8 Wired Whisky Smoke Baltic Smoked Porter
Special beer this! 8 Wired’s 9.7% Baltic Smoked Porter is aged in the whisky barrels that had created 8 Wired’s very own whisky. Off the tear it’s all whisky/liquorice/cola with hints of smoke. It follows suit on the palate with additional sweet vanilla. The mouthfeel is rich, decadent and smooth with a smokey finish. Beautifully balanced brew and highly recommended.
Zeelandt Mary Smith Brut Pils
Zeelandt have been devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle but and I wish them all the best as they recover because I need more beers like this. Mary Smith is a 5.5% brut pilsner and it’s one of the beers of my summer! Hopped with Nelson Sauvin and Green Bullet, there’s notes of lemon/gooseberry/passionfruit on a biscuity malt backbone, with the champagne yeast providing a crisp super dry mouthfeel and finish, delicious! Highly recommend this.
Waitoa Dreamwave Hazy IPA
Dreamwave is the latest haze boi rolling in from Waitoa — a 6% IPA hopped with Mosiac and Citra. It’s crispy-as with plenty of grapefruit/peach/mango vibes and some floral subtleties plus a drying finish … crushable.
The Island Pony Club Pilsner
This is one crushable little brew. Hopped with Wai-iti and Nelson Sauvin, there’s plenty of danky gooseberry, passionfruit and tangy lime. The mouthfeel is crisp with a prickly carbonation and a bitey bitterness, making it ideal on a sunny arvo.
Shining Peak The Twins IPA
A great rebrew from one of my locals, Shining Peak, The Twins is a 6.66% double dry-hopped West Coast IPA hopped with Citra and Nectaron which throws out plenty of lime/orange/passionfruit hits on a lean malt backbone. West is best!
Sprig & Fern Summer Chill Hazy
Summer Chill Hazy is exactly that — a 5.1% hop fest featuring Citra, Idaho7, Gem, HBC 360, Talus, Triumph and Loral. It’s biscuity malt meets lemon/lime/peach/passionfruit. Super juicy summer in a tin.
Duncan’s Choc Top Icecream Pastry Stout
The madness continues with Duncan’s brewing and the O.G. of New Zealand soft serve icecream, Mr Whippy, creating a 6% ‘Choc Top’ ice cream stout. It’s rich, velvety-smooth chocolate and sweet vanilla. It’s insane and fun all in one. Summery nostalgia in a glass.
McLeod’s Whale Bay Pale Ale
McLeod’s Whale Bay Pale Ale (5.3%) features Vic Secret and Talus in the hop department offering plenty of grapefruit & spice notes off the rip. It follows suit in the gob with additional marmalade/orange rind vibes, crispy resiny mouthfeel and nutty, bready malt backbone round it out.
