Shop
The Top 21 Beers We Drank in March/April 2025
Mad hops.
Photography courtesy of Magic Muncie, Social Media Manager, Hop Culture
Like This? Read That...
We spent most of March traveling around New Zealand and Australia for the hop harvest, so we’re combining our favorite beers from our travels and the last month into one mega-hits list, including…
An eight-hop wonder from a brewery in the hop capital of New Zealand.
A ‘Beer’ at one of the best breweries at the bottom of the world…
An Untappd Community Award-winning Scotch ale in Wellington…
And an imperial pilsner from a brewery harkening back to a simpler time…
Blow-you-away mid-strength hazy pales and XPAs in Australia…
And wild ales, smoothie sours, and sessions in Sydney.
Could this possibly be our favorite trip of the year? Well, it’s been our only so far. But we have plenty more adventures planned. In the meantime, these were our favorite beers we drank during our travels round the South Pacific in March and April.
Hop Culture’s Top 20 Beers We Drank in March/April 2025
Queen of the Meadows – Small Gods
Auckland, New Zealand
Bière de Garde – Walking down a steep alleyway in Auckland’s Eden Terrace neighborhood, I hesitated. Was I going the right way? It didn’t seem like there could be a brewery back here. However, a couple of signs and another glance at Google Maps confirmed that I was heading in the right direction. While finding Small Gods may be like navigating through Narnia, once you reach this magical taproom, you might never want to leave.
A reference from fantasy author Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series (of which I controversially admit I could barely finish the first book), Small Gods also refers to the power of yeast.
When I walked inside right after the brewery opened, co-founder Luke White sat at one of the picnic tables. He immediately jumped up, chatting me up as I looked at the tap list, curious how a Californian had found her way to Small Gods.
I became equally curious about how the England-born White opened a brewery in Auckland.
White told me he moved to Auckland after visiting and falling in love with the weather, which is not altogether unlike why my partner and I moved from New York City to Oakland.
White originally started a beer subscription service called Beer Jerks, which offered cases of twelve beers at a time.
With a passion for history, White enjoys brewing historical styles. For instance, Throwing Hands, a Seefbier, a cloudy golden blonde beer historically popular in Antwerp.
Or Queen of the Meadow, a Bière de Printemps brewed for spring.
My partner couldn’t quite come up with words to describe this beer, but I’ll try here.
I get what she meant, though. You ride a sine wave with Queen of the Meadow, with the notes changing as you drink. I found it almost easier to describe this beer not in terms of flavors, but feelings.
A sip feels like running barefoot through a meadow of budding wildflowers, your hands trailing at your sides through fields of reeds. Up ahead, a break leading down to the sand. Drink a little more, and you can imagine yourself settling down inside the particles, taking a nap on the beach, cuddling in the ocean breeze.
Living in a fantasy drives everything at Small Gods. We dare you to go here and not lose yourself in a completely new world.
Vacation Hazy Pale Ale – Canyon Brewing
Arthurs Point, Otago, New Zealand
Photography courtesy of Grace Lee-Weitz | Hop Culture
Hazy Pale Ale – Attracting adrenaline seekers from all over the world, Queenstown offers everything from hang gliding and paragliding to breathtaking hiking and bungee jumping at the world’s first commercial bungy operation.
Follow Gorge Road for about seven minutes north of the center of Queenstown, New Zealand, and you’ll find the road twisting and dipping down to the Edith Cavell Bridge. Sitting 157 feet (47.8 meters) over the Shotover River, this single-lane bridge leads you somewhat terrifyingly to Canyon Brewing.
Perched just in the crook of land on the other side of the bridge, Canyon Brewing might just be one of the most beautiful breweries I’ve ever been to, if not in the world.
Below you, high-action jet boats take off, shooting down the river with terrified passengers.
Above you, multiple mountains rise tall.
To your left, that harrowing bridge.
Right in front of you, Vacation Hazy Pale Ale, an absolutely jam-packed 5.2% ABV juice bomb rammed with El Dorado, Moutere, and Nectaron. Sunshine in a glass, this hazy pale reminds you that sometimes you just need to sit back, sip, and see the sights. Life is good…especially on vacation in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Ruaille Buaille – Altitude Brewing
Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand
Photography courtesy of Hop Culture
Irish Dry Stout – For equally stunning views, drive ten minutes northeast from Queenstown’s center to Altitude Brewing. Perched on Lake Wakatipu, Altitude Brewing offers almost 360-degree views of stunning scenery.
All you need to do is turn your head around inside the taproom and outdoor beer garden to understand that Altitude is all about the outdoors. Sit inside a makeshift gondola and ski lift chair while you sip your beer.
Drinking under a gentle, chilly rain, I ordered the Ruaille Buaille, an Irish dry stout with warm notes of espresso, hot chocolate, and roast.
Only thing that could have made this beer better? If I had actually gotten in a good session of skiing beforehand!
Octolupulus – Eddyline Brewery
Nelson, New Zealand
Photography courtesy of Hop Culture
Session Hazy IPA – Stepping out of the rain, sweaty and sticky after a bike ride, I felt a sense of calm in Nelson’s Eddyline Brewery, named after a phenomenon where the water slows down at the bottom of a rapid, pooling in a calm space on the side of the river.
With over twenty taps to choose from, including everything from a Negro-Modelo-inspired amber ale to award-winning fresh-hop beers, Eddyline has plenty for everyone. We tasted through a bunch, curated by Eddyline Co-Founders Molley and Mic Heynekamp.
While it’s hard to choose a favorite, Octolupulus, impressed with a showcase of all New Zealand hops. The hazy IPA, at only 4% ABV, utilizes eight different hops, along with 100% New Zealand malts from Gladfields. “It’s one of my favorites right now,” Molley told us.
We loved it because how often do you find a session IPA with such an incredibly complex hop bill?
Actually, a request from some of Eddyline’s accounts to make a lower-ABV IPA, Octolupulus has the mouthfeel and hoppiness of an IPA paired with sessionability. “That one has a strong following because … it has a big aroma and great flavor, but people can have more than one pint easily enough,” said Mic.
Blossom – 8 Wired
Warkworth, Auckland, New Zealand
Photography courtesy of Hop Culture
Golden Ale – From Eddyline, we hopped back on our bikes and made our way to the Free House. Housed in an old church, the pub has become an institution in Nelson.
Walk under the wrought vine-covered iron gate, and a cream stucco building with navy and red trim emerges. Round the corner, wooden doors open to what looks like a church hall basement. A corkboard on the wall promotes local events, such as yoga, and a creaky foldout table displays brochures for Nelson’s Fringe Festival and a free craft beer magazine called The Pursuit of Hoppiness.
Wooden mess hall-like benches lead to a tiny bustling bar with three beer engines and ten rainbow-colored taps. A decision The Free House Owner Eelco Boswijk made because, he says, “I like color!”
We settled into one of the tables with Townshend ESB on cask and an 8 Wired Blossom, an ode-to-spring blonde ale brewed with a bouquet of actual flowers and local Matakana honey.
Perfect for the season, Blossom drank like spring in a glass.
The Claymore – Fortune Favours
Te Aro, Wellington, New Zealand
Photography courtesy of Fortune Favours (on the left) and Hop Culture (on the right)
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy – Located in an old dip stripper factory, Fortune Favours makes beer for the bold.
After all, it took a pretty bold leap (and a bit of luck) for Fortune Favours Founder Shannon Thorpe to open a brewery in Wellington.
As a university student, Thorpe wrote letters to breweries with some of his ideas. “I’d cringe if I read them now,” he laughs. After working at one of New Zealand’s big breweries, DB, for ten years, developing concepts for bars, Thorpe decided to strike out on his own.
In the 1,000-litre brew house (and offsite contract brew site), Fortune Favours brews everything from its OG unfiltered pale ale, The Naturalist, to The Adventurer, a punchy pilsner with Green Bullet, to the flagship, award-winning Wellingtonian, a New Zealand IPA that Thorpe is incredibly proud of.
During our visit, we fell in love with The Claymore, a Scotch ale that had recently won a gold medal at the Untappd Community Awards. Thorpe pulled a can for us.
“I find this one quite well balanced,” Thorpe told us. “Even though you get the peat up front, by the end of the pint, I don’t feel it’s overpowered my palate. I think it’s highly drinkable.”
A perfect see-saw ride between smoke and malt, this 6.5% ABV Scotch ale drinks surprisingly light. I wasn’t planning on drinking the entire can with Thorpe…but I did.
We don’t often drink Scotch ales, but when we do, we wish it could be The Claymore every time.
Beer – Garage Project
Wellington City, Wellington, New Zealand
Photography courtesy of Hop Culture
Pale Lager – Visiting Garage Project, one of our “13 Best Breweries to Watch in 2024,” was a tick off the ol’ bucket list!
One of New Zealand’s highest-rated breweries, housed in an old rat s**t-infused petrol station, perhaps needs no introduction.
Travelers from around the world flock here to try co-founder Jos Ruffell and Pete Gillespie’s terroir-focused hoppy ales, creatively inspired wild ales, and devilishly delicious stouts. Nothing is off limits in this garage.
Astoundingly, when Ruffell and Gillespie first opened Garage Project, they set a challenge for themselves: For the first twenty-four weeks, they would brew twenty-four different beers on a tiny 50-liter Sabco BrewMagic kit.
It may seem like they still adopt that challenge today. Walk into the gleaming, bustling taproom on Aro Street, and you’ll have some serious choices ahead of you.
Eighteen beakers line the wall behind the bar. Inside a rainbow of liquids ranging from a spectrum of golds to ambers, browns, and blacks.
I put myself in Ruffell’s hands. He curated a flight of five beers, including Pernicious Weed, Snug, Spicy Pickle Beer, the latest March 2025 version of Fresh, and Swifty.
I loved Spicy Pickle Beer’s bright, briny notes, Snug’s dry roastiness as an Irish stout, and Swifty’s refreshingly uncomplicated nature as a pale ale.
My favorite, though? A whole pint of Czech pilsner he pulled off the LUKR tap simply called Beer.
Simple yet complex, Beer was Garage Project’s unfussy yet still elegant version of the style.
Two hours later, I felt a little dazed when I stepped out of the Garage Project taproom into the late afternoon sun.
I’ve been clamoring to visit this mighty brewery at the bottom of the world for a long time, and having it blow through all my expectations felt like a lucid dream.
Jeremiah – Heyday Beer Co.
Wellington City, Wellington, New Zealand
Photography courtesy of Heyday Beer Co.
Imperial Pilsner – Garage Project may be a name heard round the world, but it isn’t the only brewery in Wellington making outstanding beer. Walk down the bustling Cuba Street and a seafoam green facade will emerge, a pop of brilliance amidst the din. Your brain will register intrigue—let your feet follow.
Behind a simple wooden slatted fence, an outside beer garden buzzes, packed picnic tables full of flights and conversation. Groups of people stand around on the turf, soaking up the intermittent rays of sun peaking through the clouds.
Walking under the rolltop doors, a similar seafoam-tiled bar immediately splashes out at me, drawing me closer. To my right, the brewery’s gleaming steel tanks stand in the open for all to see, a conscious decision from Heyday Beer Co. Co-Founder, Director, and Designer Hannah Blackwood “to get the best out of the brewers, but also to let the customer feel involved in the process.”
At Heyday Beer Co., at the bottom of New Zealand’s North Island, the motto is simple: “Be Kind, Stay Safe, Drink Beer.”
It’s a slogan that harkens back to a different time. One where neighbors traded sugar and hosted summer barbecues. Walking inside feels like stepping into your childhood best friend’s basement rather than a brewery.
And just like in a favorite place from your memories, at Heyday, you want to keep coming back again and again, letting yourself in through the back door.
You’ll find a bit of everything at Heyday, but I wouldn’t leave without trying at least one lager and one sour.
For the former, I recommend a core called Jeremiah.
This imperial pilsner drinks like a cross between a New Zealand pilsner and a New Zealand IPA. A favorite of Heyday’s Head of Sales Tyler Cornes Head Brewer Ashley Switzer, and Blackwood, Jeremiah has the hop character and ABV of an IPA but the crispiness and drinkability of a pilsner.
“It ticks a lot of the boxes,” says Cornes, noting that an imperial pilsner is “something you just don’t see that often.”
A healthy dose of Riwaka in the dry-hop gives the beer a “danky, kerosene-y, almost passionfruit-type vibe,” according to Switzer, noting some Freestyle Motueka hops add a supporting citrus and tropical fruit backbone. “The idea is just to be super crisp, but also really flavourful and just have that New Zealand hop character.”
Including this beer style in Heyday’s core lineup still “raises eyebrows,” says Cornes. “But when people come in and see we have a pilsner in the core range, they remember that beer and it’s a memorable experience for them.”
Much like the story behind this beer. Blackwood says a late-night karaoke session during a work trip in Queenstown inspired the name. “I’d never done karaoke before, but it was five in the morning in our Airbnb, and I was on the floor singing Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog,” laughs Blackwood.
Birdseye – Parrotdog
Wellington City, Wellington, New Zealand
Photography courtesy of Parrotdog
Hazy IPA – Parrotdog formed its roots in the early 2010s as Wellington started to come into its own as the country’s craft beer capital.
Today, Parrotdog is a watering hole for Wellingtonians. Modeled off an English pub, Parrotdog has become a place for all to drink—families and hopheads alike.
“We want to be a pub where everyone feels welcome,” Parrotdog People & Culture Manager Tiff Stewart tells me as we work through a flight.
While Bitterbitch built Parrotdog’s reputation, Birdseye has probably become its future. Launched in 2020, this hazy IPA quickly became Parrotdog’s top seller. Stewart describes the beer as “insanely drinkable.”
Silky, soft, and yes, we can confirm, insanely drinkable, Birdseye just slaps. Would it be a bad pun if we renamed this beer Blackeye? Probably.
Smooth Operator – Double Vision Brewing
Miramar, Wellington, New Zealand
Photography courtesy of Hop Culture
Cream Ale – I have horrible vision. In fact, I need to get eye surgery this summer to slow the progression of keratoconus in my right eye. Lucky for me, Double Vision sees things very clearly, if not a little insanely.
Double Vision launched eight years ago with an American pale ale (APA) and red IPA called Red Rascal. Yes, you read that right.
But Double Vision Co-Founder Warren Drahota says he and his partners believed in the beer. Courageous might be a word I use to describe the brewing at Double Vision.
“We wanted to take the pretentiousness out of beer,” says Drahota, who describes himself and his partners as just a bunch of nerds. “So Double Vision is kind of a smart-ass approach to lighten the mood and take the seriousness out of drinking.”
Like Double Vision’s logo, which reads like an eye chart.
Or Smooth Operator, which will have you doing a double-take when you first hear that it’s a cream ale with vanilla. “We take the boundaries and give them a nudge,” says Drahota.
The beer begins with flaked maize and wheat, lending it a luxurious mouthfeel. “We thought, what goes well with this?” says Drahota. “Oh, you know, a bit of vanilla and honey.”
The first sip immediately reminded me of the cans of Dr. Brown’s cream sodas I’d drink by the poolside during neighborhood barbecues in muggy Minnesota summers.
“I’d watch an older audience try it and go, oh my god, this takes me back to being a kid,” says Drahota. I wonder if I just dated myself, but as I take sip after sip of this cream ale, constantly drawn back to its smooth complexity, I realize I don’t even care.
Would I order double? Every time.
Mean Juice – Mean Doses
Wellington, New Zealand
Hazy IPA – Walk through the open doors and head up the stairs toward the neon sign. Stepping inside Mean Doses, with its tabletop shuffleboards and arcade games, is like strolling down the streets of Miami Vice.
At its heart, Mean Doses replicates the vibe founder Dean Moses loved growing up, heavily inspired by the ‘80s. “We took things that were really, really awesome from that era and reintroduced them,” he says as we bask in the glow of a purple Mean Doses sign in Néo noire font. “We funnel everything through that neon sign to see what comes out!”
That’s the test at Mean Doses. And people have taken to it, like Richard Simmons to aerobics.
With just a 600-litre kit, “we can roll the dice a little bit more,” says Moses. “While I say we haven’t got a core range, there are definitely beers on repeat.”
Those like a best-selling hazy pale called Mean Juice exclusively featuring American hops—Citra, Amarillo, and Simcoe. “That’s pretty proper, big orangey vibes to that one,” says Moses.
Actually, if Mean Juice were a sign, it would probably be neon.
Slider – Brewmanity
South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
XPA – From Wellington, we hopped over to Melbourne, Australia, where we took part in HPA’s Brewers Tour, which brings twenty brewers from across the world together to tour the hop-growing regions of Australia during harvest.
We started at Brewmanity, a philanthropic brewery that donates a portion of each beer sold to research for Motor Neurone Disease (MND/ALS).
If you don’t know from my story last year on Australia’s hottest style, XPA is something that draws me in every time.
After a quick perusal of Brewmanity’s menu, I had to order Slider.
Brewmanity actually considers their version an “extra crisp cold XPA,” brewed a bit colder and longer.
Imagine a Cold IPA and an XPA went out on a third date. The conversation by now is casual, fun, and easy. They’ve felt each other out and have decided they kind of like each other. It’s not love. Certainly not. But it’s that feel-good vibe that there might be something there.
Bright Pale Ale – Bright Brewery
Bright, Victoria, Australia
Photography courtesy of Hop Culture
Australian Pale Ale – If I had to name one beer I drank more than any other during my time in Australia, that I kept going back to again and again and again, it would be Bright Pale Ale. Hands down.
It’s just that beer I would have on constant rotation in my beer fridge. My old reliable. One that I could turn to again and again that would always make me happy.
Featuring the area’s majestic Mystic Mountain on the can, Bright Pale Ale is “as refreshing as a dip in our pure Alpine waters,” writes the brewery in the beer’s Untappd description.
“It’s probably one of my favorite beers,” says Bright Brewery Head Brewer Lewis Kerr as he shows us around the brewery. “It’s not fancy. … It’s a 4% [ABV] clean, crisp, very much an Australian-style ale.”
Crisp, easy-drinking, refreshing, Bright Pale Ale is like taking a dip in the Ovens River at 7 in the morning as the sun comes up. I should know because, somehow, HPA Australia & New Zealand Sales Manager Michael Capaldo convinced me to do so.
Would I jump in that river every morning like Capaldo did? Hmm. But would I drink Bright Pale Ale every night? Resounding yes.
Beechworth Pale Ale – Bridge Road Brewers
Beechworth, Victoria, Australia
American Pale Ale – Another local pale ale I enjoyed, Beechworth Pale Ale is sort of a new-meets-old-world version of the style. A base of Gladfield ale malt, carapils, wheat malt, and light crystal malt back up a hop bill of both newer Southern Hemisphere varieties—Nelson Sauvin, Galaxy, and Vic Secret—along with older North American ones—Cascade, Simcoe, Amarillo, and Centennial—and even European ones (shout out East Kent Goldings).
If Bright Pale Ale is the beer I’d go back to again and again, Beechworth might be like the friend from high school I call up once a year, knowing whenever they answer the phone, we’re going to pick up the conversation like it was just yesterday.
Wet Hopped Cerveza – KAIJU! Beer
Dandenong South, Victoria, Australia
Photography courtesy of Magic Muncie, Social Media Manager, Hop Culture
Mexican Lager – We ended our time in Australia’s hop-growing region, Victoria, at the High Country Hop festival. Hosted by the aforementioned Bridge Road Brewers, this epic event is well worth the journey.
Hop Culture Social Media Manager, Magic Muncie, described the event in his own words.
Now in its tenth year, this beloved beer festival showcases brews from the Australian High Country, alongside breweries from regional Victoria and beyond, and features an impressive lineup of musical acts in the stunning setting of Beechworth.
You can also discover a dynamic display of local winemakers, distillers, and food artisans. Whether you’re into BBQ or gin, you’ll find something special that showcases the region’s rich history and natural beauty.
This year’s lively atmosphere was amplified by an eclectic lineup of musicians, featuring the smooth neo-soul vibes of Kaiit, the good-time garage rockers of Japan’s The 5.6.7.8s, songsmith Darren Hanlon, the retro jump blues and R&B from Benny & the Flybyniters, and the unique “interstitial sounds” brought by the Sky High Trio.
We had an awesome time sipping on beers from the gracious hosts, Bridge Road Brewers, along with some extraordinary Australian breweries, like KAIJU! Beer, Mountain Culture, Wildflower, Range Brewing, Bright Brewery, and many others!
A standout for me, KAIJU! Beer is a brewery you can’t miss, literally.
Decked out in a seafoam green button-up with cyclone-like pineapple heads, islands, and seaplanes, KAIJU! Co-Founder Nat Reeves, also known as a chronomantic arcane scientist (seriously, it says that on his business card), is as colorful as his clothing.
The part-time Magic the Gathering enthusiast created his own KAIJU! beers that became new Magic cards, for instance.
While chatting with Reeves at the festival, I asked him to give me a taste of the beer that people were asking for the most.
He handed me Wet Hopped Cerveza.
Known for hop-forward IPAs, KAIJU! ventured into lager land simply because Reeves says he loves them.
According to Reeves, KAIJU!’s “Kaijheitsgebot,” which used to be “more hops is never enough,” shifted.
And Reeves thought a crushable Mexican-style cerveza fit Australia’s environment perfectly. As I stood cooking under the eighty-degree sun, trying not to get sunburned, and sipped Wet Hopped Cerveza, I’d have to agree.
Wet Hopped Cerveza is like two best friends crashing a wedding, an unexpected adventure that you’ll tell everyone about for years to come.
Rain or Shine – Kicks Brewing
Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia
Photography courtesy of Magic Muncie, Social Media Manager, Hop Culture
New England Pale Ale – At this point in our Southern Hemisphere adventures, I went to a renowned surfing spot on the Gold Coast so my partner could catch some great waves. Muncie took up the mantle, heading to Sydney for forty-eight hours of incredible drinking and eating.
Here and what follows are some of his favorite beers, told in his own words. Don’t forget to check out his whole guide, coffee shops and eateries included, here.
Approaching its two-year anniversary, Kicks has already established a strong reputation in the local scene, earning a spot in Untappd as the ninth-highest-rated brewery in Australia.
At Kicks Brewing, everything is manual. From milling to packaging, all the beers here are handmade with care and attention to detail. Co-founders Brendan and Jess Ibbett manage most of the operations themselves, alongside their sole employees, Shea and Joab Gilroy.
Kicks has made quite a name for itself in the area, especially when it comes to its prodigious IPAs. Whether it’s hazy or West Coast styles, Brendan lights up with enthusiasm as he shares his passion for hoppy brews. After tasting the goods, I can confidently say they craft some truly exceptional IPAs.
Ironically, while I heard raindrops pitter-patter along the rooftop, I enjoyed Rain or Shine, a 5.3% ABV hazy pale hopped with Citra, Motueka, and Rakau. A wonderful fruit basket of passion fruit, stone fruit, and pineapple danced on my palate.
St Walter 2023: Montepulciano – Wildflower Brewing & Blending
Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia
Photography courtesy of Magic Muncie, Social Media Manager, Hop Culture
Wild Ale – Next, I moseyed over to Wildflower Brewing & Blending, where we were warmly welcomed by Co-Founder Topher Boehm and Head of Hospitality Nemesia “Meesh” Dale-Cully. Since its inception in 2016, Wildflower has dedicated itself to crafting balanced and nuanced beers that are both approachable and nourishing, with a particular emphasis on wild, mixed-fermentation styles.
When Wildflower opened, Boehm concentrated exclusively on three unique beers: Gold, Organic Table Beer, and Amber. This focused approach is arguably a major credit to Wildflower’s remarkable success.
But if you see St Walter 2023: Montepulciano on the handwritten draft list, order it. A golden ale that had been barrel-aged and then refermented with an impressive 472 kg of hand-picked Montepulciano red wine grapes from the nearby Ravensworth Winery, this beer had an inspiring mix of tartness and subtle funk, bursting with juicy, vinous flavors. The minerality was a lovely touch, and the dry finish had me reaching for another sip time and again.
At Wildflower, the focus is on the art of brewing, blending, and barrel-aging, along with a passion for sharing and promoting the beers we all cherish. If you find yourself in Sydney, this place is an absolute must-visit. Immerse yourself in the ambience, revel in their incredible beers, and indulge in a meal from their thoughtfully curated kitchen. Trust me, you won’t regret it; we certainly didn’t.
Air Ann – Mountain Culture Beer Co.
Emu Plains, New South Wales, Australia
Photography courtesy of Magic Muncie, Social Media Manager, Hop Culture
Hazy IPA – After wrapping up my adventure in the Inner West, I eagerly headed to another brewery on my must-visit list: Mountain Culture. Located just a short fifteen-minute drive away, Mountain Culture’s Redfern spot has a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
I decided to tap into my friendly beertender Lindsay’s knowledge to discover his top picks from the current menu. He recommended trying a flight, and we settled on a few standout options, including Air Ann, a 7% ABV Hazy IPA created in collaboration with Fast Fashion.
I instantly fell in love with Air Ann and the unique blend of hops featured in this beer, particularly Anchovy, a new experimental variety from Segal Ranch in the lower Yakima Valley. With Mosaic and Simcoe also in the mix, this beautifully crafted NEIPA showcases vibrant flavors of lemon, pine, raspberry, and, astonishingly, watermelon hard candy, making it quite an adventure for the palate.
Japanese Rice Lager – Felons Brewing Co. Manly
Manly Wharf, East Esplanade, Manly, New South Wales, Australia
Photography courtesy of Magic Muncie, Social Media Manager, Hop Culture
Pale Ale – A few days before, at the High Country Hop Festival, I had the chance to meet a legendary figure in the Australian beer scene, Dean Romero, the Brand Manager at Felons Brewing Co.. Dean, or Dean-O as his friends call him, invited me to visit. Although he wasn’t available to join me, I connected with Felons Taproom Manager, Will Ryan.
Ryan guided me through a selection of beers, showcasing everything from lagers and IPAs to sours and middies (low-strength beers). During my visit to Australia, I quickly discovered that nearly every brewery offered a drink known as a “middy,” which is essentially a low-alcohol beer designed for easy sipping. I found this style to be one of my favorites during the entire trip, and Felons was no exception.
I enjoyed all the beers I tried, but one stood out: a Japanese Rice Lager in collaboration with Seabin. This refreshing bottom-fermented beer, brewed solely for the Felons Manly location, boasts a crisp profile. It’s brewed with a meticulous, slow fermentation process that incorporates jasmine rice and barley. I noticed subtle hints of candied lemon, accompanied by a mild bitterness that led to a wonderfully smooth finish. It paired perfectly with the tuna crudo I enjoyed alongside it.
Named after an innovative device that captures plastics, microplastics, fuel oil, and other harmful pollutants in the water, Seabin contributes to the removal of plastic from Sydney Harbour. Remarkably, a single Seabin can filter up to 1.3 million liters of water each day. It always brings me joy to see breweries taking steps to positively impact the environment, and sipping on this Japanese rice lager was even more satisfying knowing the difference it makes for the local harbor.
ON THE INSIDE* – One Drop Brewing Co.
Botany, New South Wales, Australia
Double Fruited Sour – On The Inside, a One Drop collaboration with Ophissa, a Portuguese based brewery, is essentially a portable mango sundae. This “obtusely packed fun tube,” as One Drop states on their Untappd description, is loaded with mango, vanilla ice cream, banana along with a big ‘ol drizzle of golden syrup, and is currently boasting an stunning 4.33 rating. This obscenely bold combo tastes just like the breakfast smoothie I had for breakfast and I’d have it no other way. Frothy, thick and incredibly crushable, the Sydney-based brewery has done it again. Take a bow One Drop.
