Category: Beer
Latest news
Bootleg burning their own path
by Michael Donaldson | Jun 28, 2022 | Cover Story | 0 |
When Omicron started its sweep of the country, the Bootleg Sessions were born: music gigs at the brewery’s Matangi base limited to 100 people with all the proceeds going to the musicians.
Read MoreEddyline tackles CO2 shortage
by Michael Donaldson | Jun 30, 2022 | News | 0 |
Eddyline Brewery in Nelson is working with a carbon capture expert from the US to address both a shortage of CO2 plaguing New Zealand as well as improving its sustainability credentials.
Read MoreTaranaki’s booming beer scene
by Brett Atkinson | Jun 29, 2022 | Travel | 0 |
Taranaki breweries have been shining bright at recent awards so we take a trip around the mountain to find the region’s best beer
Read MoreGood George win Smith’s IPA Challenge — again
by Michael Donaldson | Jun 28, 2022 | News | 0 |
Good George has won the Smith’s NZ IPA Challenge in Queenstown for the second year in a row with their Haze of Glory.
Read MoreHaiku Beer Vol 4
by Stephen Gallagher | Jun 28, 2022 | Opinion | 0 |
In volume four of his beer Haiku series, Stephen Gallagher takes us from Atlanta to Wanaka for some poetic beers.
Read MoreBootleg T-Straight Burnout Stout
by Tim Newman | Jun 27, 2022 | Reviews | 0 |
Bootleg T Straight Burnout Smokey Stout is tremendous winter drinking, and a superb match for rich and savoury comfort food.
Read MoreA year on from beer’s #metoo reckoning what’s changed
by Denise Garland | Jun 24, 2022 | News | 0 |
A year on from beer’s #metoo reckoning what action has been taken to make our beer community a safer and more inclusive one?
Read MoreNew New New brewery for sale
by Michael Donaldson | Jun 22, 2022 | News | 0 |
One of Dunedin’s better-known craft breweries, New New New, is for sale.
Read More10 soul beers for the darkest nights
by Michael Donaldson | Jun 21, 2022 | Opinion | 0 |
As the nights grow colder we have 10 proven beers that have earned their place by the fireside this winter.
Read MoreLet them drink cake! Dessert beers on the rise
by Luke Owen Smith | Jun 20, 2022 | Features | 0 |
Over the past decade we’ve seen an explosion of sweet beers hitting the shelves, with all kinds of decadent treats recreated in beer form.
Read MoreGarage Project Louche Lips
by Tim Newman | Jun 19, 2022 | Reviews | 0 |
Louche Lips is a 12.1% ABV barrel-aged, mixed ferment monster of an IPA from Garage Project’s Wild Workshop.
Read MoreSunshine Tiramisu Stout
by Tim Newman | Jun 15, 2022 | Reviews | 0 |
Part of Sunshine Brewing’s continuing Eclipse series of dark beers, this one is brewed with vanilla, cold brew coffee and cacao.
Read MoreThe Theoretical Brewer: Elegance meets precision
by Brett Atkinson | Jun 14, 2022 | Features | 0 |
Inspired by Doug Eng’s engineering background, there’s a real elegance and precision to The Theoretical Brewer’s beers.
Read MoreEmerson’s Weissbier
by Tim Newman | Jun 14, 2022 | Reviews | 0 |
Emerson’s Weissbier is lots of banana and spice: it’s hugely flavoursome for only 5% ABV and absolutely classic to the Hefeweizen style.
Read MoreThe Theoretical Brewer Mad Hatter Hazy Pale Ale
by Tim Newman | Jun 13, 2022 | Reviews | 0 |
The Theoretical Brewer Mad Hatter is great hazy that expertly leverages all the strengths of the style to cram maximum flavour into its modest alcohol weight.
Read MoreMorningcider Strawberry Rosé
by Tim Newman | Jun 13, 2022 | Reviews | 0 |
Apple cider has always been a welcoming base for all sorts of extra ingredients, and the added berries find themselves right at home in Morningcider’s Strawberry Rose
Read MoreBeer Baroness brewing for the future
by Tim Newman | Jun 9, 2022 | Features | 0 |
Christchurch’s Beer Baroness have been on a roll lately with a trophy at the NZ Beer Awards now a New World Beer & Cider Awards Top-30
Read More‘Sports drink’ beer wins trophy
by Denise Garland | Jun 7, 2022 | News | 0 |
The Rare Beer Challenge is an event which asks breweries to push their imaginations to the limits and brew something weird but wonderful.
Read MoreBeer writer Neil Miller remembered
by Michael Donaldson | Jun 7, 2022 | News | 0 |
Neil Miller, who was farewelled in Wellington to laughter and bagpipes today, was one of this country’s most influential beer writers.
Read MoreGarage Project Hatsukoi
by Tim Newman | Jun 6, 2022 | Reviews | 0 |
What is it about Garage Project Hatsukoi, a Japanese Lager, that made it a New World Beer & Cider Awards Top-30 winner?
Read MoreRhyme X Reason Space Monkey
by Tim Newman | Jun 6, 2022 | Reviews | 0 |
Rhyme X Reason Space Monkey, a New World Top 30 winner, is a rare first pilsner that utilises the super-fruity Nectaron hop.
Read MoreBeervana gets makeover for 21st birthday
by Michael Donaldson | Jun 1, 2022 | News | 0 |
Beervana is getting a make-over for its 21st birthday, with a bright and colourful look taking the long-standing festival in a new direction.
Read MoreGarage Project Epuni Street ESB
by Tim Newman | Jun 1, 2022 | Reviews | 0 |
To see Garage Project release a classic Extra Special Bitter is something of a surprise, but a welcome one,
Read MoreTriple trophies for NZ breweries
by Michael Donaldson | May 27, 2022 | News | 0 |
New Zealand breweries took home three trophies and a swag of gold medals at the 2022 Australian International Beer Awards
Read MoreWhat is a craft brewery?
by Jamie O'Hare | May 26, 2022 | Opinion | 0 |
In New Zealand, we don’t do a great job of defining a craft brewery; there is no rigid industry standard, so what makes craft “craft”?
Read MoreChanges brewing at Mean Doses
by Neil McInnes | May 25, 2022 | News | 0 |
There’s big changes on the horizon for Wellington’s Mean Doses brewery and taproom.
Read MoreSmith’s IPA Challenge a hophead’s holiday
by Michael Donaldson | May 24, 2022 | Features | 0 |
The Smith’s NZ IPA Challenge is starting to rival the Malthouse West Coast IPA Challenge as a must-enter competition for the country’s leading brewers.
Read MoreTips for brewing a hazy IPA
by Michael Donaldson | May 24, 2022 | Home Brew | 0 |
Tips and tricks to considerer when brewing a cracking New England IPA.
Read MoreHighly commended winners at New World Beer & Cider Awards
by Michael Donaldson | May 24, 2022 | News | 0 |
The New World Beer & Ciders dish out 70 highly commended gongs to go with their Top-30 “golds” to create a Top-100. The competition is so cut-throat that anyone listed in the Top-100 is a winner.
Read MoreCraig Orr resigns as NZ Hops CEO
by Michael Donaldson | May 19, 2022 | News | 0 |
Craig Orr has stepped down as chief executive of New Zealand Hops Ltd after two and a half years in the role
Read More
Reviews

Bootleg T-Straight Burnout Stout

Garage Project Louche Lips

Sunshine Tiramisu Stout

Emerson’s Weissbier

The Theoretical Brewer Mad Hatter Hazy P...

Morningcider Strawberry Rosé

Garage Project Hatsukoi

Rhyme X Reason Space Monkey

Garage Project Epuni Street ESB

Altitude Brewing Fresh Tracks

Shining Peak Gung Ho! IPA

Baylands Waifly 8 Fresh Hop IPA

Parrotdog Bruce Hazy IPA

Good George Cold IPA

Brothers Beer Modern Love West Coast IPA

Hop Federation Green Limousine Fresh Hop...

Bach Brewing Freebird Hazy IPA

Boneface Lithium American Pilsner

Behemoth Screw It Let’s Brew It!

Sprig + Fern Trifecta Fresh Hop Hazy

Eddyline Happy Camper APA

Boneface Unf*ck the World Double IPA

Lakeman Landscape Series Hazy No 2

Liberty Raspberry Roller Milkshake Sour

North Coast Brother Thelonious

Sunshine Rolling Stones Cold Dip Hopped ...

Bach Brewing Peach Pucker Berliner Sour

Kereru Superb Owl Belgian-style Wit Beer

Epic Cryopop IPA

Steinlager 0.0

Bach Brewing Wandering IPL

Shining Peak Barrel Aged Brett Saison

Brothers Beer “Martin Scores Hazy&...

Laughing Bones Treeline Mountain IPA

Double Vision Mouth Party Hazy Pale Ale

Volstead Riwaka Hazy

Three Boys Gas NZIPA

Craftwork Good Lord Abbey Tripel

Boneface Big Unit Hazy Double IPA

Robinsons Trooper English IPA

8 Wired Hopwired Pacific Sunrise Edition

Burkes Brewing Unforgiven Porter

Alibi Temná Zima Bohemian Dark Lager

Garage Project Chance, Luck & Magic...

Kereru Amberine Whisky Barrel Quadrupel

Beer Baroness Dare To Diva Mixed Berry S...

Three Sisters Roses & Rivets Red IP...

Behemoth Get Busy Hopping IPA

Speight’s Mid Ale

Waitoa Afterglow Hazy IPA

Boneface Outlaw IPL

Garage Project Proper Crisp IPA

Emerson’s Bookbinder

Sunshine Brewing Gisborne Gold

Liberty Juice Bro Hazy Pale Ale

Abandoned Hazy Pale Ale

Panhead Sandman Hazy Pale Ale

Volstead Lupulin Block West Coast IPA

Garage Project 10 Triple Hazy IPA

Garage Project Tiny But Mighty alcohol f...

Spaten Oktoberfestbier

ChinChiller Touch My Wenis Pilsner

Sawmill Bare Beer

Chouffe Houblon Belgian IPA

Brothers Beer Pop Art Cryo-Hopped IPA

Urbanaut Imperial Saison

8 Wired Double Scoop Chocolate Cherry Fr...

Hop Federation IPA

Dogfish Head 90 Minute Double IPA

Garage Project Fruitallica Fruit IPA

Orval Trappist Ale

Moa Sultana Single Hop IPA

Baylands The Hops Awaken IPA

Bach All Day Non-alcoholic IPA

Urbanaut Juno Lite Hazy IPA

Hop Federation Space Cadet IPA

Garage Project Double Pernicious Weed

Sunshine Blond Biere De Garde

Parrotdog Denise Double Porter

Stoke Legacy West Coast IPA

Sunshine Stockies Session Hazy IPA

Urbanaut Black IPA

Bavaria 0.0 IPA

8 Wired Double Imperial iStout

Volstead Valkyrie Juniper & Hibiscu...

Brave Brewing Tigermilk IPA

Cassels Nectar Double IPA

Peckhams X Cell Division Fire Graff

Garage Project Snug Dry Irish Stout

Urbanaut Tropical Imperial Stout

Boneface Brewing Voodoo XPA

Lakeman Hop Rush West Coast IPA

Emporium Walk on Watermelon

Behemoth Now That’s What I call Ho...

Good George Chance of Haze

Boneface McLeod’s 8 Wired Huha Bru...

Garage Project Talk To The Hand Cold IPA...

Epic Kashmir Hazy IPA 6.04%

North End x Small Gods Sin Eater Mild Al...

Boneface Brewing Hand of Doom American S...

Small Gods x Maltkult Gunpowder Bock 7.2...

Zeelandt/Small Gods Brünhilde’s Fa...

Brothers Beer Idanot IPA 6.7%

Garage Project Surrender To The Void Vol...

New World Top 30 Award Winners

Baylands Waifly 7 Fresh Hop IPA 6.5%

Cider Review Roundup

McLeod’s 802 #33 Fresh Hop IPA 7%

Bannockburn Brewing Killarabbit Double I...

8 Wired Fresh Hopwired IPA 7.3%

Epic Green Machine Fresh Hop IPA (6.5%)

Good George Fresh Squeeze Hazy IPA (6.1%...

Eddyline Hop Project #9 Hazy Fresh IPA (...

Parrotdog Terry Coco-Cacao Stout (6.5%)

Epic Hop Zombie Double IPA (8.5%)

Wigram Vienna Lager (5%)

Garage Project Party & Bullshit Eas...

Isthmus Cumulus Hazy IPA (6.5%)

Abandoned Double XPA (8.4%)

Epic Private Idaho Hazy IPA (6.3%)

Sawmill Vintage Ale 2020 (8%)

Good George Double Barrel Hazy IPA (7.8%...

Behemoth Irish Champagne Dry Stout (4.2%...

8 Wired Tall Poppy Red IPA

8 Wired Byg is beautiful Barleywine (11%...

Bach Brewing Juice Axe (6.9%)

Garage Project Fresh March IPA (7%)

Urbanaut Cucumber Mint Sour (5%)

Heart of Darkness Kurtz’s Insane I...

Sprig & Fern Sunny Dayz Hazy Pale A...

Garage Project Lupus The Wolf man Double...

Paynter’s The Pilgrim Cider (5.9%)

Urbanaut Sabro Triple Hazy (13.5%)

Bateman’s Vintage Ale 2013 (7.5%)

Epic Magic Dust IPA (6.9%)

Garage Project Super Fresh Vol 5 Hazy Do...

EPIC 15 American Barleywine (10.2%)

Peckham’s Farmhouse Cider

Altitude Brewing Foggy Goggles Hazy IPA ...

Wander Beyond Curious Creek Raspberry an...

Epic Stone Hammer IPA (7%)

Emporium Elbows Off Table Beer (3%)

Volstead US IPA (6.4%)

Garage Project Air Drop NZ Pilsner (6.1%...

Baylands Slackline Boysenberry Sour (4%)

Epic Pilsner (5%)

Behemoth Me Time Motueka Hazy IPA

RHYME X REASON Don’t Wine It’s Beer Gold...

Deep CreeK LoCAL Low Carb IPA (3.5%)

Sawmill Azacca Hazy IPA (6%)

8 Wired Blackberry Way Fruited Sour (5.5...

Lakeman Double Happy Double IPA (8.5%)

ZYWIEC 1881 Baltic Porter 9.5%

Good George Double Barrel Hazy DIPA (7.8...

Duckpond Masala Chai Spiced Imperial Sto...

Urbanaut Bourbon Barrel-aged Strong Ale ...

Parrotdog Falcon APA (5.4%)

Yeastie Boys White Noise White Beer (4.4...

McLeod’s Cove Unfiltered Pale Ale ...

Epic Talusman Hazy IPA (6.3%)

Sawmill 12 Gauge Strong Lager (6.5%)

Bach Brewing Juicy AF Hazy Pale Ale (5.1...

Baylands Typhoon Detector American Red A...

Garage Project F*CK You 2020 NEIPA (8%)

McLeod’s Far North Chili Pils (5.2...

North End Pit Boss Smoked Doppelbock (7%...

Garage Project Single Hop Talus Hazy Pal...

Shepherd Neame Christmas Strong Ale (7%)

Garage Project x Otherside Bubbles IPA (...

Sawmill Aotearoa IPA #15 (6%)

Epic Joose Party Hazy Pale Ale (5.3%)

Mac’s Stunt Double 0% Golden Ale (...

Behemoth Brewing Everything’s Comi...

Baylands Idaho Haze Pale Ale (5.8%)

Good George Fog City Hazy IPA (5.8%)

Behemoth Dumped The Trump Triple IPA (9....

Volstead Sir Sauvin Hazy IPA (5.8%)

McLeod’s Black Rye Sour Ale (7.5%)

Cassels Nectaron IPA (6.1%)

Panhead Tumblin’ Dice IPA (7%)

Epic Alien Invasion Double IPA (8%)

Lakeman Taupo Thunder Pale Ale (5.1%)

Garage Project x Whittaker’s Choco...

Tuatara Hazy Pale Ale (5.5%)

Urbanaut Triple Hazy IPA (14.9%)

Sunshine Black Biere de Garde (6%)

Tuatara Pacific Pale Ale (4.4%)

Garage Project Talk to the Hand Lager (5...

Craftwork Faux German Gewürztraminer Tri...

North End / Yeastie Boys West Moon Old A...

Behemoth Me Time: Nectaron (6.8%)

Emerson’s Green-Eyed Penguin IPA (...

Zeelandt Bishop’s Kick Hefeweizen ...

8-Wired iStout Imperial Stout (10%)

Lakeman Hopadelic IPA (7.5%)

Cassels Double Cream Stout (8.1%)

Reviews: Sep 2020

Reviews: July 2020

Reviews: Apr 2020
Features
Let them drink cake! Dessert beers on the rise
by Luke Owen Smith | Jun 20, 2022
Over the past decade we’ve seen an explosion of sweet beers hitting the shelves, with all kinds of decadent treats recreated in beer form.
The Theoretical Brewer: Elegance meets precision
by Brett Atkinson | Jun 14, 2022
Beer Baroness brewing for the future
by Tim Newman | Jun 9, 2022
Smith’s IPA Challenge a hophead’s holiday
by Michael Donaldson | May 24, 2022
News
Eddyline tackles CO2 shortage
by Michael Donaldson | Jun 30, 2022
Eddyline Brewery in Nelson is working with a carbon capture expert from the US to address both a shortage of CO2 plaguing New Zealand as well as improving its sustainability credentials.
Good George win Smith’s IPA Challenge — again
by Michael Donaldson | Jun 28, 2022
A year on from beer’s #metoo reckoning what’s changed
by Denise Garland | Jun 24, 2022
New New New brewery for sale
by Michael Donaldson | Jun 22, 2022
Travel
Taranaki’s booming beer scene
by Brett Atkinson | Jun 29, 2022
Taranaki breweries have been shining bright at recent awards so we take a trip around the mountain to find the region's best beer
A cat, a caravan and classic beer at Emporium
by Michael Donaldson | Mar 7, 2022
Bay of Islands beer
by Neil McInnes | Mar 1, 2022
Pilgrimage to Nelson spiritual home of NZ beer
by Michael Donaldson | Feb 22, 2022
Opinion
Haiku Beer Vol 4
by Stephen Gallagher | Jun 28, 2022
In volume four of his beer Haiku series, Stephen Gallagher takes us from Atlanta to Wanaka for some poetic beers.
10 soul beers for the darkest nights
by Michael Donaldson | Jun 21, 2022
What is a craft brewery?
by Jamie O'Hare | May 26, 2022
Light beers that punch above their weight
by Michael Donaldson | May 12, 2022
GET HOPPINESS HOME DELIVERED
Get Hoppiness at Home
New Zealand’s only dedicated craft beer magazine delivered to your door every two months for just $45 a year. Full of features on your favourite breweries, news, reviews and beer-related travel stories.

Home brewing
Tips for brewing a hazy IPA
by Michael Donaldson | May 24, 2022 | 0
Tips and tricks to considerer when brewing a cracking New England IPA.
Read More
- Breweries
- Beer
- Bars
Shortjaw: beer for Westport first
by Luke Robertson | Feb 15, 2022
Luke Robertson explains why he went from writing about beer in Melbourne to buying a brewery in his old home town of Westport.
Waiheke Wonder: Alibi Brewing
by Michael Donaldson | Dec 20, 2021
Small Gods: From Satan to Santa
by Britt Mann | Dec 17, 2021
Ground Up going up and up
by Louis Livingston-Garcia | Dec 11, 2021
Lakeman goes lakeside in Taupō
by Mark Gower | Dec 1, 2021
Capital dairy November 2021 – The Return of Beerhunting
by Neil McInnes | Dec 8, 2021
Given the challenges of in-house drinking at alert level 2, much of my November was spent tracking...
Trials tribulations and trophies
by Tim Newman | Dec 1, 2021
Belgian beauties: a dozen classics
by Neil McInnes | Oct 13, 2021
Haiku beer reviews
by Stephen Gallagher | Oct 7, 2021
Beer, interrupted: Capital Diary August 2021
by Neil McInnes | Sep 7, 2021
Capital Diary December — Festive Bevvies
by Neil McInnes | Jan 12, 2022
December beer drinking kicked off with the Summerstock festival where 31 Wellington venues each...
Capital dairy November 2021 – The Return of Beerhunting
by Neil McInnes | Dec 8, 2021
Lakeman goes lakeside in Taupō
by Mark Gower | Dec 1, 2021
Capital Diary – October: The Level 2 Effect
by Neil McInnes | Nov 11, 2021
Capital Diary: July 2021
by Neil McInnes | Aug 10, 2021
Recent Posts
- Eddyline tackles CO2 shortageJun 30, 2022 | News
- Taranaki’s booming beer sceneJun 29, 2022 | Travel
- Good George win Smith’s IPA Challenge — againJun 28, 2022 | News
- Haiku Beer Vol 4Jun 28, 2022 | Opinion
- Bootleg burning their own pathJun 28, 2022 | Cover Story
Hoppiness at Home
-
Get Pursuit of Hoppiness home delivered $45.00 / year