Bach Brewing Sticky Buds
My quest to discover new Zealand’s best fridge filling hazy pale ale continues. I must admit, I haven’t tried too many Double Vision beers in the past, but based on the quality of this beer I’ve been missing out! Mouth Party Hazy Pale Ale (5.3 per cent) is beautifully balanced, a nice mix of tropical fruit flavours, strong body and a nice hint of bitterness.  The marketing team at Double Vision score 10/10 for the label — it’s bloody awesome and one of the best I’ve seen on the shelves for quite some time. So, all being said and done, I now promote Double Vision Brewing Mouth Party to top spot on my list for 2022.  A solid fridge filler that won’t disappoint at any occasion.

Bach Brewing Sticky Buds III

by | May 12, 2026 | Recommended | 0 Comments

I’m far from ready to declare a favourite from this year's fresh hop season, but I surely have some contenders, and the third edition of Bach Brewing Sticky Buds (by way of Steam Brewing) is most definitely on the list.  Fresh Nectaron is the pick here, supporting a...
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8 Wired Fresh Hopwired

by | May 12, 2026 | Recommended | 0 Comments

It’s here… the full force of the fresh hop storm is upon us, and I find myself again in the (not so arduous) position of having vastly too many releases to choose from. So for this week’s feature, I’ll pick one that I’ve been most looking forward to reuniting with. ...
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Hallertau Fresh Hop Belgian Ale

by | May 12, 2026 | Recommended | 0 Comments

When it comes to fresh hops, it’s a bold move for a brewer to step outside the IPA and Pilsner paddocks, but Hallertau Fresh Hop Belgian Ale is unique (and bold) for even more reasons. A fleetingly rare example of a North Island hopped beer, using hand picked cones...
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Thief Brewing Brood Mother

by | May 12, 2026 | Recommended | 0 Comments

One of the first Canterbury fresh hops on the scene this year, Brood Mother Hazy IPA is brewed just over the hill at Thief in Banks Peninsula. While most freshies tend to stick to one or two hop varietals (for logistics as much as anything else), Brood Mother casts a...
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Sprig + Fern Harvest Pilsner

by | April 13, 2026 | Recommended | 0 Comments

Sprig + Fern’s ultra-classic Harvest Pilsner is always amongst the very first heralds of the impending hopocalypse, and frequently remains one of the best till the end of fresh hop seasons. This season’s release (it’s 16th outing!) presents a gentle citrus and cut...
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Haagen Lager

by | April 13, 2026 | Recommended | 0 Comments

As consumers, we all have two lines that constrain our habits.  Above, there’s the price ceiling, when the cost of beer gets above a certain point we’ll turn away.  That price ceiling has been talked about to death over the last five years (at least). ...
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