Winner of the ‘Barrel & Wood Aged’ category at the 2021 Brewers Guild Awards. Aged for 14 months in NZ whisky barrels, quite possibly the world’s rarest wood, Kereru Amberine is a Belgian-style quad with an oak-aged twist rarely seen in European examples. Burnt sugar, vanilla and toasted coconut on the nose, with butterscotch and even mysterious stewed rhubarb hiding further in. Sumptuously full-bodied while remaining deft on the palate; initial buttery richness rapidly mobilises into more burnt sugar, then refreshing cola and drying oak tannin into the finish. Magnificently full-flavoured, yet carrying that lightness of step that only long months of barrel maturation can provide. Hard cheese and sharing (it’s 12 per cent ABV) is mandatory.