kereru Superb Owl

Yes, the headline on this is correct, it says Wit Beer, rather than Witbier. This is a great step towards repositioning some of these traditional European styles into terms Kiwis will understand slightly better. Even better, is that on the Kereru web page they describe it as a “hazy blonde”. The tweak in language matches a tweak in the recipe from the last edition of this beer (also now in 440ml as opposed to 330ml). They’ve ditched the cardamom and gone back to pairing the orange zest with a more traditional coriander seed spice. Basically it’s a classic interpretation and it hits all the right notes. Appealing aroma, creamy mouthfeel, refreshing sweet citrus, a hint of tannic spice and nice 4.8 per cent ABV. It’s a perfect summer’s evening beer.

Epic Electric Pony Cryo Mosaic IPA

The One Trick Pony rides again, and this time it’s fully electric.  Epic Electric Pony is this first of its kind IPA (the first out of my fridge anyway) brewed with fresh cryo hops from Yakima Chief.     I’ve been critical of some ‘cryo only’ beers in the past,...

Brothers Beer Mighty Quinn Quadruple IPA

How strong is too strong? Opinions differ, but for my part I believe that if you want to go nuts, then you should go nuts.  Usually this means brewing a double, or even triple IPA, but not to Auckland’s Brothers Beer, who have well and truly gone nuts with their 13.5%...

Panhead Six Splitter WCIPA

Even without the proximity to the Malthouse WCIPA Challenge, it feels like we’ve been feasting (or sipping, at least) on vastly more West Coast style IPA than usual these last few months.  Even I haven’t had the opportunity to try them all (yet), but as I’ve been...

Renaissance Black The RIPA

Black IPAs are few and far between these days, almost to the point that one could credibly call it something of a ‘retired’ style, but I’m always glad to see the odd one now and then to give some contrast in the IPA space. Black The RIPA from Renaissance is doubly...

Lakeman Rogue HoG

Taupo’s Lakeman has been revving their IPA engine again with another slot in the recently announced New World Beer & Cider Awards Top 25 (and not their only one either), for this West Coast style IPA. Classically styled, with assertive pine and pithy grapefruit up...

Bach Brewing All Day Go

Bach Brewing All Day Go, a vitamin fortified non-alcoholic pale ale, is the latest addition to their burgeoning (and wildly successful) non-alc range.  Seeing any beer that has been in any way ‘fortified’ with something chemical rather than culinary, always raises the...