Boneface
Since it began with that outrageous 15% Hazy IPA, these seasonal mini-imperials in 250ml cans from Urbanaut have become one of my favorite series of beers.  Saison is a style that scales up comfortably, getting up around the 8% mark in the strongest examples, but a full 10% is not something I’ve never encountered before.  Big fruity esters adorn the nose, peach starburst lollies, delicate orange citrus, with coriander and white pepper adding some spice.  Sweet pithy citrus ahead of gently warming spice and a hint of ginger on the palate.  Remarkably medium-bodied considering the strength, with fairly low bitterness and a long complex finish.  An excellent drop, and a fine demonstration of how adaptable and robust the saison style is.

Boneface Brewing Deadlift Double IPA

by | October 22, 2025 | Recommended | 0 Comments

I’ve said it before, but if you want to precision test a brewery then ask for a double IPA. Everything has to work harder; the ferment, the grain selection, the hops and (in particular) the conditioning.  As the ABV speedo climbs above seven, only the most precisely...
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Thief Brewing Frog Wallop IPA

by | October 22, 2025 | Recommended | 0 Comments

Thief Brewing continues to prove that there’s IPA in them thar hills of Banks Peninsula, adding this West Coast style to the range.  West Coast by way of New Zealand anyway, being driven by Nelson Sauvin, Rakau and NZ grown Chinook.   The...
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Double Vision x Baan Bangkok Thunder Struck Triple IPA

by | October 22, 2025 | Recommended | 0 Comments

The method by which I pick a beer to feature here every week is extremely loose, but usually there’s an equation that balances between ‘interesting’ ‘relevant’ and ‘good’.  Sometimes, one of those spokes dominates to such an extent that the others cease to...
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Behemoth Chur-Toberfest 2025

by | October 22, 2025 | Recommended | 0 Comments

Every year more of our local craft brewers don the lederhosen and kick out a kiwi version of a Munich Festbier.  Historically, the results have been mixed… NZ malt and even more so our hops just don’t mesh well with the peerlessly smooth, crisp and understated...
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New Zealand’s Most Awarded Beers

by | October 14, 2025 | Cover Story | 0 Comments

It was Stay Gold that started this … the Brave Brewing XPA that won a trophy in the International Pale Ale class at this year’s New Zealand Beer Awards. I was looking back through the records and realised it was the fifth gold medal that beer had won, and I started to...
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Slow Walk Through Paradise — Visiting Every Brewery in NZ

by | October 10, 2025 | Cover Story | 0 Comments

There’s something about beer that’s always been part of my story. From the early days of sneaking sips of Lion Brown at my dad’s feet and walking around the house with my ‘beer mou’, to the $2 jugs of Joseph Kuhtze Lager at the Southern Cross Tavern during University...
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