only upon memory from a visit there but I do remember it being one exquisite brew.

Pours a clear light yellow with a white head. No sweetness just bitterness. Does have a light caramel maltyness. Quite hoppy with aromas of pine and a bit of resin. Medium bodied. Lively carbonation. Bitter finish.

One of the last ones that I could find after the announcement that this beer is now defunct. Pours a light brown with no head, it’s never really ever looked good in the glass since they stopped bottle conditioning. Has a rather prickly carbonation to it but a lovely passion fruit nose which is probably due to it now being brewed by the hop king at steam breweries. It’s unfair to judge this bottle because it’s an old on and a wee bit dusty but I have drunk many pints of this and it’s a great beer. One of the only decent beers to be found on tap in Hamilton in the early part of this century so I owe it a huge debt!

Bottle 33cl. Clear amber body with normal size off white head. Nose dominated by hops and fruit/citrus. Flavour with bitter sweet hops.

(Bottle 33 cl) Pours a clear, deep golden with a creamy, lacing, off-white head. Very pleasant, peachy hop aroma. Medium-bodied with lightly sweet notes of caramel malt and then otherwise completely dominated by the rather sophisticated hop blend that leaves lots of flavour but not so much bitterness. A fantastic session beer. This may be based on an English style but with the Kiwi twist it certainly came out as a brilliant APA. 240108

Bottle courtesy of beer_ledgend. Pours copper white with a rocky white head. Smells of citrus, pine, some caramel, spice. Tastes earthy with some peppery splashes and elements of biscuits. Mouthfeel is full with a peppery finish.

A deliciously juicy example of New Zealand brewing. They do a fine line in pale ales brewed with local hops, and this seems to be one of the best. There’s no longer any mention of Fuggles on the label, instead referring to NZ Saaz and "other New World hops", which tends to confirm my impression that this is now closer to an APA than an EPA. It’s a cracking beer, whatever the style. There’s very little to fault, from the towering head with lashings of lace to the gloriously fresh and zesty aroma and the exquisitely balanced flavours. Loverly stuff. Gives off big drafts of lychee, passionfruit, orange Fruit Gums, gooseberry greenness and Curacao. Soft carbonation. Tart, juicy tropical fruit with some US APA-style toffee malts and pine. All very restrained and balanced. After starting an NZ holiday with a few duds, this one lifted my whole mood because I knew I had something really good to drink for the rest of the week. (330ml bottle from Scenic Cellars, Taupo)

Love this beer, this years batch of hops have a great passionfruit aroma. Such a clean taste, it’s such a pleasure to drink. Beautiful looking, beautiful tasting!

On tap @ Rosies Hastings 19/10/06. Slightly cloudy, big fruity citrus floral nose. Stonefruits, grassy & passionfruit. Big thru to the finish - love it. Nice to meet Chris too...

I was very happy to have been served this beer when I asked for a recommendation from the barman. I was served from the bottle which gave the beer lingering carbonation which lasted to the very bottom of the glass. It had boatloads of hoppy character and a lingering after-taste matched only by the beers from The Twisted Hop brewery in Christchurch. The orange and coriander complimented the weather outside (dismal) making it very much a comfort beer. The purchase price was justified by the aroma alone, which made me look forward to the next bottle.