8 Wired Hopwired has a special place for me, both in my heart and in my fridge.  Tracing back those 15 years since its inception in 2009, this most fundamental of New Zealand IPAs is amongst the formative beers that set me on the trajectory that would eventually see me writing about it here.  This anniversary edition, Southland Hopwired (7.3%), is also special in that it’s another driven by Garston Hops, who continue to demonstrate the incredible effect of hop terroir with their Southland-grown hops turning the sensory codex of NZ varieties on its head.

Sharp and supremely concentrated aromas of lemon and orange burst on the nose, with more bittersweet grapefruit juice and pine flowing over the palate.  The malt backbone is significant but rigidly structured and tightly locked down by the supreme bitterness that builds into the finish.  One of the biggest NZIPAs, and yet one of the most composed.  The fact Hopwired is still here and going strong, and I’m still as enthusiastic about it as I was back then, is an absolute testament to a classic beer; and they don’t come more classic than this.

8 Wired Southland Hopwired