OF NEW ZEALANDA GUIDE TO THE BEER

jules van costelloF e a t u r i n g 1 6 5 b r e w e r y p r o f i l e s

w i t h o v e r 4 5 0 t a s t i n g n o t e s

second edition

9594

BREWERY PROFILESbrewed

garage projectW e l l i n g t o n

garageproject.co.nz

Founded by Pete Gillespie, Jos Ruffell, and Ian Gillespie, Garage Project is among the most ambitious, prolifi c and beloved breweries in New Zealand, both domestically and internationally. In 2015 it was named the fastest growing company in New Zealand by the Deloitte Fast 50, with earnings up 664% on the previous year. By the time you read this, they will be brewing out of three sites: their original brewery on Aro Street, the newer Wild Workshop on Marion Street, and also contract brewing in Hawke›s Bay-based BStudio, for which they acted as consultants and will be one of the brewery’s foundation customers.

This is a far cry from their humble launch in 2011, when they launched the brewery with 24/24 – a project that released 24 different beers over 24 weeks at Wellington craft beer bar Hashigo

Zake, brewed on a 50L brewkit one keg at a time. Garage Project are indeed prolifi c, with 237 beers listed on Untappd, though some of them are undoubtedly doubles – for the record the fi rst edition of Brewed documented 126 beers, meaning they have almost doubled their output in the last two years). Even so, Ruffell acknowledges that this list probably does not include the one-off bespoke beers they regularly make for events.

It is undoubtedly one of New Zealand’s most inventive breweries, pioneering experimental techniques and ingredients. Not only are they pushing the boundaries in regards to style but also price, regularly selling beers at more than $20 a bottle, and in August 2016 releasing Bastard Rye – to date the most expensive beer released on the market at $75 for a 650ml bottle. (Garage Project

has actually marketed more expensive beers than this, but the value was based on very limited volumes and highly ornate packaging.) However, it’s the Garage Project core range that has the most impact – the US-hopped Pilsner Pils ‘n’ Thrills, the simply named BEER, and even their light beer Fugazi are precise, deftly brewed and expressive.

If I had simply assessed the quality of Garage Project’s very best beers they would have undoubtedly garnered a third star. The best are quite simply some of the best beers in the world, and overall their quality is very high: for instance, fi ve of their beers were in the top 10 of the inaugural 2016 GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers (a consumer-voted poll of New Zealand beer organised by the Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular), and they had 18 beers listed in the top 100, meaning almost one out of every fi ve beers on the list were Garage Project’s. Nevertheless, due to the sheer volume of beers they put out the quality

is not uniform; to my mind a handful of their beers don’t work, either because the idea may have been ill-conceived or simply because the beer is unbalanced.

Even so, their spirit of ingenuity, their experimentation and their continual questioning of the status quo are to be admired. Just as the culinary world needs progressive chefs, so the brewing world needs Garage Project. Their beers never fail to elicit a response, which ranges from rapture to horror to pious indignation; their philosophy has already fi ltered down into the rest of the industry with breweries like Wellington’s Choice Bros and Dunedin’s NEW NEW NEW making beers as creative and interesting as those made by Garage Project.

brewery cellar door located at 68 Aro Street, Wellington

91 aro taproom located at 91 Aro Street, Wellington

ghost brewing co/dux brewing

C h r i s t c h u r c h The February 2011 earthquakes destroyed much of Christchurch, including popular brewpub Dux de Lux. The Dux has since been re-established

on three sites: Dux Dine, Dux Live and Dux Central – although Dux Brewing did brew at Wigram after the earthquake, this ended in mid-2013. In late 2014

at Wellington craft beer bar Hashigo at $75 for a 650ml bottle. (Garage Project

9594

BREWERY PROFILESbrewed

garage projectW e l l i n g t o n

garageproject.co.nz

Founded by Pete Gillespie, Jos Ruffell, and Ian Gillespie, Garage Project is among the most ambitious, prolifi c and beloved breweries in New Zealand, both domestically and internationally. In 2015 it was named the fastest growing company in New Zealand by the Deloitte Fast 50, with earnings up 664% on the previous year. By the time you read this, they will be brewing out of three sites: their original brewery on Aro Street, the newer Wild Workshop on Marion Street, and also contract brewing in Hawke›s Bay-based BStudio, for which they acted as consultants and will be one of the brewery’s foundation customers.

This is a far cry from their humble launch in 2011, when they launched the brewery with 24/24 – a project that released 24 different beers over 24 weeks at Wellington craft beer bar Hashigo

Zake, brewed on a 50L brewkit one keg at a time. Garage Project are indeed prolifi c, with 237 beers listed on Untappd, though some of them are undoubtedly doubles – for the record the fi rst edition of Brewed documented 126 beers, meaning they have almost doubled their output in the last two years). Even so, Ruffell acknowledges that this list probably does not include the one-off bespoke beers they regularly make for events.

It is undoubtedly one of New Zealand’s most inventive breweries, pioneering experimental techniques and ingredients. Not only are they pushing the boundaries in regards to style but also price, regularly selling beers at more than $20 a bottle, and in August 2016 releasing Bastard Rye – to date the most expensive beer released on the market at $75 for a 650ml bottle. (Garage Project

has actually marketed more expensive beers than this, but the value was based on very limited volumes and highly ornate packaging.) However, it’s the Garage Project core range that has the most impact – the US-hopped Pilsner Pils ‘n’ Thrills, the simply named BEER, and even their light beer Fugazi are precise, deftly brewed and expressive.

If I had simply assessed the quality of Garage Project’s very best beers they would have undoubtedly garnered a third star. The best are quite simply some of the best beers in the world, and overall their quality is very high: for instance, fi ve of their beers were in the top 10 of the inaugural 2016 GABS Hottest 100 Kiwi Craft Beers (a consumer-voted poll of New Zealand beer organised by the Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular), and they had 18 beers listed in the top 100, meaning almost one out of every fi ve beers on the list were Garage Project’s. Nevertheless, due to the sheer volume of beers they put out the quality

is not uniform; to my mind a handful of their beers don’t work, either because the idea may have been ill-conceived or simply because the beer is unbalanced.

Even so, their spirit of ingenuity, their experimentation and their continual questioning of the status quo are to be admired. Just as the culinary world needs progressive chefs, so the brewing world needs Garage Project. Their beers never fail to elicit a response, which ranges from rapture to horror to pious indignation; their philosophy has already fi ltered down into the rest of the industry with breweries like Wellington’s Choice Bros and Dunedin’s NEW NEW NEW making beers as creative and interesting as those made by Garage Project.

brewery cellar door located at 68 Aro Street, Wellington

91 aro taproom located at 91 Aro Street, Wellington

ghost brewing co/dux brewing

C h r i s t c h u r c h The February 2011 earthquakes destroyed much of Christchurch, including popular brewpub Dux de Lux. The Dux has since been re-established

on three sites: Dux Dine, Dux Live and Dux Central – although Dux Brewing did brew at Wigram after the earthquake, this ended in mid-2013. In late 2014

at Wellington craft beer bar Hashigo at $75 for a 650ml bottle. (Garage Project

9796

BREWERY PROFILESbrewedformer Dux Brewing shareholder Julian Sinke and brewer Muz Moeller founded Ghost Brewing, later bringing Richard Sinke and Jason Glenn into the fold. The company mainly supplies unbranded (i.e., ‘ghost’) beer to pubs, largely around Christchurch, but also release beer under

their own label Ghost and supply the new Dux sites with greatest hits from the Dux Brewing days: Ginger Tom, Nor’Wester and Black Shag as well as a Pilsner and lager. A contract business, the company brews out of several sites around Christchurch.

godsown breweryH a s t i n g s

godsownbrewery.co.nz

Founded by Godfrey Quemeneur and Rachel Downes, GodsOwn is a hop-farm brewery in rural Hawke’s Bay designed to minimise its environmental impact. They utilise the environment to create a ‘brew cycle’, with brewing by-products being used on the property; for instance,

brewing water waste is used to irrigate the hop fi elds and spent grain is used in both pizza bases and to feed stock.

brewpublocated at 3672 State Highway 50, Maraekakaho

golden bear brewing cog o l d e n b e a r b r e w i n g . c o m

Mapua

While living in southern California, Jim Matranga became used to extremely fl avourful, characterful craft beers. On moving to Nelson, he discovered that, despite the extremely high quality of local ingredients, no one was brewing

this kind of hoppy beer. Discovering an abandoned warehouse with a ‘for lease’ sign virtually falling off the building, he decided that this was where he could build his brewpub. Of the building in the small settlement of Mapua, he says

it ‘looked like a piece of crap’. Little did he know that Mapua was to become a buzzing little tourist centre that is still undergoing a considerable amount of growth.

Although Matranga is well known for his California-style pale ales, he creates a variety of beers and admits that each time he brews a beer it changes slightly. He is a fan of experimentation and regularly uses fruits like peach and blackcurrants. His philosophy is ‘make anything, use anything, experiment’, and believes that as long as the beers are balanced and fault-free, there is a market for every single one. He described the

blackcurrant beer I tasted when I visited the brewery as ‘challenging’, but then stated, ‘if you don’t like it, it’s really not that important’, noting that some customers love his more interesting creations.

For the most part, Matranga’s beers are big, rich and full of fl avour. He describes them as ‘sloppy’, lacking the precision and focus of some craft beers, but, like Matranga himself, they are generous and big on character.

brewpub located at 501/6 Aranui Rd, Mapua Wharf

9796

BREWERY PROFILESbrewedformer Dux Brewing shareholder Julian Sinke and brewer Muz Moeller founded Ghost Brewing, later bringing Richard Sinke and Jason Glenn into the fold. The company mainly supplies unbranded (i.e., ‘ghost’) beer to pubs, largely around Christchurch, but also release beer under

their own label Ghost and supply the new Dux sites with greatest hits from the Dux Brewing days: Ginger Tom, Nor’Wester and Black Shag as well as a Pilsner and lager. A contract business, the company brews out of several sites around Christchurch.

godsown breweryH a s t i n g s

godsownbrewery.co.nz

Founded by Godfrey Quemeneur and Rachel Downes, GodsOwn is a hop-farm brewery in rural Hawke’s Bay designed to minimise its environmental impact. They utilise the environment to create a ‘brew cycle’, with brewing by-products being used on the property; for instance,

brewing water waste is used to irrigate the hop fi elds and spent grain is used in both pizza bases and to feed stock.

brewpublocated at 3672 State Highway 50, Maraekakaho

golden bear brewing cog o l d e n b e a r b r e w i n g . c o m

Mapua

While living in southern California, Jim Matranga became used to extremely fl avourful, characterful craft beers. On moving to Nelson, he discovered that, despite the extremely high quality of local ingredients, no one was brewing

this kind of hoppy beer. Discovering an abandoned warehouse with a ‘for lease’ sign virtually falling off the building, he decided that this was where he could build his brewpub. Of the building in the small settlement of Mapua, he says

it ‘looked like a piece of crap’. Little did he know that Mapua was to become a buzzing little tourist centre that is still undergoing a considerable amount of growth.

Although Matranga is well known for his California-style pale ales, he creates a variety of beers and admits that each time he brews a beer it changes slightly. He is a fan of experimentation and regularly uses fruits like peach and blackcurrants. His philosophy is ‘make anything, use anything, experiment’, and believes that as long as the beers are balanced and fault-free, there is a market for every single one. He described the

blackcurrant beer I tasted when I visited the brewery as ‘challenging’, but then stated, ‘if you don’t like it, it’s really not that important’, noting that some customers love his more interesting creations.

For the most part, Matranga’s beers are big, rich and full of fl avour. He describes them as ‘sloppy’, lacking the precision and focus of some craft beers, but, like Matranga himself, they are generous and big on character.

brewpub located at 501/6 Aranui Rd, Mapua Wharf

9998

BREWERY PROFILESbrewed

good george brewingH a m i l t o n

goodgeorge.co.nz

With a brewpub in Frankton and three further pubs in Hamilton and its surrounds, Good George has taken Hamilton by storm in the last fi ve years, paving the way for several new brewing businesses to be based there.

Named Good George because the brewery and brewpub are located in the former St George’s Church, brewing director Brian Watson describes the Good George philosophy simply: ‘Creating better moments with great beer.’ After years of brewing experience, he came together with a group of friends from hospitality backgrounds to create a craft beer range and brewpub to show the people of Hamilton and New Zealand how great craft beer can be.

The Good George beers are approachable and full of fl avour without being over the top. Their Sparkling Ale, in particular, represents an accessible entry point into the world of craft beer for drinkers of mainstream industrial beers, but still has integrity and character. All of the Good George beers share this – they are easy to drink and approachable while still being complex. I think ‘understated’ is a good word for them.

Aside from the core beers, Good George makes some excellent seasonal

and one-off beers – however the highlights of the range have been

the beers they have brewed in collaboration with other local producers. The Rocket Coffee IPA is a stunner, with coffee and hop notes playing off against each other; the Donovans Rocky Road Stout fl avoured with vanilla, raspberry and chocolate was another hit – although I’m left questioning the white stout fl avoured the same way!

good george dining hall and brewery located at 32A Somerset Street, Frankton

little george brewpub located at 15 Hood Street, Hamilton

the local taphouse located at 346 Victoria Street, Hamilton

good neighbour brewpub located at 44 Horsham Downs Road, Rototuna

good union brewpub located at 98 Victoria Street, Cambridge

graphic brewingW e l l i n g t o n

A new entry to Brewed, Graphic Brewing burst onto the scene late in 2016. It is the brainchild of Dale Cooper, previously of Black Dog and brewer for the upcoming Fortune Favours Brewpub in central Wellington, and Nolen Smith, who is also an industry veteran, having established a brewpub in his native Arkansas. With both business and brewing

nous, Graphic was created to actualise something the pair had talked about for years. Cooper describes the beers as ‘fun, with a fun story… a little different without getting too gimmicky’ – the company uses a comic book theme in its

beers and marketing which, according to Cooper,

‘gives their imagination lots of room to play.’

ground up brewingW a n a k a

groundup.co.nz

One of a number of new breweries in Wanaka (which is well on its way to becoming a brewing mecca), Ground Up was established when its owners Oli Boyes and Jules Webster saw the growth of craft beer in the North Island

and main centres, and thought it was their turn to bring their own ‘brewing revolution to the lower south’. They have been prolifi c so far, with over 80 releases in the fi rst year.

further pubs in Hamilton and its surrounds, Good George has taken Hamilton by storm in the last

businesses to be based there.

with great beer.’ After years of

George makes some excellent seasonal and one-off beers – however the

highlights of the range have been the beers they have brewed in collaboration with other local producers. The Rocket Coffee IPA is a stunner, with coffee and hop notes playing off against each other; the Donovans Rocky Road Stout fl avoured with vanilla, raspberry and chocolate was another hit – although I’m left questioning the white stout fl avoured the same way!

beers and marketing which, according to Cooper,

‘gives their imagination lots of room to play.’

9998

BREWERY PROFILESbrewed

good george brewingH a m i l t o n

goodgeorge.co.nz

With a brewpub in Frankton and three further pubs in Hamilton and its surrounds, Good George has taken Hamilton by storm in the last fi ve years, paving the way for several new brewing businesses to be based there.

Named Good George because the brewery and brewpub are located in the former St George’s Church, brewing director Brian Watson describes the Good George philosophy simply: ‘Creating better moments with great beer.’ After years of brewing experience, he came together with a group of friends from hospitality backgrounds to create a craft beer range and brewpub to show the people of Hamilton and New Zealand how great craft beer can be.

The Good George beers are approachable and full of fl avour without being over the top. Their Sparkling Ale, in particular, represents an accessible entry point into the world of craft beer for drinkers of mainstream industrial beers, but still has integrity and character. All of the Good George beers share this – they are easy to drink and approachable while still being complex. I think ‘understated’ is a good word for them.

Aside from the core beers, Good George makes some excellent seasonal

and one-off beers – however the highlights of the range have been

the beers they have brewed in collaboration with other local producers. The Rocket Coffee IPA is a stunner, with coffee and hop notes playing off against each other; the Donovans Rocky Road Stout fl avoured with vanilla, raspberry and chocolate was another hit – although I’m left questioning the white stout fl avoured the same way!

good george dining hall and brewery located at 32A Somerset Street, Frankton

little george brewpub located at 15 Hood Street, Hamilton

the local taphouse located at 346 Victoria Street, Hamilton

good neighbour brewpub located at 44 Horsham Downs Road, Rototuna

good union brewpub located at 98 Victoria Street, Cambridge

graphic brewingW e l l i n g t o n

A new entry to Brewed, Graphic Brewing burst onto the scene late in 2016. It is the brainchild of Dale Cooper, previously of Black Dog and brewer for the upcoming Fortune Favours Brewpub in central Wellington, and Nolen Smith, who is also an industry veteran, having established a brewpub in his native Arkansas. With both business and brewing

nous, Graphic was created to actualise something the pair had talked about for years. Cooper describes the beers as ‘fun, with a fun story… a little different without getting too gimmicky’ – the company uses a comic book theme in its

beers and marketing which, according to Cooper,

‘gives their imagination lots of room to play.’

ground up brewingW a n a k a

groundup.co.nz

One of a number of new breweries in Wanaka (which is well on its way to becoming a brewing mecca), Ground Up was established when its owners Oli Boyes and Jules Webster saw the growth of craft beer in the North Island

and main centres, and thought it was their turn to bring their own ‘brewing revolution to the lower south’. They have been prolifi c so far, with over 80 releases in the fi rst year.

further pubs in Hamilton and its surrounds, Good George has taken Hamilton by storm in the last

businesses to be based there.

with great beer.’ After years of

George makes some excellent seasonal and one-off beers – however the

highlights of the range have been the beers they have brewed in collaboration with other local producers. The Rocket Coffee IPA is a stunner, with coffee and hop notes playing off against each other; the Donovans Rocky Road Stout fl avoured with vanilla, raspberry and chocolate was another hit – although I’m left questioning the white stout fl avoured the same way!

beers and marketing which, according to Cooper,

‘gives their imagination lots of room to play.’

159158

brewed BEER TASTING NOTES

kereru come bye (2.5% abv) must-tryA happy surprise when the vast majority of light beers are either super-dry pale ales or bland lagers. Come Bye is a generous, nutty, ale which is packed full of fl avour.

renaissance empathy (2.5% abv)Light and fresh, but with full malt and

clean, focused hopping, this is a lovely low-alcohol beer.

speight's mid ale (2.5% abv)A light-bodied beer with very sweet barley sugar notes. Simple.

stoke beer 2 stoke (2% abv)One of the more readily available, better light beers on the market. Malty, with some residual sweetness.

golden lageraltitude goldpanners profit (4.4% abv)A vibrantly hopped lager with clean, focused bitterness overlaid on a body of soft golden malt.

boundary road brewery the chosen one (5% abv)Simple, effervescent lager with a hint of funky hop notes.

brothers lager (5% abv)A light, bright lager with rich barley notes and a fruity, fl owery hop character.

cargo brewery lager (5% abv)Clean, focused, quenching lager – lots of lovely golden malt with clean, soft bitterness.

cassels lager (4.8% abv)A clean, fresh, focused, simple pale lager.

Very enjoyable and very balanced.

db export gold (4% abv)A clean, simple lager.

epic lager (5% abv)This is a refreshingly crisp lager with a broad body of dry golden malt, bright bitterness and extremely vibrant hop aromatics.

galbraith's alehouse munich lager (5.5% abv)Characterised by notes of warm barley with subtly spicy aromatic hops and clean bitterness, this is a simple but beautifully made lager.

harrington's east indies lager (5% abv)A bone-dry, malty lager with vibrant citrusy hop notes on the fi nish.

BEER TASTING NOTES

Due to naming conventions, leading to beers having absurdly long full names for the most part, beers are listed in the relevant style category by the abbreviated brewery name and the beer name. Thus Deep Creek Brewing Company Undercurrent Pilsner is simply listed as Deep Creek Undercurrent (within the Pilsner category). If a beer is simply named after a style (i.e., Epic Lager) the style name remains. Likewise, I have taken an ad hoc approach to beers with additional ingredients added; if they make the most sense being listed along with their brethren style beers I have opted to do this, otherwise they are listed separately.

a n o t e o n b e e r d e s c r i p t i o n s

light beercroucher lowrider (2.5% abv) must-tryLowrider has vibrant hop fl avour – citrus fl owers, passion fruit and guava, overlaid onto a body of light, dusty malt. Because of the low alcohol and high hops, this beer is extremely dry. For me, it’s not an issue – this is a delicious beer that can be drunk in situations where you might think twice about ordering another alcoholic drink.

garage project fugazi (2%) must-tryThis is a vibrantly dry, balanced, super-tasty low-alcohol beer originally brewed for the 91 Aro taproom, but now thankfully available in cans.

harrington's sobering thought (1% abv) must-tryThis is a 1% stout originally brewed as a table beer for The Lord of the Rings movie. It’s light and dry but it works.

159158

brewed BEER TASTING NOTES

kereru come bye (2.5% abv) must-tryA happy surprise when the vast majority of light beers are either super-dry pale ales or bland lagers. Come Bye is a generous, nutty, ale which is packed full of fl avour.

renaissance empathy (2.5% abv)Light and fresh, but with full malt and

clean, focused hopping, this is a lovely low-alcohol beer.

speight's mid ale (2.5% abv)A light-bodied beer with very sweet barley sugar notes. Simple.

stoke beer 2 stoke (2% abv)One of the more readily available, better light beers on the market. Malty, with some residual sweetness.

golden lageraltitude goldpanners profit (4.4% abv)A vibrantly hopped lager with clean, focused bitterness overlaid on a body of soft golden malt.

boundary road brewery the chosen one (5% abv)Simple, effervescent lager with a hint of funky hop notes.

brothers lager (5% abv)A light, bright lager with rich barley notes and a fruity, fl owery hop character.

cargo brewery lager (5% abv)Clean, focused, quenching lager – lots of lovely golden malt with clean, soft bitterness.

cassels lager (4.8% abv)A clean, fresh, focused, simple pale lager.

Very enjoyable and very balanced.

db export gold (4% abv)A clean, simple lager.

epic lager (5% abv)This is a refreshingly crisp lager with a broad body of dry golden malt, bright bitterness and extremely vibrant hop aromatics.

galbraith's alehouse munich lager (5.5% abv)Characterised by notes of warm barley with subtly spicy aromatic hops and clean bitterness, this is a simple but beautifully made lager.

harrington's east indies lager (5% abv)A bone-dry, malty lager with vibrant citrusy hop notes on the fi nish.

BEER TASTING NOTES

Due to naming conventions, leading to beers having absurdly long full names for the most part, beers are listed in the relevant style category by the abbreviated brewery name and the beer name. Thus Deep Creek Brewing Company Undercurrent Pilsner is simply listed as Deep Creek Undercurrent (within the Pilsner category). If a beer is simply named after a style (i.e., Epic Lager) the style name remains. Likewise, I have taken an ad hoc approach to beers with additional ingredients added; if they make the most sense being listed along with their brethren style beers I have opted to do this, otherwise they are listed separately.

a n o t e o n b e e r d e s c r i p t i o n s

light beercroucher lowrider (2.5% abv) must-tryLowrider has vibrant hop fl avour – citrus fl owers, passion fruit and guava, overlaid onto a body of light, dusty malt. Because of the low alcohol and high hops, this beer is extremely dry. For me, it’s not an issue – this is a delicious beer that can be drunk in situations where you might think twice about ordering another alcoholic drink.

garage project fugazi (2%) must-tryThis is a vibrantly dry, balanced, super-tasty low-alcohol beer originally brewed for the 91 Aro taproom, but now thankfully available in cans.

harrington's sobering thought (1% abv) must-tryThis is a 1% stout originally brewed as a table beer for The Lord of the Rings movie. It’s light and dry but it works.

161160

brewed BEER TASTING NOTES

kereru maidstone lager (5% abv) must-tryWith a lovely rich malty body that is creamy and full, some bitterness and a clean, long profi le, this is exactly what I look for in a 5% lager.

lion red (4% abv)A lager with some nice, luscious golden malt but very little character.

mac�s gold (4% abv)Characterised by generous sweet malts with citrus hop notes and a subdued bitterness. Light and simple but refreshing.

mac's spring tide (low-carb lager) (4.5% abv)Like a doughnut: fl eshy around the outside but hollow in the middle. It has some maltiness and hop character but reminds me of artifi cially sweetened drinks.

mata beer artesan (5% abv)A lovely smooth lager with subtle spice, honey and crushed grape aromatics.

mcleod's longboarder lager (5.2% abv)Clean, focused and refreshing premium lager which hints at vibrant tropical hop notes.

mike's organic lager (5% abv)A light, malty lager. Simple but clean, focused and refreshing.

moa original lager (5% abv)Moa’s take on the ‘green bottle’ lager – soft, sweet malt with just enough bitterness and hop aroma to provide focus.

monteith's golden lager (5% abv)A sweet, malty lager with some citrusy hop notes and clean bitterness.

moutere brewing sarau lager (4.2% abv)A long, fresh, classically German lager with spicy hop notes. Very complex and long.

mussel inn golden goose (4.4% abv)A malty, clean, vibrantly hopped lager. Long and refreshing.

outlier cartel cargo cult lager trouvé (4.5% abv)An intriguing one – a hoppy, dry, Japanese lager. Bursting with herbal/grassy aromatics this beer is gentle on the mid-palate with soft �loral notes on the �inish.

speight's triple hop pilsner (4% abv)Although not a Pilsner, that doesn’t stop this beer from being damn good. It has light, golden malt and clean bitterness provides freshness.

sprig & fern tasman reserve lager (6.5% abv)Sprig & Fern’s second-biggest selling beer. This is a full, luscious lager with clean bitterness, lovely golden malt and a hint of

sweetness.

sprig & fern fern lager (4% abv)A clean, focused lager with lovely golden malt, present bitterness and citrusy fruit notes.

steinlager pure (5% abv)The quintessential Kiwi lager, with sweaty, vegetal green-bullet hopping, clean bitterness and some generous golden malt.

stoke lager (4.5% abv)A clean, dry, quenching lager. Simple, but it hits all its marks.

sunshine brewery gisborne gold (4% abv)must-tryA lovely rich, malty lager. For many years this was one of the few craft beers on the market. Best drunk on the beach in summer.

totara brewing gold lager (5% abv)Long and bright, this lager has a beautiful

�loral hop aroma and a malt body reminiscent of sun-kissed skin.

tuatara helluva helles lager (5% abv)Bone-dry with dusty malt notes and a focused, clean �inish, this is a simple but incredibly enjoyable craft lager.

west coast brewery green fern organic lager (5% abv)A light-bodied, malty lager with a hint of hop funk and a long, smooth �inish.

wigram brewing propeller lager (5% abv)A simple, focused, easy-drinking lager with refreshing bitterness.

zeelandt brewery jerry-rig helles (5% abv)A simple but beautifully balanced and drinkable German-style lager with generous, golden malt and clean bitterness.

pilsnerbach brewing beachstone (4.8% abv)must-tryLight and bright with zippy Kiwi hop character: gooseberry, passion fruit and cut grass. A delicious, extremely aromatic Kiwi lager.

b.effect pop�n pils (5% abv)

Pop’N Pils is a vibrant Pilsner hopped with Kiwi hops – notes of passionfruit, guava and citrus fl owers burst from the glass.

behemoth hopped up on pils (5% abv)A hoppy Pilsner, this beer is light in body and colour, with soft, grassy, fl oral hop

161160

brewed BEER TASTING NOTES

kereru maidstone lager (5% abv) must-tryWith a lovely rich malty body that is creamy and full, some bitterness and a clean, long profi le, this is exactly what I look for in a 5% lager.

lion red (4% abv)A lager with some nice, luscious golden malt but very little character.

mac�s gold (4% abv)Characterised by generous sweet malts with citrus hop notes and a subdued bitterness. Light and simple but refreshing.

mac's spring tide (low-carb lager) (4.5% abv)Like a doughnut: fl eshy around the outside but hollow in the middle. It has some maltiness and hop character but reminds me of artifi cially sweetened drinks.

mata beer artesan (5% abv)A lovely smooth lager with subtle spice, honey and crushed grape aromatics.

mcleod's longboarder lager (5.2% abv)Clean, focused and refreshing premium lager which hints at vibrant tropical hop notes.

mike's organic lager (5% abv)A light, malty lager. Simple but clean, focused and refreshing.

moa original lager (5% abv)Moa’s take on the ‘green bottle’ lager – soft, sweet malt with just enough bitterness and hop aroma to provide focus.

monteith's golden lager (5% abv)A sweet, malty lager with some citrusy hop notes and clean bitterness.

moutere brewing sarau lager (4.2% abv)A long, fresh, classically German lager with spicy hop notes. Very complex and long.

mussel inn golden goose (4.4% abv)A malty, clean, vibrantly hopped lager. Long and refreshing.

outlier cartel cargo cult lager trouvé (4.5% abv)An intriguing one – a hoppy, dry, Japanese lager. Bursting with herbal/grassy aromatics this beer is gentle on the mid-palate with soft �loral notes on the �inish.

speight's triple hop pilsner (4% abv)Although not a Pilsner, that doesn’t stop this beer from being damn good. It has light, golden malt and clean bitterness provides freshness.

sprig & fern tasman reserve lager (6.5% abv)Sprig & Fern’s second-biggest selling beer. This is a full, luscious lager with clean bitterness, lovely golden malt and a hint of

sweetness.

sprig & fern fern lager (4% abv)A clean, focused lager with lovely golden malt, present bitterness and citrusy fruit notes.

steinlager pure (5% abv)The quintessential Kiwi lager, with sweaty, vegetal green-bullet hopping, clean bitterness and some generous golden malt.

stoke lager (4.5% abv)A clean, dry, quenching lager. Simple, but it hits all its marks.

sunshine brewery gisborne gold (4% abv)must-tryA lovely rich, malty lager. For many years this was one of the few craft beers on the market. Best drunk on the beach in summer.

totara brewing gold lager (5% abv)Long and bright, this lager has a beautiful

�loral hop aroma and a malt body reminiscent of sun-kissed skin.

tuatara helluva helles lager (5% abv)Bone-dry with dusty malt notes and a focused, clean �inish, this is a simple but incredibly enjoyable craft lager.

west coast brewery green fern organic lager (5% abv)A light-bodied, malty lager with a hint of hop funk and a long, smooth �inish.

wigram brewing propeller lager (5% abv)A simple, focused, easy-drinking lager with refreshing bitterness.

zeelandt brewery jerry-rig helles (5% abv)A simple but beautifully balanced and drinkable German-style lager with generous, golden malt and clean bitterness.

pilsnerbach brewing beachstone (4.8% abv)must-tryLight and bright with zippy Kiwi hop character: gooseberry, passion fruit and cut grass. A delicious, extremely aromatic Kiwi lager.

b.effect pop�n pils (5% abv)

Pop’N Pils is a vibrant Pilsner hopped with Kiwi hops – notes of passionfruit, guava and citrus fl owers burst from the glass.

behemoth hopped up on pils (5% abv)A hoppy Pilsner, this beer is light in body and colour, with soft, grassy, fl oral hop

163162

brewed BEER TASTING NOTES

character notes of passionfruit and other tropical fruits. Fresh, long and focused.

birkenhead pilsner (4.8% abv)This is a soft, juicy Pilsner with generous golden malt and delicate aromatics.

black dog bite (5.5% abv)Hopped with Sauvin and Motueka, this is an incredibly aromatic Pilsner with lemongrass, gooseberry and fl oral notes, and clean, focused bitterness.

boundary road bouncing czech (5.2% abv)Refreshing golden lager with long, persistent bitterness.

cargo brewery pilsner (5% abv)Soft hop fl ower notes on the nose with golden malt and intensely fi rm, almost astringent, bitterness. Vibrant.

cassels pilsner (4.8% abv)A vibrantly hopped Pilsner with grassy hop notes over a body of honeyed malt. Has a long, bitter fi nish.

croucher pilsner (5% abv)With a subtle aroma of lemon blossom and passionfruit, this beer has a lovely, rich mid-palate with luscious golden malt. It fi nishes with long, refreshing bitterness.

deep creek undercurrent (5% abv)With sweet malt notes, fi rm bitterness and fruity citrus and fl oral hop aromas, this is a long, focused Kiwi Pilsner.

duncan's pilsner (4.9% abv)Bone dry with grassy hop notes this is a lean, fresh, zesty Pilsner.

emerson's pilsner (4.9% abv) must-tryA lithe, focused Kiwi Pilsner with a rich golden body of malt, beautiful citrus and fl oral aromatics, and clean, long bitterness.

fork brewing bohemian hipster (5% abv)A Pilsner with a hint of dry-hopped aromatics, lovely full golden malt with clean bitterness and a citrusy lemonade-like fi nish.

founders 1946 (5% abv)A very enjoyable, focused Pilsner; not overly serious but it offers excellent value for money and has lovely golden malt and fl oral top notes.

funk estate parleyer (4.2% abv)A Pilsner with an amazingly vibrant nose and beautiful fruity hop top notes. A lovely rich body of golden malt fi lls the palate but remains crisp, combining with fl oral hop notes and long bitterness.

galbraith's bohemian pilsner (4.5% abv) must-tryThis beer has lovely layered notes of barley, high aromatic fl oral hop notes and long, focused bitterness. It’s simple but has real purity.

galbraith's czech style pilsner (5.3% abv)A ‘souped up’ version of the Bohemian Pilsner; it lacks the same prettiness but has taut bitterness and a long focused fi nish.

garage project beer (4.8% abv)A beer that is just what it says on the tin. It is a clean, focused, Czech-style Pilsner with golden malt and a hint of spicy bitterness.

garage project pils �'n'� thrills (5.5% abv) must-tryMy favourite of the Garage Project beers: an intensely grapefruity US-hopped Pilsner with cutting bitterness.

garage project hops on pointe (nz pilsner) 6.7% abvAn extremely dry, tightly carbonated Pilsner bursting with passionfruit and gooseberry. Fermented on Champagne yeast, which gives the beer an extremely dry, clean fi nish.

golden bear czech pils (5.2% abv)A soft, fl oral Pilsner with a broad, sun-kissed New Zealand malt character. Long and bitter on the fi nish – a very classy example of the style.

hallertau #5 pilsnah! (5% abv)A vibrant NZ pilsner packed full of crushed tropical fruit and zesty lime with

a hint of soft fl orals.

harrington's rogue hop (5% abv)Softly fl oral and aromatic with luscious golden malt, this Pilsner has a clean bitterness and sweet lemon-drop notes on the fi nish.

harrington's strong pilsner (6.5% abv)Bursting with greengage plum notes, this is a big, malty beer that remains fresh, even as it warms in the glass.

hawke's bay brewing pilsner (5% abv)Light-bodied, extremely aromatic Kiwi Pilsner with soft fl oral hop notes and clean bitterness.

invercargill brewery b.man pilsner (5.2% abv) must-tryWith a rich, full, malty body, this beer is big for a Pilsner but very balanced. It has a fi rm bitterness and beautiful long, aromatic hop notes on the fi nish.

kaiser brothers pilsener (5% abv)Bursting with fruity hop notes this is a delicious beer is bright and fresh but a little bit too ester-driven to be a true Pilsner.

kereru big pigeon pilsner (5% abv)Light, lithe and pretty, with soft malt and clean focused bitterness, this Pilsner is more in the bitter Germanic style than the aromatic Czech or international style.

163162

brewed BEER TASTING NOTES

character notes of passionfruit and other tropical fruits. Fresh, long and focused.

birkenhead pilsner (4.8% abv)This is a soft, juicy Pilsner with generous golden malt and delicate aromatics.

black dog bite (5.5% abv)Hopped with Sauvin and Motueka, this is an incredibly aromatic Pilsner with lemongrass, gooseberry and fl oral notes, and clean, focused bitterness.

boundary road bouncing czech (5.2% abv)Refreshing golden lager with long, persistent bitterness.

cargo brewery pilsner (5% abv)Soft hop fl ower notes on the nose with golden malt and intensely fi rm, almost astringent, bitterness. Vibrant.

cassels pilsner (4.8% abv)A vibrantly hopped Pilsner with grassy hop notes over a body of honeyed malt. Has a long, bitter fi nish.

croucher pilsner (5% abv)With a subtle aroma of lemon blossom and passionfruit, this beer has a lovely, rich mid-palate with luscious golden malt. It fi nishes with long, refreshing bitterness.

deep creek undercurrent (5% abv)With sweet malt notes, fi rm bitterness and fruity citrus and fl oral hop aromas, this is a long, focused Kiwi Pilsner.

duncan's pilsner (4.9% abv)Bone dry with grassy hop notes this is a lean, fresh, zesty Pilsner.

emerson's pilsner (4.9% abv) must-tryA lithe, focused Kiwi Pilsner with a rich golden body of malt, beautiful citrus and fl oral aromatics, and clean, long bitterness.

fork brewing bohemian hipster (5% abv)A Pilsner with a hint of dry-hopped aromatics, lovely full golden malt with clean bitterness and a citrusy lemonade-like fi nish.

founders 1946 (5% abv)A very enjoyable, focused Pilsner; not overly serious but it offers excellent value for money and has lovely golden malt and fl oral top notes.

funk estate parleyer (4.2% abv)A Pilsner with an amazingly vibrant nose and beautiful fruity hop top notes. A lovely rich body of golden malt fi lls the palate but remains crisp, combining with fl oral hop notes and long bitterness.

galbraith's bohemian pilsner (4.5% abv) must-tryThis beer has lovely layered notes of barley, high aromatic fl oral hop notes and long, focused bitterness. It’s simple but has real purity.

galbraith's czech style pilsner (5.3% abv)A ‘souped up’ version of the Bohemian Pilsner; it lacks the same prettiness but has taut bitterness and a long focused fi nish.

garage project beer (4.8% abv)A beer that is just what it says on the tin. It is a clean, focused, Czech-style Pilsner with golden malt and a hint of spicy bitterness.

garage project pils �'n'� thrills (5.5% abv) must-tryMy favourite of the Garage Project beers: an intensely grapefruity US-hopped Pilsner with cutting bitterness.

garage project hops on pointe (nz pilsner) 6.7% abvAn extremely dry, tightly carbonated Pilsner bursting with passionfruit and gooseberry. Fermented on Champagne yeast, which gives the beer an extremely dry, clean fi nish.

golden bear czech pils (5.2% abv)A soft, fl oral Pilsner with a broad, sun-kissed New Zealand malt character. Long and bitter on the fi nish – a very classy example of the style.

hallertau #5 pilsnah! (5% abv)A vibrant NZ pilsner packed full of crushed tropical fruit and zesty lime with

a hint of soft fl orals.

harrington's rogue hop (5% abv)Softly fl oral and aromatic with luscious golden malt, this Pilsner has a clean bitterness and sweet lemon-drop notes on the fi nish.

harrington's strong pilsner (6.5% abv)Bursting with greengage plum notes, this is a big, malty beer that remains fresh, even as it warms in the glass.

hawke's bay brewing pilsner (5% abv)Light-bodied, extremely aromatic Kiwi Pilsner with soft fl oral hop notes and clean bitterness.

invercargill brewery b.man pilsner (5.2% abv) must-tryWith a rich, full, malty body, this beer is big for a Pilsner but very balanced. It has a fi rm bitterness and beautiful long, aromatic hop notes on the fi nish.

kaiser brothers pilsener (5% abv)Bursting with fruity hop notes this is a delicious beer is bright and fresh but a little bit too ester-driven to be a true Pilsner.

kereru big pigeon pilsner (5% abv)Light, lithe and pretty, with soft malt and clean focused bitterness, this Pilsner is more in the bitter Germanic style than the aromatic Czech or international style.

165164

brewed BEER TASTING NOTES

lake man pilsner (5.2% abv)With sweaty passionfruit and tropical fl owers, this is a lovely aromatic Pilsner with soft malt and just enough bitterness.

liberty halo (5.4% abv)A focused, subtly aromatic Kiwi Pilsner with gooseberry and passion fl ower notes.

mac's hop rocker (5% abv)An approachable Pilsner with fruity hop notes, a hint of passionfruit and orange, and some clean bitterness.

mata hip hop (5% abv)A crisp Pilsner with sweet golden malt and lemon-drop hop notes. It has a long, refreshing bitterness.

mike's organic pilsner (5% abv)An extremely light-bodied Pilsner with vibrantly aromatic top notes of passionfruit and guava. It has a clean bitterness.

moa methode (5% abv)Named ‘Methode’ as it is re-fermented in the bottle using méthode champenoise – the Champagne method. Initially, it has estery notes of clove and banana, before these give way to a more abundant golden barley-fi eld character that I associate with Pilsner. It has a rich and creamy texture with a fi ne bead and long, focused bitterness.

moutere brewing 1516 (5% abv)This is an extremely aromatic Pilsner with zesty citrus notes and lovely fl oral aromas. It is long, fresh and clean, with refreshing bitterness.

panhead port road (5.2% abv) must-tryThe yellow one. A stunning Pilsner with soft golden malt and aromatic tropical notes, culminating in long, refreshing bitterness.

queenstown brewers 25oz pilsner (5% abv)A lovely punchy Sauvignon Blanc-like aroma combines with soft golden malt and very fl oral aromatics. A very refreshing Kiwi take on Pilsner that is unlike any New Zealand-hopped Pilsner I’ve tasted.

renaissance paradox (5% abv)Effervescent and crunchy, with passionfruit and lemon-drop hop notes over a light body of malt, this is a fruity Pilsner with a seamless line of bitterness throughout.

sawmill pilsner (4.5% abv) must-tryA stunning example of the Kiwi Pilsner: a light malt body and grassy gooseberry notes.

schipper's mistress pilsner (5% abv)A German-style Pilsner with a herbal,

white pepper-like punch. Clean and refreshing.

sprig & fern pilsner (5% abv)A light, refreshing Pilsner with citrus and passionfruit-like hop notes.

stoke cheeky czech zesty bohemian pils (5% abv)Extremely aromatic fl oral nose with soft, layered malt and clean bitterness. Simple, textbook Pilsner.

stoke pilsner (4.8% abv)Zesty, with some aromatic fl oral notes, this is an entry-level Pilsner (that is, an entry-level example of an approachable style) but very focused, with spicy hop notes and lovely golden malt.

sunshine brewery gisborne pilsner (5% abv)A citrusy, vibrant Pilsner with a hint of sweetness that distracts from the refreshing nature of the beer.

three boys pils (5.5% abv)Lovely rich, golden malt with spicy aromatics and clean, focused bitterness come together to create this traditional Czech-styled yet Kiwi-accented Pilsner.

tiamana pilski (5.6% abv)A German-hopped Pilsner this beer is bright and fresh with clean bitterness and woodsy, spicy hop notes.

totara ninkasi green (5% abv)

A green-hopped beer, using a variety called Kahurangi that is exclusive to Totara. The beer itself is amazingly pretty and aromatic, with dank hop notes that burst out of the glass, and has a long and bitter fi nish.

townshend's black arrow (5% abv)This beer smells like a hayfi eld, with resinous green hop notes over the top. Quite fat for a Pilsner, but still extremely fresh and refreshing, with lovely citrus fl ower top notes and a long line of very taut bitterness.

tuatara mot eureka (5% abv)This is one of the fi nest examples of New Zealand-hopped Pilsner around: lovely, light, golden malt with lime blossom, lemon zest and a clean bone of bitterness running through the mid-palate.

twisted hop sauvin pilsner (5% abv)A vibrant, aromatic Pilsner centred around passionfruit and gooseberry-scented Nelson Sauvin. Long, bitter and focused, with a hint of funk.

wanaka beerworks brewski (5% abv)A luscious Bohemian-style beer with warming golden nectarine hop notes and focused bitterness.

wigram bavarian pilsner (5% abv)In the spicy, searingly bitter German style, with a light body and a hint of funk.

165164

brewed BEER TASTING NOTES

lake man pilsner (5.2% abv)With sweaty passionfruit and tropical fl owers, this is a lovely aromatic Pilsner with soft malt and just enough bitterness.

liberty halo (5.4% abv)A focused, subtly aromatic Kiwi Pilsner with gooseberry and passion fl ower notes.

mac's hop rocker (5% abv)An approachable Pilsner with fruity hop notes, a hint of passionfruit and orange, and some clean bitterness.

mata hip hop (5% abv)A crisp Pilsner with sweet golden malt and lemon-drop hop notes. It has a long, refreshing bitterness.

mike's organic pilsner (5% abv)An extremely light-bodied Pilsner with vibrantly aromatic top notes of passionfruit and guava. It has a clean bitterness.

moa methode (5% abv)Named ‘Methode’ as it is re-fermented in the bottle using méthode champenoise – the Champagne method. Initially, it has estery notes of clove and banana, before these give way to a more abundant golden barley-fi eld character that I associate with Pilsner. It has a rich and creamy texture with a fi ne bead and long, focused bitterness.

moutere brewing 1516 (5% abv)This is an extremely aromatic Pilsner with zesty citrus notes and lovely fl oral aromas. It is long, fresh and clean, with refreshing bitterness.

panhead port road (5.2% abv) must-tryThe yellow one. A stunning Pilsner with soft golden malt and aromatic tropical notes, culminating in long, refreshing bitterness.

queenstown brewers 25oz pilsner (5% abv)A lovely punchy Sauvignon Blanc-like aroma combines with soft golden malt and very fl oral aromatics. A very refreshing Kiwi take on Pilsner that is unlike any New Zealand-hopped Pilsner I’ve tasted.

renaissance paradox (5% abv)Effervescent and crunchy, with passionfruit and lemon-drop hop notes over a light body of malt, this is a fruity Pilsner with a seamless line of bitterness throughout.

sawmill pilsner (4.5% abv) must-tryA stunning example of the Kiwi Pilsner: a light malt body and grassy gooseberry notes.

schipper's mistress pilsner (5% abv)A German-style Pilsner with a herbal,

white pepper-like punch. Clean and refreshing.

sprig & fern pilsner (5% abv)A light, refreshing Pilsner with citrus and passionfruit-like hop notes.

stoke cheeky czech zesty bohemian pils (5% abv)Extremely aromatic fl oral nose with soft, layered malt and clean bitterness. Simple, textbook Pilsner.

stoke pilsner (4.8% abv)Zesty, with some aromatic fl oral notes, this is an entry-level Pilsner (that is, an entry-level example of an approachable style) but very focused, with spicy hop notes and lovely golden malt.

sunshine brewery gisborne pilsner (5% abv)A citrusy, vibrant Pilsner with a hint of sweetness that distracts from the refreshing nature of the beer.

three boys pils (5.5% abv)Lovely rich, golden malt with spicy aromatics and clean, focused bitterness come together to create this traditional Czech-styled yet Kiwi-accented Pilsner.

tiamana pilski (5.6% abv)A German-hopped Pilsner this beer is bright and fresh with clean bitterness and woodsy, spicy hop notes.

totara ninkasi green (5% abv)

A green-hopped beer, using a variety called Kahurangi that is exclusive to Totara. The beer itself is amazingly pretty and aromatic, with dank hop notes that burst out of the glass, and has a long and bitter fi nish.

townshend's black arrow (5% abv)This beer smells like a hayfi eld, with resinous green hop notes over the top. Quite fat for a Pilsner, but still extremely fresh and refreshing, with lovely citrus fl ower top notes and a long line of very taut bitterness.

tuatara mot eureka (5% abv)This is one of the fi nest examples of New Zealand-hopped Pilsner around: lovely, light, golden malt with lime blossom, lemon zest and a clean bone of bitterness running through the mid-palate.

twisted hop sauvin pilsner (5% abv)A vibrant, aromatic Pilsner centred around passionfruit and gooseberry-scented Nelson Sauvin. Long, bitter and focused, with a hint of funk.

wanaka beerworks brewski (5% abv)A luscious Bohemian-style beer with warming golden nectarine hop notes and focused bitterness.

wigram bavarian pilsner (5% abv)In the spicy, searingly bitter German style, with a light body and a hint of funk.

$39.99240 x 170 mm, approx 208pp, paperback, colour photography throughout

ISBN: 978 0 947503 41 3

Stock No: 6235

Published: September 2017

9 7 8 0 9 4 7 5 0 3 4 1 3

ISBN 978-0-947503-41-3