Brothers Beer Mighty Quinn

Dogfish Head 90 Minute (named for the continuous hopping process used) IPA is one of the grandfather’s of strong American IPA.  It’s difficult to find in New Zealand, and even more difficult to find in good condition, but it’s something I think all lovers of strong IPA like myself should try at least once and taste where this thing started.   There’s distinctly barleywine-type malt intensity on the nose, with orange barley sugars before dried apricot, candied citrus peel and sweet pine.  Luscious malt sweetness is again first on the palate, tempered by juicy bitter orange and stonefruit.  With an unabashedly full body and comparatively (for 9 per cent abv) moderate bitterness, this would probably be classified as an American Barley Wine rather than IPA if it was released today.  But categories aside, this is an immensely rich and satisfying drop that’s defiantly malt forward in today’s hop dominated world.

Brothers Beer Mighty Quinn Quadruple IPA

How strong is too strong? Opinions differ, but for my part I believe that if you want to go nuts, then you should go nuts.  Usually this means brewing a double, or even triple IPA, but not to Auckland’s Brothers Beer, who have well and truly gone nuts with their 13.5%...

Panhead Six Splitter WCIPA

Even without the proximity to the Malthouse WCIPA Challenge, it feels like we’ve been feasting (or sipping, at least) on vastly more West Coast style IPA than usual these last few months.  Even I haven’t had the opportunity to try them all (yet), but as I’ve been...

Renaissance Black The RIPA

Black IPAs are few and far between these days, almost to the point that one could credibly call it something of a ‘retired’ style, but I’m always glad to see the odd one now and then to give some contrast in the IPA space. Black The RIPA from Renaissance is doubly...

Lakeman Rogue HoG

Taupo’s Lakeman has been revving their IPA engine again with another slot in the recently announced New World Beer & Cider Awards Top 25 (and not their only one either), for this West Coast style IPA. Classically styled, with assertive pine and pithy grapefruit up...

Bach Brewing All Day Go

Bach Brewing All Day Go, a vitamin fortified non-alcoholic pale ale, is the latest addition to their burgeoning (and wildly successful) non-alc range.  Seeing any beer that has been in any way ‘fortified’ with something chemical rather than culinary, always raises the...

DNA Brewing Moulin Rouge

Another release from the Malthouse West Coast IPA challenge, this time from Blenheim’s DNA Brewing. Spectacularly bright and sharp citrus led nose, with a distinctly herbal undertow of rosemary and thyme running underneath. The palate kicks off with big, pithy...