Dusty

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.

Instagratification: Dusty’s Favourites

by | March 10, 2026 | Opinion | 0 Comments

Photographer, beer-lover and Instagram influencer Dusty, picks his highlights from the latest releases. Urbanaut La Grande Urbanaut brewing slay the summer game here with their 4.8% La Grande lager with lime. Classic Saaz & trad Czech malt set up one crushable...
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The Generation Game — Mount Brewing At 30

by | March 10, 2026 | Cover Story | 0 Comments

For Briar Harley, born into the brewery life, there’s plenty of excitement in sharing the news that come June a third generation will born into the Mount Brewing family. Briar and husband Niall, who own Mount Brewing in partnership with her parents Glenn and Virginia...
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Boneface Knuckle Duster West Coast Pilsner

by | March 2, 2026 | Recommended | 0 Comments

The ‘West Coast Pilsner’ style continues to wander through the craft beer labyrinth somewhat without a bearing, and drift further from its (admittedly flawed from the beginning) descriptor in the process.  It’s as much as I can do to classify them as ‘good ones’ vs...
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Bach Skinnay Ultra Low Carb Hazy Pale Ale

by | March 2, 2026 | Recommended | 0 Comments

While low carb beers are bigger than they’ve ever been, it’s still uncommon to see the styles range too far from the lager safe-zone.  You’ll find a few zero% hazy IPA’s, but an actual low-carb-full-strength example is rarer.   Never idle for long,...
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Eruption Brewing — Lyttelton’s Local Legend

by | February 18, 2026 | Cover Story | 0 Comments

To understand Eruption Brewing’s place in Lyttelton, it helps to zoom out — first a couple of centuries, then a few million years. The town sits inside the remnants of the Banks Peninsula volcano, long extinct but still shaping the landscape and, fittingly, inspiring...
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Epic Stout

by | February 13, 2026 | Recommended | 0 Comments

While not to say that Epic is a total stranger to dark beer (they’ve made some extremely good ones over the years) it would be fair to say that it wasn’t exactly the style they’re known for.  So it was a surprise to see this one show up (and slickly presented too, I...
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