The rise of craft beer in New Zealand
Anyone who’s a beer fan can’t have failed to notice the huge number of
craft breweries popping up all over NZ in the last 5 years or so.
Along with the renaissance of cider and rosé wines, craft beers are very popular over summer and now extending into the cooler months. Craft beer enthusiasts are just as passionate as wine buffs with many attending informal clubs and organised tastings. Styles range from light easy drinking lagers and Pilsners, through to hoppy/bitter IPAs (India Pale Ales), red ales and dark heavy stouts. Not constrained by using traditional ingredients, many craft brewers are experimenting with adding spices, citrus, chocolate and vanilla – to name a few, to add complexity and character to their brews.
Along with the renaissance of cider and rosé wines, craft beers are very popular over summer and now extending into the cooler months. Craft beer enthusiasts are just as passionate as wine buffs with many attending informal clubs and organised tastings. Styles range from light easy drinking lagers and Pilsners, through to hoppy/bitter IPAs (India Pale Ales), red ales and dark heavy stouts. Not constrained by using traditional ingredients, many craft brewers are experimenting with adding spices, citrus, chocolate and vanilla – to name a few, to add complexity and character to their brews.
Here we go with a selection from north to south:
Sawmill
Pale Ale 4.5% alcohol 500ml $8.00
IPA style from north Auckland’s Leigh Sawmill Brewery in Matakana. A rich mouthful. Nicely hoppy and toasty with medium bitterness. Amber coloured, with a creamy foam it has a hint of florals on the palate with a rounded dry hoppy finish.
IPA style from north Auckland’s Leigh Sawmill Brewery in Matakana. A rich mouthful. Nicely hoppy and toasty with medium bitterness. Amber coloured, with a creamy foam it has a hint of florals on the palate with a rounded dry hoppy finish.
This one hails from Three Boys Brewery in Woolston, Christchurch.
Golden brown with white foam. Funky and yeasty, hoppy aromas. This is the classic Czech style Pilsner, using traditional saaz hops. Lighter on the palate, it’s clean and refreshing with a hint of citrus zest.
Liberty Elixir Bright Ale 4.75% alcohol 330ml $3.75
From Helensville in northwest Auckland. Golden hued with pure white foam, opens up in the mouth with citrus, floral and a nudge of coriander. Amarillo and Sauvin hops were used. Fine beaded bubbles and a softer palate make this a nice easy drinking style.
From Helensville in northwest Auckland. Golden hued with pure white foam, opens up in the mouth with citrus, floral and a nudge of coriander. Amarillo and Sauvin hops were used. Fine beaded bubbles and a softer palate make this a nice easy drinking style.
Harrington Breweries Belgian
Tempest Spiced Strong Ale 7% alcohol 500ml $6.67
Amber coloured with not much carbonation or head after pouring.
Softly spicy aromas in a medium bodied ale with a palate influenced by addition of coriander seed and orange zest. Quite deceptively alcoholic, clocking in at 7% ABV, and with a soft finish hinting at pear juice. Made by Harrington Breweries in Christchurch.
Amber coloured with not much carbonation or head after pouring.
Softly spicy aromas in a medium bodied ale with a palate influenced by addition of coriander seed and orange zest. Quite deceptively alcoholic, clocking in at 7% ABV, and with a soft finish hinting at pear juice. Made by Harrington Breweries in Christchurch.
Tuatara Pale Ale 5% alcohol 500ml $6.79
Tuatara Brewing hails from Paraparaumu, northwest of Wellington. Highly carbonated, this one foams up with a creamy head in the glass. Another IPA style but not as bitter as some. Made with English yeast, it has a smooth palate of apricot, toast and yeast.
Tuatara Brewing hails from Paraparaumu, northwest of Wellington. Highly carbonated, this one foams up with a creamy head in the glass. Another IPA style but not as bitter as some. Made with English yeast, it has a smooth palate of apricot, toast and yeast.
Garage Project Hapi Daze Pacific Pale Ale 4.8% alcohol $3.99
330 ml can
From Wellington’s Garage Project brewery, located in an old garage in central Wellington. Having a bit of fun with the name ‘Hapi’ is the Māori word for hops. Orange amber with white foam, it has aromas of malt and grassiness. The sweet malt carries through on the palate with a dash of tropical fruits and a softer finish.
330 ml can
From Wellington’s Garage Project brewery, located in an old garage in central Wellington. Having a bit of fun with the name ‘Hapi’ is the Māori word for hops. Orange amber with white foam, it has aromas of malt and grassiness. The sweet malt carries through on the palate with a dash of tropical fruits and a softer finish.
Behemoth Hopped Up On Pils 5% alcohol 330ml
can $4.99
Old gold colour with white foam. Interesting nose of passionfruit and hoppy aromas. Tangy and yeasty in the mouth it has a nice balanced hoppy flavour. Similar in style to the Hapi Daze. Behemoth are from Warkworth in north Auckland, not far from the Matakana wine region.
Old gold colour with white foam. Interesting nose of passionfruit and hoppy aromas. Tangy and yeasty in the mouth it has a nice balanced hoppy flavour. Similar in style to the Hapi Daze. Behemoth are from Warkworth in north Auckland, not far from the Matakana wine region.
Eagle
Red IPA 5.8% alcohol 500 ml $8.80
Another brew from Christchurch – Eagle Brewing Co in Riccarton.
Red amber colour with a tan coloured light head. Very hoppy on the nose, with hints of coffee, toffee, molasses, and a suitably IPA style bitter lengthy aftertaste.
Another brew from Christchurch – Eagle Brewing Co in Riccarton.
Red amber colour with a tan coloured light head. Very hoppy on the nose, with hints of coffee, toffee, molasses, and a suitably IPA style bitter lengthy aftertaste.
Yeastie Boys Pot Kettle Black South
Pacific Porter 6% alcohol 330 ml $5.90
Great name for a brewery, Yeastie Boys is brewed in Invercargill.
Suitably black in the glass with a light brown foamy head. Dark porter aromas of coffee, liquorice and toasted grains. In the mouth, it’s foamy and full with more coffee, chocolate, malt and funky yeast flavours. Nice medium to full bodied palate.
Great name for a brewery, Yeastie Boys is brewed in Invercargill.
Suitably black in the glass with a light brown foamy head. Dark porter aromas of coffee, liquorice and toasted grains. In the mouth, it’s foamy and full with more coffee, chocolate, malt and funky yeast flavours. Nice medium to full bodied palate.
Renaissance Craftsman Chocolate Oatmeal
Stout 4.9% alcohol 500 ml $10.80
Very dark in the glass with a mid-brown foam. Aromas of coffee, toffee and vanilla. Nice and full bodied, with more vanilla and chocolate flavours from cocoa nibs in the mash. Easy on the palate and slightly sweet. Another South Island brew, this one hails from Blenheim.
Very dark in the glass with a mid-brown foam. Aromas of coffee, toffee and vanilla. Nice and full bodied, with more vanilla and chocolate flavours from cocoa nibs in the mash. Easy on the palate and slightly sweet. Another South Island brew, this one hails from Blenheim.
Emerson’s
The Rapture Seasonal Black IPA 7.4% alcohol 500ml $8.00
Reddish black with a generous tan foamy head. Plenty of hops and yeast on the nose. Kicks in with good bitterness and upfront hops, this is quite a big mouthful at 7.5% ABV. One to linger over, with lots of dark toasted grain stout-like flavours that linger on the palate. Emerson’s are based in Dunedin.
Reddish black with a generous tan foamy head. Plenty of hops and yeast on the nose. Kicks in with good bitterness and upfront hops, this is quite a big mouthful at 7.5% ABV. One to linger over, with lots of dark toasted grain stout-like flavours that linger on the palate. Emerson’s are based in Dunedin.
Phil operates wine tours in Auckland NZ
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