URBANAUT TROPICAL IMPERIAL STOUT

‘Tropical’ stout is one of the more esoteric beer styles.  Essentially a milk stout with more fruit character and higher strength, although much higher in this case (12 per cent ABV), taking it way into the imperial stratosphere.  Aromas of double chocolate icecream and fresh fruit salad, with rich and intense flavours of extra-dark chocolate and tinned peaches.  The massive body and rich flavours are brought to heed by a firm bitterness that slowly but surely fastens around the lengthy finish.  For those who love a dessert wine then think of this as desert stout.  Sharp cheese is strongly recommended.  

Hop Growers Start Their Own Brewery

New Zealand’s newest brewery belongs to one of our most prominent hop growers. Cultivar Brewing, owned by Mac Hops, is taking over the site previously home to Hop Federation and will be run by hop farmer Brent McGlashan alongside his wife Ria. Former Hop Federation...

Derelict Are Back!

When Derelict Brewing unexpectedly closed down in 2024 after just six years in business, much of it as New Zealand’s top-ranked brewery on Untappd, it was scarcely believable. Owner-brewer Sam Cottier had created so many incredible beers in such a short time it felt...

Magic Week For Neck Of The Woods

In the space of six days, start-up brewery Neck Of The Woods went from virtually unknown to the toast of Tauranga after winning the title of Champion Microbrewery at the New Zealand Beer Awards and then winning the Golden Gumboot at The Malthouse West Coast IPA...

Not Such A Nutty Idea

This is an intriguing development — cashew nuts in beer to approximate the creamy texture you might normally get from lactose. That’s what 8 Wired did when they collaborated with Wellington plant-based chocolatier Wonderland to create Talia, an imperial chocolate...

Leading Malt Producer Celebrates 100 Years

Joe White Maltings, Australia's largest malt producer, is celebrating 100 years of specialty malt production. The milestone reflects a century of innovation, quality and collaboration, supporting generations of brewers on both sides of the Tasman with premium...

Parrotdog at 15 — Moving From Craft To Beer

At 15, Wellington’s Parrotdog stands out among New Zealand’s independent breweries — as a business actively moving away from its owners. The path of most small breweries is built on the owner-brewer model — and even when growth comes the founders continue to be the...