.
Brand decisions
2020
Consolidate brewing at selected sitesStrategyBackground
DB reviewed its New Zealand production network within the context of its Heineken ownership and national brewing operations.
Action taken
The company announced that it would cease brewing at the Tui Brewery in Mangatainoka and Monteith's Brewery in Greymouth.
Aftermath
The decision represented a consolidation of brewing production and changed the operating role of two historically significant New Zealand brewery sites.
2012
Heineken takes full controlM&ABackground
Heineken acquired the remaining ownership of Asia Pacific Breweries, whose group included DB Breweries.
Action taken
DB Breweries became a wholly controlled operating company within Heineken's international business.
Aftermath
DB retained its New Zealand operating identity and local brands while benefiting from Heineken's international ownership and resources.
2012
Rename Mainland Brewery as DB Draught BreweryStrategyBackground
DB sought to connect its Timaru facility more directly with the significance of the DB Draught brand in the South Island.
Action taken
Mainland Brewery was renamed DB Draught Brewery.
Aftermath
The renamed site became more closely associated with a principal DB brand and its regional market role.
2004
Join Asia Pacific BreweriesM&ABackground
DB Breweries was acquired by Asia Pacific Breweries as the New Zealand brewing market became increasingly connected to international beverage groups.
Action taken
The company entered the Asia Pacific Breweries corporate group.
Aftermath
The transaction preceded Heineken's eventual acquisition of full ownership of Asia Pacific Breweries and placed DB within a global brewing structure.
Recent events
- 2020
DB announces closure of brewing at Tui and Monteith's sites[1]
Other
DB Breweries announced that brewing would cease at its Tui Brewery in Mangatainoka and Monteith's Brewery in Greymouth.
- 2012
Heineken takes full ownership through Asia Pacific Breweries[1]
M&A
Heineken bought out the remaining ownership of Asia Pacific Breweries, placing DB Breweries within the Heineken group.
- 2012
Mainland Brewery renamed DB Draught Brewery[1]
Other
The Timaru facility formerly known as Mainland Brewery adopted the DB Draught Brewery name in recognition of the brand's importance in the South Island.
- 2011
New Zealand ruling upholds DB's Radler trademark[1]
Lawsuit · Regulation
After a legal dispute lasting approximately two years, the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand ruled in DB Breweries' favor over its registration of the word “Radler.”
- 2004
Asia Pacific Breweries acquires DB Breweries[1]
M&A
DB Breweries became part of Asia Pacific Breweries, beginning a major change in the company's ownership structure.
Sources1 sources
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