Our resident Instagram influencer Dusty brings you a round-up of his best shots and favourite beers from the past few weeks.
Test Lab Sublime Coffee Stout
Located in New Street, Nelson, you will find Workshop, the HQ of Test Lab Brewery. You will also find a cool industrial vibe, murals and other cool props. The 7 per cent ABV Sublime Coffee Stout is a must-try. Big espresso meets super creamy mouthfeel meets chocolatey bitterness. A delicious stout and highly recommended.
Kereru NZ Dry Pilsner
Warmer weather equals crispy brews, Kereru providing the solution with their NZ dry pilsner, hopped up on kiwi trio of Pacific Jade, Motueka and Nectaron it throws out citrus, grassy, peach, grape, dank notes on a super crisp mouthfeel and a drying finish … banger!
Heyday Power Cat
The cat is back not sure where from this time? But it’s bigger and stronger. Power Cat is an 8 per cent ABV double haze boi from Heyday Brewing in Wellington. Big pineapple first off which subsides to orange/tangerine on a caramel cream backbone. Juiced up mouthfeel and tingly carbonation finish off this dangerously drinkable brew.
Epic Panama
Panama is a 6.2 per cent hazy from the legends at Epic Beer. This brew is hopped up on Amarillo, Mosaic and Chinook and gives off grapefruit, melon and peach vibes with some herby-pine notes for good measure, juicy mouthfeel and finish make this one easy drinker.
Sawmill Transtasman Hazy IPA
Another absolute belter from the awesome Sawmill Brewing. This Trans-Tasman Hazy IPA is rolling in at 6 per cent ABV and juiced up on Eclipse, Motueka and Pacifica in the hop department. Loads of lime, mandarin and pineapple with a great bitey bitterness offset by a soft creaminess and tingly carb makes for a banging brew.
Canyon Zenkuro Dry
Zenkuro Dry is a 4.7 per cent sake-yuzu lager colab between Canyon Brewing and Queenstown neighbours Zenkuro Sake. How’s that colour? Immediate notes of citrus/floral on a tingly carbonation and crispy mouthfeel with the rice element providing a savoury dry finish — delicious.
Badass Hefe Metal
A 5.6 per cent ABV all-German malt Hefeweizen from the good people at Badass Beverages. Nice bready yeasty notes meets subtle spicing of clove and pepper, picks up orange and slight banana as it warms, the mouthfeel is crisp and gently carbed and a nice option as the season changes.
Mount Brewing Gelato
So good when a brewery delivers everything depicted on the can flavour-wise. Here’s a perfect example from Mount Brewing Co and their 6 per cent ABV gelato pastry sour, featuring feijoa, pear, lime, vanilla and coconut water. All these flavours are abundant but work well in conjunction with each other. Super well-balanced and very refreshing.