Bach Brewing Sticky Buds

One of the earliest releases (and one of my favorites) from the Volstead Brewing Company, the Riwaka Hazy  IPA (5.7 per cent ABV) has finally found its way into cans.  Explosively fruity nose of sharp passionfruit and tangy lemon sherbert, with some sweet grapefruit and rockmelon to be found further in.  More prickly lemon citrus leads the palate before a fountain of tropical juice that maintains lift and energy long into the finish, with a bitterness so mild as to almost go completely unnoticed.  However you might feel about the ‘Juice Bomb’ style of hazy, this is a beer that embodies it perfectly.

Bach Brewing Sticky Buds III

I’m far from ready to declare a favourite from this year's fresh hop season, but I surely have some contenders, and the third edition of Bach Brewing Sticky Buds (by way of Steam Brewing) is most definitely on the list.  Fresh Nectaron is the pick here, supporting a...

8 Wired Fresh Hopwired

It’s here… the full force of the fresh hop storm is upon us, and I find myself again in the (not so arduous) position of having vastly too many releases to choose from. So for this week’s feature, I’ll pick one that I’ve been most looking forward to reuniting with. ...

Hallertau Fresh Hop Belgian Ale

When it comes to fresh hops, it’s a bold move for a brewer to step outside the IPA and Pilsner paddocks, but Hallertau Fresh Hop Belgian Ale is unique (and bold) for even more reasons. A fleetingly rare example of a North Island hopped beer, using hand picked cones...

Thief Brewing Brood Mother

One of the first Canterbury fresh hops on the scene this year, Brood Mother Hazy IPA is brewed just over the hill at Thief in Banks Peninsula. While most freshies tend to stick to one or two hop varietals (for logistics as much as anything else), Brood Mother casts a...

Sprig + Fern Harvest Pilsner

Sprig + Fern’s ultra-classic Harvest Pilsner is always amongst the very first heralds of the impending hopocalypse, and frequently remains one of the best till the end of fresh hop seasons. This season’s release (it’s 16th outing!) presents a gentle citrus and cut...

Haagen Lager

As consumers, we all have two lines that constrain our habits.  Above, there’s the price ceiling, when the cost of beer gets above a certain point we’ll turn away.  That price ceiling has been talked about to death over the last five years (at least). ...