Instagratification: Dusty’s Picks June 2022

ALIBI FRESH HOP

One of my fave breweries and craft heads’ fave time of the year. Fresh Hop from Waiheke legends Alibi Brewing is a 5.5% ABV pale ale big on flavour. You can expect loads of pineapple/peach/orange/nectarine with subtle herby/greeny/resiny notes on a soft creamy mouthfeel. Gold as usual. 

 

BADASS DISKO INFERNO

A timely new release seasonally-wise from Badass Beverages, Disco Inferno’ is a 5.4% ABV Schwarzbier (dark lager). Loads of warming choc-malt notes on the nose, which is flipped on its head palate-wise where’s it’s a definitive crispy citrus lager with a smooth mouthfeel and subtle chocolate finish. Easy-drinker right there. 

 

 

 

 

DOUBLE VISION FROTHIN

Frothing from the rad crew at Double Vision Brewing, is a 5.8% ABV IPL hopped up on Nelson Sauvin, Motueka and Taiheke. Straight off the rip there’s yeasty/grape/floral notes which follows suit on the palate picking up some additional passionfruit/lime hits, a soft, slick mouthfeel and spritzy carb finish off this tasty lil brew. 

 

 

 

 

HEYDAY X Mean Doses Quest

First up, how’s the tin art? Quest is an 8% ABV double WCIPA from Heyday Beer Co and Mean Doses. It’s dosed up on the freshest Southern Cross and Nelson Sauvin courtesy of Freestyle Hops. Loads of lime/gooseberry/mandarin with an oily, resiny mouthfeel. prickly bitterness and a solid malt bill tying it all together. West is best. A repeat buy and highly recommended. 

  

LAKEMAN HAIRY CRAIC

One release I always get frothed about is this 9% ABV Irish cream stout from Taupo’s Lakeman Brewing. I fully recommend investing in a few cans for winter as this beer is indulgence at its best, beautifully rich and creamy full-bodied. Sweetness from Tahitian vanilla offset by dark chocolate and background whisky notes. It just gets better each year … winter is coming. 

 

 

 

MCLEODS HARVEST MOON

A brew I look forward to is Harvest Moon, a 7.2 % abv dark IPA from champion Waipu brewery McLeod’s. It’s the best of both worlds — rich chocolatey malt base meets hop forward fruitiness, Simcoe the choice of hop here and the driver behind the orange/apricot/pine notes. A must-buy beautiful seasonal beer. 

 

 

SHINING PEAK SCRUB CUTTER

A colab between Shining Peak brewery and Egmont Honey sees an older style beer get a new freshen up. Scrub Cutter is a 6.2% ABV honey brown ale, lighter in body and colour than your old school brown, it has a nice nutty undertone, subtle sweetness and smooth mouthfeel making it one sessionable brew. 

  

TEST LAB RED PLANET WAVE

New tin alert and perfect timing as we hit the colder months. Red Planet Rave from Nelson’s Test Lab brewery is a 5.9% ABV Red IPA hopped up on Pacific Jade, Colombus, Cascade and Rakau. Here’s the tip: it’s a beautiful beer, sweet toffee/caramel meets piney/herby bitterness with delicate notes of citrus and apricot, the mouthfeel is sweet and rich and it will be in my fridge through the winter months. Delicious.