It’s been a long time since I tried to do a list of “best” beers of a year. It’s just too damn hard to sort great beers into some kind of ranking order.
 
I’m more fond of the memorable beers. Occasions. Moments when whatever I was drinking made me stop and really appreciate what I was having. That often depends on place, timing, people, occasions. And having something for the first time also helps (and contributes to the cult of new … maybe the next list should be the 10 best core range beers?)
 
So, here are my most memorable beer moments of 2021 (and one late entry from 2020).

Garage Project Chance, Luck & Magic

This had been sitting in my fridge for a few weeks waiting for an occasion. It came when I was watching (and blogging) the live stream of the Brewers Guild  Awards. When Chance Luck & Magic won the best European Ale I figured it was time to open it. Drinking at my desk while typing and watching a virtual awards presentation wasn’t the romantic setting this beer probably deserved but it couldn’t detract from how bloody good it was.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Michael Donaldson (@hoppiness.co.nz)

Craftwork Grisette

I signed up to the Craftwork subscription, in part to support what they are doing and also because it meant I could rare and hard-to-find home-delivered without having to think about it. The Grisette was the first beer I opened from the box and it was just smashing — like Saison but with an edge.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Michael Donaldson (@hoppiness.co.nz)

North End Baby Grand

Another save-for-a-special-occasion. And wow! What a beer. It has charm and character, coming at you like a long lost friend with arms spread for an embrace, but is also defiantly self-assured and a little austere; fresh and tart but earthy and reserved. All the yin is balanced by the yang and it’s a beer that tastes like life itself.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Michael Donaldson (@hoppiness.co.nz)

Bach All Day Non-Alcoholic IPA

This was something of a Road to Damascus moment. I’d played around the edges of non-alcoholic beers in 2021, trying as many as possible and not many of them won me over. But this blew me away. I couldn’t believe how great it tasted and became a convert in a sip.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Michael Donaldson (@hoppiness.co.nz)

Urbanaut Living Beer

The always inventive Urbanaut brought out a range of can-conditioned beers, dubbed Living Beer as the yeast is still alive in the can. They range is quite esoteric with some exotic flavour combos and this one wowed me so much I went to the garden to pick some jasmine as a prop!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Michael Donaldson (@hoppiness.co.nz)

Shining Peak Bogworks Pilsner

New Plymouth’s Shining Peak were a real revelation to me this year. Hand on heart I did not have a bad beer from them. What I loved about this pilsner was the perfect balance between super-snappy and nicely hoppy.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Michael Donaldson (@hoppiness.co.nz)

 

8 Wired Lo Fi

Hoppy kettle sours are a favoured style of mine. They are so refreshing. And in the Belgian Table Beer genre they are excellent vehicles for low alcohol options as you can still gets of flavour on a small ABV base. This is the perfect example. Apparently it was an accidental brew but it’s proved so good they did it again.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Michael Donaldson (@hoppiness.co.nz)

McLeod’s Dunkelweizen

A complete flavour experience. Delicate yet chock-full of flavour. Elegant, poised, perfect.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Michael Donaldson (@hoppiness.co.nz)

Boneface Hand of Doom American Strong Ale

An absolute bulldozer of a beer. I’m usually a tad reserved about double-digit ABV beers as they can tip too far to boozy heat. But this was big AND balanced. All the gears meshed and it purred along.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Michael Donaldson (@hoppiness.co.nz)

Double Vision Smooth Operator Cream Ale

It’s always good to be reminded that beer should be fun. And this was one of the most fun  beers I tried in 2021.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Michael Donaldson (@hoppiness.co.nz)

Steinlager Classic

This is my late-2020 addition as it came too late last December to make my best of 2020 list. In the scorching heat of the Far North in late-December nothing hits the spot better.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Michael Donaldson (@hoppiness.co.nz)

Epic Lupulingus Imperial IPA

‘What’s Epic up to these days?’ is something I’ve been wondering recently. While the fate of Epic post-liquidation and purchase by the Russell Group probably warrants deeper investigation, I can confirm that whatever else might be going on, they have re-brewed...

Brothers Beer Nirvana Triple Hazy IPA

The post-Christmas slouch is usually a slow period for new beers, but Brothers have kicked 2025 off with a BANG, with Nirvana, a triple hazy IPA. What better way to begin a new year of reviews! I’ll say up front (and my musical knowledge is admittedly low) I do not...

Fresh Alibi — Meet The New Brewer

Jody Thomas has a beer CV that could fill this website from back to front but her new job as the one and only brewer at Alibi on Waiheke Island is almost like starting over. Thomas has worked in breweries up and down New Zealand as well as in Sydney, Geelong and...

Shining Peak Expand Into Christchurch

New Plymouth's Shining Peak have opened a branch office in Christchurch — setting up a bar and restaurant in the refurbished Sumner Post Office. Shining Peak have been looking for a new venue for some time and briefly looked at opening a venue in Queenstown, but they...

Mr Good Bar — Twofold & St Leonards

The good news is that, despite the occasional bad news, there are great new brew bars are still bubbling up all over the place. In central Auckland, for instance, I came upon two in a single afternoon – a sunny Sunday afternoon on the edge of summer, hope in the air....

Two Experimental Hops In Advanced Trials

Two of NZ Hops Ltd’s experimental hops are in advanced trials this season and they couldn't have asked for a better start. Both NZH-106 and NZH-109 have been selected for advanced growing trials so we’ll see more of those hops in our beers later this year. Andrew...