Popular New Zealand Beer Styles
Pale Ales and IPAs: Showcasing New Zealand Hops
New Zealand is particularly famous for its Pale Ales and India Pale Ales (IPAs), which showcase the country’s unique hop varieties. New Zealand hops are known for their vibrant and distinctive flavours, often featuring notes of tropical fruit, citrus, and pine.
Pale ales in New Zealand are typically well-balanced, with a harmonious blend of malt sweetness and hop bitterness. They are medium-bodied and offer refreshing notes of passionfruit, grapefruit, and other tropical fruits, thanks to the country’s signature hops such as Nelson Sauvin, Motueka, and Wakatu.
8 Wired Hopwired IPA is a popular example of a New Zealand IPA available in the UK. It features a strong hop profile with intense tropical fruit flavours, balanced by a solid malt backbone. This beer is well-loved for its bold, hoppy character and complex flavour, making it a favourite among IPA enthusiasts.
Yeastie Boys Gunnamatta is another standout, known for its unique twist on the traditional IPA by incorporating Earl Grey tea into the brewing process. The result is a floral, aromatic beer with a refreshing bitterness and a hint of tea tannins, making it a truly distinctive option available in the UK.
Lagers and Pilsners: Crisp and Refreshing
Lagers and pilsners from New Zealand are known for their crispness and clean finish, often enhanced by the use of locally sourced ingredients. These beers are perfect for those who prefer a lighter, more refreshing drink.
Steinlager Classic is one of New Zealand’s most famous lagers, offering a clean, crisp taste with a slight bitterness and a refreshing finish. It has a pale golden colour and a light body, making it a versatile beer that pairs well with a wide range of foods. Steinlager is widely available in the UK and is popular for its easy drinkability and high quality.
Mac’s Gold Lager is another notable option, with a smooth, well-rounded flavour profile. It has a gentle malt sweetness balanced by a mild hop bitterness, resulting in a refreshing, easy-to-drink lager. Mac’s Gold is appreciated for its subtle flavour and is available in select UK stores.
Craft Beers: Creativity and Innovation
New Zealand’s craft beer scene is vibrant and diverse, with many small breweries experimenting with unique ingredients and styles. These craft beers often push the boundaries of traditional brewing, offering beer lovers something truly unique.
Garage Project is a leading name in New Zealand’s craft beer industry, known for its innovative and often experimental beers. Their Pernicious Weed is a double IPA that showcases the best of New Zealand hops, offering an intense hop aroma and flavour with notes of resin, pine, and tropical fruit. This beer is bold, bitter, and beautifully balanced, making it a must-try for hop lovers. Garage Project beers are increasingly available in the UK, especially in craft beer shops and online retailers.
Tuatara Brewery is another key player in the New Zealand craft scene, known for its creative approach to brewing. Their Tuatara APA (American Pale Ale) combines the best of New Zealand and American brewing styles, with a punchy hop character and a smooth, malty base. It’s a well-rounded, full-flavoured beer that has gained a following in the UK for its quality and craftsmanship.
New Zealand Beers in the UK
New Zealand beers are steadily gaining popularity in the UK, with a growing selection available in supermarkets, specialist beer shops, and online. The UK market has embraced the unique flavours of New Zealand hops, particularly in pale ales and IPAs, which are often favoured by craft beer enthusiasts.
8 Wired, Yeastie Boys, and Garage Project are some of the most recognised New Zealand breweries in the UK, offering a range of beers that showcase the country’s innovative approach to brewing. Steinlager Classic and Mac’s Gold also have a strong presence, providing more traditional lager options for those who enjoy a crisp, refreshing beer.
As New Zealand continues to make its mark on the global beer scene, more of its diverse and high-quality beers are likely to become available in the UK, offering beer lovers even more opportunities to explore the flavours and creativity of this island nation. Whether you’re savouring a hoppy IPA or enjoying a crisp lager, New Zealand beers provide a unique and satisfying drinking experience that reflects the country’s passion for brewing excellence.
