Epic Beer - Kong - 8% Strong Ale.

Bach Brewing have been on the hops again... brewing up their latest batch for the annual NZIPA challenge at Smith's Craft House in Queenstown. As Kiwi as a bungy jump in Budgie smugglers, their all-star all-NZ IPA is jammed with new season Nelson grown Riwaka, Nectaron, Nelson Sauvin and Motueka hops, all nestled on juicy Gladfield malts, harvested from the Canterbury plains. 6.5% ABV.

A base red ale is brewed and then with a nod to an ancient brewing technique known as 'Stein Bier', the beer is passed through a giant hop back containing rocks, super heated in a hard Manuka wood fire to over 500c. Finally, the beer is given an additional pass through a hop back stuffed full of whole cone Nelson Sauvin. The end result is a beer with rich juicy jam and toffee sweetness from all those caramelised sugars, layered with distinctive lush hop aroma. An old world brewing technique meets new world hops.

Bach Brewing have been on the hops again... dreaming of lazy days at the beach, surfing, siesta's, cold pilsner and bbq's. Brewed with crisp pilsner malts and loaded with a generous dose of dry hops including Nelson Sauvin, Simcoe, Citra and El Dorado, and cold conditioned for a smoother mouthfeel.

Calling all fellow Star Seeds. Take your taste buds off planet. Channel your inner energy with layers of Krush, Galaxy, Peacharine and Sabro, infused with an otherworldly hit of guava and pink Himalayan sea salt, then open your mind to a hazy manifestation of mouthwatering tropical fruit candy, ripe peach, coconut and sweet guava. Question your reality. The truth is out there.

Sawmill have teamed up with Brave Brewing Co. to celebrate what they do best - bold, brilliant IPAs. A meeting of minds, brewed with respect, and a whole lot of hops.

Bright, golden Cali style IPA, hopped with the finest, hand selected, harvest fresh Nelson Sauvin loaded with intense passionfruit, bright gooseberry and tropical juicebox aromatics. Nuff said really.

Where is my mind? Hazy in the Head, distractingly delicious IPA loaded with a double hit of Krush, Riwaka, Mosaic and Motueka hops creating a swirling foggy haze of juicy mango, guava, calamansi lime and subtle sativa notes... What was I saying?

Bach Brewing have been on the hops again... worshipping the cryogenic hop process that delivers concentrated lupulin, which is jammed with the magical resin and aromatic oils. Cryo Genius is brewed with an intense combo of hops including Nectaron, Nelson Sauvin, Superdelic, El Dorado, Citra, and Mosaic.

On the palate, Magical Unicorn offers an intricate tapestry of flavours. Tropical fruits dominate, with mango and melon taking centre stage, complemented by hints of peach and blueberry. The malt backbone provides just enough sweetness to support the fruitiness, while the bitterness is clean and crisp, coming through with an assertive citrus and pine note that adds depth and balance. The finish is dry and remarkably clean, with a lingering bitterness that beckons the next sip.

Over at Bach they've been on Freesyle hop-farms in Moutere valley, rubbing and sniffing the pungent new season sticky hop cones. Sticky and dank with Lupulin, they've steeped massive loads of fresh harvested green Nelson Sauvin hop cones, flown same day to their brewers, Chris and Craig at Steam Brewery, and backed up by new season hop pellets of Riwaka, Motueka and Sauvin, also fast-tracked by Freestyle in record time.

Over at Bach they've been on the hops again ... big intense West Coast USA hops! The classic Californian West Coast IPA style originates from the late 70's and emerged in NZ circa just twenty years ago. All about the perfect balance between alcohol, malted barley, and high intensity of hops, to deliver max flavour and drinkability, they brewed their more modern take with a truckload of fruit driven hops including Idaho 7, Mosaic, Citra, and Simcoe.