beers of the year

Just released in six-packs, the strikingly packaged Sandman makes a new addition to the Panhead core range.  Super fresh and juicy aromas of pineapple, passionfruit and melon on the nose.  Delightfully refreshing on the palate, with more tropical and crisp white fruit flavours over a hyper-clean malt base.  The lower 5.2 per cent ABV keeps the body light and mobile, staying exceptionally clean while maintaining a fairly low bitterness.  A refreshing, superbly drinkable and precise hazy that packs in plenty of juice without becoming overripe or overbearing.  With temperatures on the rise I’ve been pouring this one extra cold, which I find really amplifies that incredible crispness.

Beers Of The Year 2025

There were some standouts and commonalities when the Pursuit of Hoppiness team compiled their beers of the year for 2025. An overwhelming favourite was Emerson's Pride of The Plains Pilsner, the 30th anniversary rebrew of the genre-defining NZ-style pilsner that...

Three Sisters Expand Into Wellington

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...

Mr Good Bar — Epic Taproom

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...

An Epic 20 Years

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...

Instagratification: Dusty’s Best Summer Beers

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 &...

Renaissance Takes Over Kaiapoi Site From Chinchiller

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,...