With all the new hop varieties appearing in our beers these days it’s easy to forget one of New Zealand’s 21st century OG’s — Nelson Sauvin. Lucky for us, Hop Federation’s new IPA is crammed full of Nelson green goodness and boy oh boy it’s good! Replacing the Rakau-hopped IPA in their range, this beer carries all of those wonderful fruity characteristics you expect from a Nelson Sauvin. Fresh gooseberry, apricot and distinctive Sauvignon Blanc characters are wonderfully balanced alongside some pungent, resinous oily bits that I’m totally diggin’. The first mouthful delivers a solid bitterness that is truly the highlight of the entire experience and it doesn’t let up from start to finish. The beer has a light creamy feel to it and is nicely balanced with a solid malt backbone that allows the hops to shine! I give this beer a solid 9/10. It’s everything you want in a traditional IPA. Think Parrotdog Bitterbitch or Epic Armageddon — this beer sits nicely next to those legends.
