Deep Creek

A new release from Christchurch’s IPA specialists, the Volstead Trading Company this 6.5 per cent IPA is fueled by American Sultana and Chinook hops. The aroma brings bright grapefruit citrus, zesty orange peel and spice over an expressive malt richness.  The palate follows up with a big citrus kick and sticky pine, with a robust and expressive malt base for all those hops to hang onto.  Long and bitter finish punctuated by lingering citrus notes.  A big, robust and satisfying IPA in the classic West Coast style.

Deep Creek Founder Starts Over in Tauranga

Scott Taylor, one of the founders of Deep Creek and the face of the brand, is starting a new brewpub in Tauriko, just outside Tauranga. Taylor had a 1% stake in Deep Creek, which was liquidated last year in the biggest beer shock of the post-Covid economic crunch. In...

Organic Hops Poised For A Bright Future

As the European Union sets ambitious targets for organic production, two New Zealand hop farms are hoping to hop on for the ride. The EU wants 25 percent of food production to be organic by 2030, up from around 10 percent, as part of its climate strategy. Europe is...

Boneface Shake Down New Vibe With Hip Rebrand

When perusing the beer aisles to stock up for your weekend beer purchase this weekend, you may see a familiar face whilst you’re at it. Yup — Boneface. You’d be forgiven for doing a double take. It's been a while since it’s been on shelves, and its dark, future...

Test Lab Pale Alien IPA

Test Lab Brewery (Christchurch) have been on the rise this year, and given that they’re a brewery I could walk to, I’ve been gravely remiss in taking this long to feature one of their beers.  And as my first check-in with their range, it was always going to be...

Four Square’s Behemoth ‘Brollab’

Four Square is celebrating 100 years of trading by showcasing four products this summer under the banner “Brollab” — and one of them is beer. Alongside a special Birthday Cookie from Cookie Time, the return of the Orange Rush Fruju and a Four Square-branded Wattie’s...

Beer Legend John Harrington Dies

One of the true legends of the New Zealand beer scene, John Harrington, has died. Harrington started Harrington’s in 1991, and the Christchurch brewery grew to be one of the biggest independent breweries in the country in the early part of the 21st century. Originally...