Photographer, beer-lover and Instagram influencer Dusty, picks his highlights from the 2023 Fresh Hop season.
McLeod’s Forty Acre IPA
First sip and you know it’s the best. The Waipu legends at Mcleods have produced pure fresh hop gold right here with their Forty Acre 6.8% unfiltered pale ale heavily dosed with 400kg of Nelson Sauvin from Freestyle Hops. It’s greeny/vegetal/oily thick with juicy green grapes/dank gooseberry and a flickering of grapefruit. My stand out and deservedly top of the podium!
North End Zeal Autumn IPA
I was fortunate to be having a feed at Salt & Wood, the restaurant side of North End Brewing as these tins were being labelled and hitting the fridge. Zeal is a 6% brewty hopped with Nelson Sauvin and it’s all types of great. Loads of danky/oily/gooseberry/passionfruit with additional floral notes. A crispy mouthfeel with a zesty bitterness and a drying finish round out a beautifully made well balanced beer.
Hop Federation Green Limousine
My No 3 and last place on the podium was difficult, with multiple favourites vying for a medal here, but in the end I went with perennial podium finisher Green Limousine, a 6% Nelson Sauvin-hopped from Hop Federation. It may not have the oomph of last year (as I’ve found with most fresh hops this season) but it’s a standout of what fresh Nelson Sauvin is all about with a good whack of dank bitterness.
Shining Peak Gung Ho!
This and the next beer deserve to be on the podium …Gung Ho! from the locals at Shining Peak is a 7% beauty loaded with all the Nelson Sauvin oily/weedy/gooseberry/passionfruit character while being crisp as.
Bach Brewing Sticky Buds IPA
How’s the serenity? A perfect brew for a sunset or if you just love fresh hop Nelson Sauvin, Sticky Buds rolls at 6.2% with plenty of juicy green grape vibes and a drying vegetal finish. Top drop.
Sawmill Fresh Hop Riwaka hazy IPA
First Riwaka beer on the list and always a standout each year, this 6% hazy from Sawmill typifies Riwaka’s danky diesel & grapefruit notes. Slightly oily yet crisp mouthfeel rounds out a banging brew.
Eddyline Hoptimus Prime WCIPA
First westy and first Nectaron-hopped beer on the list, although it also features Nelson Sauvin. Eddyline do a great WCIPA and this chock-full of juicy gooseberry and pineapple. Oily mouthfeel and a great wash of bitterness tie this smashable brew together. Delicious!
Sprig + Fern Harvest Pilsner
The only pilsner on my list but always a much-anticipated brew for me. The 5% Harvest Pilsner features Riwaka and Motueka and is a ripper with plenty of lemon/lime/floral notes with a greeny mouthfeel an prickly bitterness. Fresh hop x Sprig & Fern — what a combo.
