Garage Project Tiny But Mighty

Light IPAs have made great strides in the past few years, but a truly alcohol-free example that still drinks well has always seemed like an impossible target.  But this year some brewers have finally begun to make the breakthrough.  The aroma in this sub-0.5 per cent offering is superb, with a Mosaic-led assembly of zesty lemon lime citrus overlaying more pungent tropical and gooseberry notes.  The flavour kicks off with more punchy citrus and a slight (but undeniably present) clean malt.  The flavours move along at a pace too, which is important.  The high velocity of the mouthfeel, allows it to skip over the mid-palate void where these beers usually collapse, and skip straight into the pleasantly full tropical finish. It then levels out and wraps up nice and clean.  It can’t 100 per cent emulate an IPA with a conventional malt base, but it’s a huge step forward from many past examples.

Fermented Culture — After The Fall

An email comes crashing through the ether like Arnold Schwarzenegger on a motorbike shouting come with me if you want to drink… “I write to you my Friends from the Past in the 9th month of the year of our lord 2036. The changes we have seen over the last decade seem...

Continued Consolidation with Volstead Takeover

The group behind Christchurch’s small and experimental Concept Brewing have taken over the larger Volstead Trading Co and brewery, continuing the consolidation of the industry that’s been the trend of the past year. And the owners are joined by American Steve Sloan,...

Globe-trotting Kiwi Brewer Sets Up In Singapore

Nick Calder-Scholes the Kiwi brewer behind the phenomenal success of Sydney’s One Drop is now head brewer at the just-opened People People Brewing Co. in Singapore. He talks about his global journey. Nick Calder-Scholes spent his teenage summers in Nelson picking...

Instagratification: Dusty’s Fresh Hop Faves

Photographer, beer-lover and Instagram influencer Dusty, picks his highlights from the latest releases. Brave Helping Hands IPA One of my anticipated fresh hop releases, the 2026 edition of Helping Hands from Hawke’s Bay locals Brave Brewing features late harvest...

Urbanaut Harmonie Hazy Belgian IPA

An argument could be made that the first hazy beer was Belgian.  With its low bitterness, restrained malt character and (depending on one’s pour) distinct opacity, it shares more than a few similarities.  IPA on the other hand can make no such comparison,...

Garage Project Harvest Home

Just when you think you’re out, fresh hop season pulls you back in… Garage Project Harvest Home, an encore of the harvest, comes from their awards powerhouse, Wild Workshop.  Brewed with raw (unmalted) wheat and pilsner malt, and flavoured with coriander seed and yen...