Fork & Brewer
The Unit from Boneface in Upper Hutt was one of the first all New Zealand-hopped hazy IPAs, and it remains one of the best. This souped-up version promises to be twice as nice.  Passionfruit, gooseberry, grapefruit and rockmelon all crowd around the nose, giving a definitively tropical, sauvignon blanc vibe.  Tart passionfruit kicks off the arrestingly sharp palate, with citrus zest and ultra-clean malt following on into the satisfyingly bitter finish.  Successfully doubles down on what makes the original Unit so great without ending up top heavy or overpowering.  Easily one of the most nimble and precise of the high-strength (8.3 per cent) hazies available in a core range

Forkin’ Big Win for Little Wellington BrewPub

by | October 9, 2024 | Cover Story | 0 Comments

Brayden Rawlinson, sole brewer at Wellington brewpub, Fork & Brewer, celebrated his recent win at the NZ Brewers Guild Awards in August, nabbing 11 medals and the title of Aotearoa’s Champion Microbrewery.  He took time out from a brewery-hopping jaunt in Europe...
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McLeod’s On Cloud Nine

by | October 9, 2024 | Cover Story | 0 Comments

It’s a tough choice for Jason Bathgate — is he happier with McLeod’s winning the Champion Medium Brewery title or Tropical Cyclone winning the Champion Beer at the New Zealand Beer Awards in August? After just a brief pause, he’s matter of fact: “I’d have to say the...
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Instagratification: Dusty’s best of the latest releases

by | October 8, 2024 | Opinion | 0 Comments

Photographer, beer-lover and Instagram influencer Dusty, picks his highlights from the latest releases CANYON BREWING TO CENTRAL WITH LOVE Take a seat — this one is a ride! To Central With Love is a barrel-aged pinot noir wild ale, an all Central Otago colab, ft...
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Parrotdog’s Core Range Rolling In Gold

by | October 4, 2024 | Cover Story | 0 Comments

The retraction in the beer economy over the past two years has an upside for Parrotdog — better beers. The Lyall Bay outfit won the Champion Large Brewery at the recent NZ Beer Awards, claiming two trophies, four gold medals and a 100 per cent success rate, with 20...
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Urbanaut Atlanta Bright IPA

by | September 25, 2024 | Recommended | 0 Comments

It seems 2024 is turning into of the ‘year of the bright IPA’ with phenomenal releases rolling out one after the other, many of them in super affordable multi-packs too.  Atlanta Bright IPA is the very latest, from Auckland's Urbanaut.  Powered by the classic trio of...
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Searchlight Shining Bright in Queenstown

by | September 25, 2024 | Travel | 0 Comments

Nestled away in Industrial Place just outside the bustle of Queenstown’s CBD is Searchlight Brewery. The independently owned and operated brewery was first started as a passion project in 2015, with doors opening to the public in 2018 – it’s since changed hands to...
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