Beer Reviews

Little Palm NZ IPA

Alibi Brewing
6.9% ABV

Named after Waiheke’s iconic nudist beach, this brew throws caution (and clothing) to the wind.

The malt is stripped back with nothing to hide and the juicy Riwaka and Nelson Sauvin hops do all the talking. Dank, tropical, a little wild. Leaning an easy drinking NZ IPA.

Whether you’re sun’s-out buns-out or just chasing a proper hop hit, this beer’s got you covered… or not.

Moose X-ING Hazy NZIPA

Altitude Brewing
6.9% ABV

Packed with Riwaka and a reckless dose of Nectaron and Nelson Sauvin, it’s a fruit bomb that smacks you with tropical punch, mango, and pineapple. Loud, juicy, unapologetically NZ.

It’s smooth, it’s refreshing, and it’s got just enough bitterness to remind you you’re still drinking an IPA. Then it ducks out quick, leaving you ready and kinda desperate for the next hit.

Saftey Sandals Southern IPA

Double Vision Brewing
6% ABV

Saftey never tasted so good. This Southern IPA breaks ground in the concrete jungle, smashing out a clean yet complex profile. Toasty, slightly sweet malt sets the base while Southern hops bring citrus and stone fruit swagger, all with bitterness kept in check.

Big flavour, easy drinking. Forget steel caps. Slip on some Safety Sandals.

Haterade Soured IIPA

Hallertau Brewery
8.5% ABV

Haterade is a Sour Double IPA unlike anything you’ve tried. It shouldn’t work. Sour grapefruit, chewy malt, and bold tropical hops all battling for attention but somehow it absolutely does. Each sip hits hard, lingers, and keeps you coming back for more.

Sour, hoppy, unapologetically loud, and completely original. This is a beer that refuses to be ordinary.

Longshot Imperial Pilsner

Liberty Brewing
7% ABV

Overripe citrus, pungent gooseberry, and dank late harvest hops roll in like your neighbour sneaking a cheeky drop into his ute. Then the palate takes over with more citrus, dank herbs, and a wall of flavour that makes full flavoured for a pilsner. Bitter, aromatic, and unapologetically loud, this beer doesn’t whisper, it shouts.

Longshot Hazy IPA

Boneface Brewing
7.0% ABC

Riwaka hops so damn ripe they hit you like a tropical freight train. Juicy, hazy, and full of chaotic flavour, this IPA grabs your nose, floors your taste buds, and slides down way too easy.

Island Life WCIPA

Eddyline Brewery
6.3% ABV

West Coast goes tropical.

Crisp bitterness, big hops, finished with juicy grapefruit and mango. Old-school bite meets holiday vibes in a glass.

New English Bitter

Hallertau Brewery
5.4 % ABV

Classic bitter backbone meets a modern twist with crisp hops, a touch of fruitiness, and smooth malt keeping it all balanced. Easy drinking but packed with character.

Fresh Hop Hazy IPA

Sawmill Brewery
6.0% ABV

Nothing beats a fresh hop hit. Grapefruit, passionfruit and tropical vibes come screaming out of those just-picked Riwaka cones. Juicy, vibrant, and straight-up electric.

Fresh Hop Pilsner

Hop Federation Brewery
5% ABV

This Pilsner hits with a sharp zap of citrus, followed by a hoppy backbone that screams fresh-picked. But it’s the texture that really gets you, slick yet a little oily, almost sneaky in how it coats your mouth.

Crisp, clean, but just weird enough to keep you sipping. Again. And again.

Hazy IPA NZH-109

Parrotdog Brewery
7% ABV

A fresh hop haze bomb.

Thick, juicy, and chewy with stone fruit front and centre. Peach and nectarine galore, backed up by tropical notes and that green resinous snap only fresh hops bring.

Fresh Hop Hazy Pale Ale

Abandoned Brewery
5% ABV

Light, mellow, and the fresh hops hum in the background, just doing their thing without getting all up in your face.

It’s chill, it’s smooth, and it disappears fast. The kind of beer that makes you wish you grabbed two (or three).

Colar Beer Raspberry

Double Vision Brewing
4.5% ABV

Bright, tart, and jammy. Cola Beer Raspberry pops with fresh berry zing and a crisp, refreshing finish.

Sunstrike Brite Ale

Sunshine Brewing
4% ABV

This fresh hop has a biscuit base layered with hints of lemon and lime. Crisp as hell. Bright, lively, and dangerously sessionable.

Overbite Fresh Hop IPA

Boneface Brewery
7.0% ABV

This one’s got a smooth malt body that sets the stage for Nelson Sauvin to shine. Floral, fruity, a little dank, and finishing dry with a firm bitterness that keeps you coming back for more. Sink your teeth in.

What Happens in Nelson WCIPA

Behemoth Brewing
6.5% ABV

A clean, crisp West Coast IPA. Smells incredible, drinks easy, and goes down way too smooth.

Foggy IPA

Mount Brewing Co.
6.5% ABV

Fresh hop hazy. Cloudy would be an understatement, visibility is very low, but the other senses? They’re fully activated. The aroma hits first: gooseberry, crushed grapes, citrus zest. Then the taste kicks in, all juicy passionfruit and pine, wrapped in a thick, resinous hug for your tongue.

Farm Fresh Hop Pale Ale

DNA Brewing
5% ABV

Fresh-cut Nelson Sauvin straight off the vine. Resinous, green, vibrant, and dripping with Sauvignon Blanc vibes.

Hop Serpent IPA

Epic Brewing Company
6.5% ABV

Packed with the bold hit of Riwaka passionfruit, this IPA slithers in with zesty citrus—grapefruit, lime, and lemon snapping through. Juicy, tangy, and vibrant, it’s an intensely fruity ride with a bite that lingers.

Want me to try one that leans darker and more “serpent-like” in tone too?