Brandwave

McLeod’s Brewery vs Panhead:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Panhead had more branded searches than McLeod’s Brewery among craft beer brands in New Zealand. Panhead had about 3,310 branded searches, while McLeod’s Brewery had 620. Panhead made up 12.3% of all craft beer brand searches we track, and McLeod’s Brewery accounted for 2.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about craft beer brands, Panhead appeared in three of the five answers and McLeod’s Brewery in two. Panhead was mentioned before McLeod’s Brewery in three out of four answers that named either.

Among craft beer brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Panhead, about 5 searches for every 1 for McLeod’s Brewery

Panhead 3.3K searchesMcLeod’s Brewery 620 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Panhead, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, McLeod’s Brewery in 2

Panhead in 3 of 5McLeod’s Brewery in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Panhead, named ahead of McLeod’s Brewery in 3 of 4 answers

Panhead first in 3McLeod’s Brewery first in 1

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Top craft beer brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Panhead was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. McLeod’s Brewery was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Panhead was listed before McLeod’s Brewery in three out of four answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Garage Project1st
  2. Parrotdog2nd
  3. Emerson's3rd
  4. Panhead4th
  5. Sawmill5th
  6. Behemoth Brewing6th
  7. Liberty Brewing7th
  8. McLeod’s Brewery8th
  9. Tuatara–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Garage Project5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Emerson's4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Parrotdog4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Panhead3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Behemoth Brewing3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Sawmill3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • McLeod’s Brewery2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Liberty Brewing1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Tuatara0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about craft beer brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Is McLeod’s Brewery or Panhead more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for McLeod’s Brewery and Panhead by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine craft beer brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

McLeod’s Brewery and Panhead among craft beer brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Panhead, McLeod’s Brewery. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthEmerson'sGarage ProjectPanheadParrotdogBehemoth BrewingSawmillTuataraMcLeod’s BreweryLiberty Brewing
Oct 202528.1%20.6%11.7%19.7%4.9%7.7%4.1%2.2%0.98%
Nov 202528.4%18.9%10.6%21.9%5.1%7.1%4.1%2.7%1.1%
Dec 202525%20.3%12.8%19.7%4.9%9.3%4%3.1%0.97%
Jan 202630%15.4%11%14.9%11%10.1%4.1%2.5%0.85%
Feb 202636.4%18.7%12.4%11.9%5%8.2%4.1%2.5%0.84%
Mar 202638.4%18.4%12%12.1%4.7%8.1%3.3%2.2%0.9%
Apr 202636.1%17.7%11.2%13.7%4.7%9.3%3.4%2.6%1.2%
May 202637.1%16.4%10.5%15.7%5.8%7.4%3.6%2.5%0.95%
Jun 202644%16.3%9.3%12.4%6.3%5.9%2.6%2.1%1.1%
Jul 202636.6%17.6%11.5%14.2%6.9%6.6%2.9%2.9%0.97%
Aug 202634.7%18.8%12.7%15.1%6.5%5.9%3.4%2%0.89%
Sep 202637.8%18.5%12.3%11.9%6.9%5.9%3.4%2.3%1%

How has the McLeod’s Brewery and Panhead comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand craft beer brands in September 2026?

1 change

  1. In September 2026, Panhead rose from 4th to 3rd among craft beer brands in New Zealand.

How are branded searches counted?

22 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using McLeod’s Brewery’s and Panhead’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

McLeod’s Brewery

2 branded search terms

  • mcleod's brewery
  • mcleods beer

Panhead

20 branded search terms

  • panhead ale
  • panhead apa
  • panhead apa supercharger
  • panhead beer range
  • panhead hazy ipa
  • panhead pale ale
  • panhead pickup
  • panhead quickchange
  • panhead quickchange xpa
  • panhead rat rod
  • panhead road hog
  • panhead sandman
  • panhead sandman hazy
  • panhead super charger
  • panhead supercharger
  • panhead supercharger apa
  • panhead supercharger beer
  • rat rod panhead
  • sandman panhead
  • supercharger panhead

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among craft beer brands

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