No 19 Brewing

A new all-American hopped West Coast IPA from Taupo’s Lakeman, with Amarillo, Citra and Zythos in the mix.  There’s lime and grapefruit up first on the nose, with a distinct Zythos’y tangerine note rising further back.  Remarkably focused grapefruit on the palate, with some pine and very faint passionfruit mixed in with the light and fresh malt base.  All good stuff, but the most striking thing about this 6.9 per cent IPA is the bitterness.  It kicks in right from the front of the palate, like chomping straight down on a grapefruit (skin and all), and it stays meshed with the citrus flavour right through to the finish.  Impactful, arresting and laser focused on its style.  One of the top IPAs I’ve tasted this year.

Spirit Of Derelict Lives On At No 19 Brewing

by | July 17, 2026 | Cover Story | 0 Comments

The win by No 19 Brewing in the NZ Stout Challenge on July 11 in Christchurch has a direct connection to one of the country’s most celebrated but short-lived breweries: the newcomers are creating their beer on the brew kit once owned by Derelict. No 19 Brewing are...
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Wilding Working Wonders For The Wilderness

by | July 16, 2026 | Cover Story | 0 Comments

Kudos to the team at Froth Technologies for the work they’re doing with their New Zealand native yeast, Wilding. I’ve always enjoyed the handful of beers where Wilding has turned up: notably the first brew Emerson’s did to showcase the yeast as well as Three Sisters...
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Flood Shuts Emporium Brewing

by | July 15, 2026 | Cover Story | 0 Comments

Emporium Brewing in Kaikoura will be closed until further notice following the devastating flood that roared through the town last week. Owner-brewer Paul Finney has just had insurance assessors through the premises which includes a brewery, bar, escape rooms, and a...
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Garage Project Top Cutter NZIPA

by | July 8, 2026 | Recommended | 0 Comments

The Smith’s NZIPA challenge concluded for another year last weekend, and some of the entries are already hitting the shelves in package.  While not one of the notable winners (go South Island Brewing!), this entry from Wellington’s Garage Project was the first of the...
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8 Wired Rogue & Villian ESB

by | July 8, 2026 | Recommended | 0 Comments

Though I daren’t speak it too loud for fear of jinxing it, this has (so far) been something of a revival year for ESB, with even flash North Island brewers giving it a go. Rogue & Villain is the latest such release, from one of said flash North Island brewers,...
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Boneface The Darkness American Stout

by | July 8, 2026 | Recommended | 0 Comments

Boneface have a new (or old, actually) dark beer out for the winter months, with a classic of the old ownership's core range, The Darkness (5.8% ABV), making a fresh appearance.  While the original bore the style of ‘India Stout’ the ever-shifting naming conventions...
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Epic Coming Of Age Imperial Stout

by | July 8, 2026 | Recommended | 0 Comments

With their momentous 20th anniversary just been, Auckland's Epic Brewing have found another reason to celebrate, with this 21st birthday imperial stout (10% ABV).  Brewed to stand on its own as a classic stout, it contains no adjuncts or flavourings, just full-on malt...
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NZ Brewers Frustrated at Unfair Export Burden

by | July 3, 2026 | News | 0 Comments

Kiwi brewers are frustrated at the political inaction that’s leaves them at a huge disadvantage when selling their beer in Australia. Australian breweries get a $400,000-a-year excise tax rebate and New Zealand breweries argue they should get the same relief under the...
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The Beer Project — Urbanaut

by | July 1, 2026 | Features | 0 Comments

Working with a hangover is never fun, even if you're a brewer. The effects of Urbanaut's belated Christmas party at Sawmill the day before are apparent on the brew crew as they get stuck into their work one day in late January. Head brewer and co-founder, Bruce...
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The Hoptimist — Neon, Lactose & A Missing T-shirt

by | June 26, 2026 | Travel | 0 Comments

There’s a rumour that somewhere out there exists a t‑shirt emblazoned with “Dean Moses” in full 1980s neon arcade, sci‑fi, vaporwave glory — perfectly aligned with the aesthetic branding of Wellington’s Mean Doses Brewery and taproom. There’s another rumour linking...
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Exploring Vancouver’s Historic Brewery Creek

by | June 24, 2026 | Travel | 0 Comments

It's 12 years between drinks in Vancouver, but I'm finally back at one of my favourite taprooms. In late 2014, Brassneck Brewery was just a year old, but it's now transitioned from craft beer pioneer to a community hub for the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. Brassneck's...
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Don’t Fear The Dark — How To Enjoy Stout

by | June 22, 2026 | Features | 0 Comments

In 15 years writing and talking about beer, I’ve learned the style that most surprises people — once they give it a chance — is stout. The fear is about the “weight” of the beer — that it’ll be “heavy” and/or high in alcohol. Or it’s a fear based on a fledgling sip of...
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Price of Beer: Paying More Might Be Worth It

by | June 17, 2026 | Opinion | 0 Comments

Inflation, that invisible bandit, has been nicking coins out of our pockets faster than you can say “another round, please.” It’s no wonder we wince when we see the price of beer these days. The old “cheap as chips” supermarket beer now looks like a bargain bin...
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Fermented Culture — After The Fall

by | June 15, 2026 | Opinion | 0 Comments

An email comes crashing through the ether like Arnold Schwarzenegger on a motorbike shouting come with me if you want to drink… “I write to you my Friends from the Past in the 9th month of the year of our lord 2036. The changes we have seen over the last decade seem...
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Continued Consolidation with Volstead Takeover

by | June 12, 2026 | News | 0 Comments

The group behind Christchurch’s small and experimental Concept Brewing have taken over the larger Volstead Trading Co and brewery, continuing the consolidation of the industry that’s been the trend of the past year. And the owners are joined by American Steve Sloan,...
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Globe-trotting Kiwi Brewer Sets Up In Singapore

by | June 12, 2026 | Features | 0 Comments

Nick Calder-Scholes the Kiwi brewer behind the phenomenal success of Sydney’s One Drop is now head brewer at the just-opened People People Brewing Co. in Singapore. He talks about his global journey. Nick Calder-Scholes spent his teenage summers in Nelson picking...
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Instagratification: Dusty’s Fresh Hop Faves

by | June 11, 2026 | Opinion | 0 Comments

Photographer, beer-lover and Instagram influencer Dusty, picks his highlights from the latest releases. Brave Helping Hands IPA One of my anticipated fresh hop releases, the 2026 edition of Helping Hands from Hawke’s Bay locals Brave Brewing features late harvest...
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Urbanaut Harmonie Hazy Belgian IPA

by | June 9, 2026 | Recommended | 0 Comments

An argument could be made that the first hazy beer was Belgian.  With its low bitterness, restrained malt character and (depending on one’s pour) distinct opacity, it shares more than a few similarities.  IPA on the other hand can make no such comparison,...
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Garage Project Harvest Home

by | June 9, 2026 | Recommended | 0 Comments

Just when you think you’re out, fresh hop season pulls you back in… Garage Project Harvest Home, an encore of the harvest, comes from their awards powerhouse, Wild Workshop.  Brewed with raw (unmalted) wheat and pilsner malt, and flavoured with coriander seed and yen...
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Southpaw New Brighton Lager

by | June 9, 2026 | Recommended | 0 Comments

With the fresh hop race finally dying down, it’s time to pair things all the way back and take a beat with a local lager.  A simple, no nonsense pairing of 100% NZ pilsner malt and Liberty hops (an old school, laid back varietal with distinct Hallertau character),...
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