cassels nectaron double ipa

Cassels Nectaron IPA is still my go to for a core range beer showcasing this terrific new hop, so this (ostensibly) double IPA version (8.2%) caught my eye immediately.  Bright and sharp aromas of passionfruit, pineapple and nectarine leap out of the nose, with tropical guava hovering further in.  On the palate there’s concentrated stone fruit and orange citrus before big chewy malt and a late but firm bitterness.  A big and weighty IPA with great concentration of flavour and a good malt presence that gives the palate extra fortification for winter drinking. 

Karamu Barrelworks — A Victory for The Style

by | July 30, 2026 | Cover Story | 0 Comments

A couple of days after being named New Zealand's champion brewery, Daryl Bryant of Karamu Barrelworks dropped off 40 dozen bottles of his wild-fermented beer to online seller The Beer Cellar — the best place to shop if you're looking for one of his unique bottles,...
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Bringing It All Back Home — Emerson’s Golden Night

by | July 27, 2026 | Cover Story | 0 Comments

Dunedin's Emerson's Brewery are home-town heroes after a golden night at the New Zealand Beer Awards on July 25. Emerson's won the champion large brewery title, ending Garage Project's reign — GP had won four of the past five large brewery crowns, with Parrotdog...
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NZ Brewing Shock As Major Malt Supplier Shuts

by | July 17, 2026 | Cover Story | 0 Comments

The New Zealand brewing industry is set for a massive shock after France-based multi-national Malteurop announced they will close their malt plant in Marton at the end of September. Malteurop is the main supplier of malt to New Zealand’s big three breweries — Lion, DB...
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Spirit Of Derelict Lives On At No 19 Brewing

by | July 17, 2026 | Features | 0 Comments

The win by No 19 Brewing in the NZ Stout Challenge on July 11 in Christchurch has a direct connection to one of the country’s most celebrated but short-lived breweries: the newcomers are creating their beer on the brew kit once owned by Derelict. No 19 Brewing are...
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Wilding Working Wonders For The Wilderness

by | July 16, 2026 | Features | 0 Comments

Kudos to the team at Froth Technologies for the work they’re doing with their New Zealand native yeast, Wilding. I’ve always enjoyed the handful of beers where Wilding has turned up: notably the first brew Emerson’s did to showcase the yeast as well as Three Sisters...
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Flood Shuts Emporium Brewing

by | July 15, 2026 | News | 0 Comments

Emporium Brewing in Kaikoura will be closed until further notice following the devastating flood that roared through the town last week. Owner-brewer Paul Finney has just had insurance assessors through the premises which includes a brewery, bar, escape rooms, and a...
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