Over the next wee bit I’ll be exploring the trophy winners from the recent New Zealand Beer Awards, starting with The G.O.A.T Doppelbock (7.9%) from Nelson brewing legends Sprig + Fern. As the name implies, this is a beer with a long history of awards, including a spot on the New World Beer & Cider Awards Top 30 earlier this year.
The broad and decadently malty aroma ranges from sweet caramel to toasted grain, with some roasty coffee and just a hint of hop freshness. The palate is similarly malt driven, rich and chewy with a very long finish that perfectly intertwines malt sweetness with a satisfyingly full bitterness. Malt-driven beer at its very best.
