Three Sisters

After tasting a few disappointing examples of IPAs utilising Yakima Chief’s all-in-one cryo-hop blend, I was beginning to build up a bit of speculation towards it.  But, if anyone can make an IPA work then it’s Epic, so I’ll go in hopeful once again.  Golden peach and guava lead the nose, with sweet orange citrus and some surprising strawberry fondant further back.  There’s grapefruit juice and strong orange rind on the palate, with more heavily ripe peach emerging before an absolutely belting bitterness slaps across the finish.  While I still think the Cryo-Pop blend lacks a bit of lift and zing, a big (6.9%), bright and bitter IPA like this is definitely where it does its best work.

Three Sisters Expand Into Wellington

by | December 12, 2025 | Cover Story | 0 Comments

New Plymouth brewery Three Sisters is expanding into Wellington, taking over the site that was once home to Black Dog brewery in Blair Street. It's a massive step for a small provincial brewery but comes with the support of their shareholders and off the back of a...
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Mr Good Bar — Epic Taproom

by | December 11, 2025 | Travel | 0 Comments

After a while, being Mr Good Bar has become a little like living a replay of Groundhog Day, the Bill Murray movie that famously celebrates repetition. And I mention that because making a professional habit of visiting various of the nation’s small army of brew bars...
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An Epic 20 Years

by | December 11, 2025 | Cover Story, Features | 0 Comments

Achieving two decades in craft brewing is a titanic feat for any producer, but few (it could be argued none) have been as formative a presence in the New Zealand industry as Epic Beer. Epic and its founder Luke Nicholas were not just at the forefront of the glory and...
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Instagratification: Dusty’s Best Summer Beers

by | December 9, 2025 | Opinion | 0 Comments

Photographer, beer-lover and Instagram influencer Dusty, picks his highlights from the latest releases. Eddyline Weizen Shine Hefeweizen Eddyline have summer in a glass with their 5% Weizen Shine Hefeweizen. All the usual suspects here: banana, clove, lemon &...
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Renaissance Takes Over Kaiapoi Site From Chinchiller

by | December 5, 2025 | News, Cover Story | 0 Comments

Renaissance has taken over the brewery in Kaiapoi that was previously home to Chinchiller and, before that, Eagle Brewing and Five Peaks. It's the third home for Renaissance, which started in Blenheim in 2005 before moving to Christchurch under new owners Brandhouse,...
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Beer Festivals — Your Guide To What’s On In Early 2026

by | December 2, 2025 | Travel | 0 Comments

There are plenty of beer festivals popping up around the country this summer. Here is a run-down on the main festivals coming up in the first part of 2026. Saturday, 31 January 2026 — Great Kiwi Beer Festival at Hagley Park, Christchurch...
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