We’ve asked the Pursuit of Hoppiness writers to come up with their top picks for the beers of the year. Between us the aim is to have exactly 100 beers.
Top Pick: Double Vision Cola Beer Cherry Sour
My partner (a career brewer) once brewed a small-batch Cola Sour with hints of lime. It was, frankly, incredible, tasted like a sour cola gummy, and I’ve not been able to get it out of my mind since. Every year, he asks me what I want for my birthday, and I ask him to brew this. He thinks I’m joking, because it’s yet to happen. Good thing Double Vision crew have got my back. They had this circa-80s, American girl at “cola”, “cherry” and “sour”, and I’ll be drinking it all summer long.
Hop Federation Binecraft WCIPA
A sleeper hit, the unsung hero at Malthouse’s annual West Coast IPA Challenge. Big, punchy US hop character; loads of drinkability with a bittersweet finish – it’s name was mentioned in the same breath as the WCIPA three winners.
Urbanaut Riwaka Fresh Hop West Coast Pilsner
Massive, vibrant hop aromatics expertly partnered with a delicate, drinkable crispness: grapefruit, passion fruit, citrus. A beer that encapsulated the sunny, green brightness of fresh hop harvest.
Abandoned Hazy 17
Lashings of sweet orange, mango, and tropical loquat. Soft and rounded with a gentle, refreshing sweetness.
St Leonards Rice Lager
This was a welcome breather between some pretty extroverted, in-your-face beers at Beervana. Balanced dryness and quenching, light and refreshing — so good, I extended my breather and got another.
One Drop Lessgo Ube Cream Smoothie Sour
The Kiwi boys across the ditch were back at Beervana with their always innovative, delightfully unpredictable drops, which often include unconventional ingredients. My Filipino heritage instinctively led me to this ube smoothie sour despite reservations of how this dense, sweet, purple yam (used in Filipino sweets, cakes, pastries, etc.) would present. Verdict: the tanginess of the sour cut through that heavy, creamy sweetness — a joy to drink. Boggled my palate in the very best way. Sarap!!
Sunshine Brewing Drop In Natural Pale Ale
This unfiltered IPA drinks with an intensity that belies its 4.2% ABV. So much flavour — bags of tropical fruit, pine and sweet orange; dry, refreshing finish. Hophead’s lawn mower beer.
Workshop Raglan Pale Ale
A case study in balance. Subtle malt, light sweetness, gentle bitterness, complex citrus notes. The best of both worlds, it’s a beer you can think about or drink. Very drinkable at 5.4%.
Shining Peak The Good Nurse
Go right to the source for this rich, malty Burton Ale style (stronger, English dark ale), offered on nitro and handpull at Shining Peak. Hints of dark plum, raisin, toffee caramel, and roasty bitterness to balance. A celebration of malt that’ll cure what “ales” you. (Sorry)
Altitude First Ascent West Coast Pils
Amazing use of Freestyle Hops’ delicious, new Peacharine variety. A light, bitterness balanced with enough residual sweetness to allow the stone fruit, citrus and white grape to shine.