Plenty of people love to have a drink while at university, but it is not often that the university provides the beer.

But when the country's biggest beer festival - Beervana - starts in Wellington this weekend, that is exactly what Massey University will be doing.

The head of Massey's Institute of Food and Nutrition and Human Health, Professor Richard Archer, said the university had been invited by the Brewers Guild of New Zealand to provide some of the beer for the festival.

The beer was brewed at the university's brewery on the Turitea campus. Two brews - a pilsner and winter ale - were being provided by the university.

According to Beervana's tasting notes, Pilot Pils is pale, slightly bitter with citrus flavours, while the Palmy Winter is sweeter with a chocolate taste.

Prof Archer said the festival was a chance to showcase the university's brewery, where it ran a popular brewing course once a year.

"It's a good way of having our brews we make here on the stand, and to show us off a bit," Prof Archer said.

Massey had also sent people to Wellington to help with the judging for the BrewNZ beer awards, but had not entered its beer into the competition.

The brewing scene in New Zealand was an exciting one to be part of, he said.

"The whole industry is just booming at the moment and there are some fantastic brews around."

Two other beers brewed at Massey's brewery in Palmerston North would also be on show.

Funk Estate, a contract brewing company from Wellington, brewed two beers - a Coconut Rough Stout and Jack Amber pumpkin ale - using the Massey equipment and these will be poured at the festival.

Beervana will be held on Friday and Saturday, with two sessions each day, at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

- © Fairfax NZ News