We spent most of March traveling around New Zealand and Australia for the hop harvest, so we\u2019re combining our favorite beers from our travels and the last month into one mega-hits list, including\u2026<\/p>\n
An eight-hop wonder from a brewery in the hop capital of New Zealand<\/a>. <\/p>\n A \u2018Beer\u2019 at one of the best breweries at the bottom of the world<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n An Untappd Community Award<\/a>-winning Scotch ale in Wellington<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n And an imperial pilsner from a brewery harkening back to a simpler time<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n Blow-you-away mid-strength hazy pales and XPAs<\/a> in Australia\u2026<\/p>\n And wild ales, smoothie sours, and sessions in Sydney<\/a>.<\/p>\n Could this possibly be our favorite trip of the year? Well, it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Auckland, New Zealand<\/em><\/p>\n Bi\u00e8re de Garde<\/strong> \u2013 Walking down a steep alleyway in Auckland\u2019s Eden Terrace neighborhood, I hesitated. Was I going the right way? It didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n A reference from fantasy author Terry Pratchett\u2019s Discworld series (of which I controversially admit I could barely finish the first book), Small Gods also refers to the power of yeast. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n I became equally curious about how the England-born White opened a brewery in Auckland.<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n White originally started a beer subscription service called Beer Jerks, which offered cases of twelve beers at a time.<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n Or Queen of the Meadow<\/a>, a Bi\u00e8re de Printemps brewed for spring. <\/p>\n My partner couldn\u2019t quite come up with words to describe this beer, but I\u2019ll try here. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n Living in a fantasy drives everything at Small Gods. We dare you to go here and not lose yourself in a completely new world. <\/p>\n Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n Arthurs Point, Otago, New Zealand<\/em><\/p>\n Photography courtesy of Grace Lee-Weitz | Hop Culture<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Hazy Pale Ale<\/strong> \u2013 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\u2019s first commercial bungy operation.<\/p>\n Follow Gorge Road for about seven minutes north of the center of Queenstown, New Zealand, and you\u2019ll 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. <\/p>\n 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\u2019ve ever been to, if not in the world.<\/p>\n Below you, high-action jet boats take off, shooting down the river with terrified passengers. <\/p>\n Above you, multiple mountains rise tall. <\/p>\n To your left, that harrowing bridge. <\/p>\n Right in front of you, Vacation Hazy Pale Ale<\/a>, 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\u2026especially on vacation in one of the most beautiful places in the world. <\/p>\n Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand<\/em><\/p>\n Photography courtesy of Hop Culture<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Irish Dry Stout<\/strong> \u2013 For equally stunning views, drive ten minutes northeast from Queenstown\u2019s center to Altitude Brewing. Perched on Lake Wakatipu, Altitude Brewing offers almost 360-degree views of stunning scenery. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n Drinking under a gentle, chilly rain, I ordered the Ruaille Buaille<\/a>, an Irish dry stout with warm notes of espresso, hot chocolate, and roast. <\/p>\n Only thing that could have made this beer better? If I had actually gotten in a good session of skiing beforehand! <\/p>\n Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n Nelson, New Zealand<\/em><\/p>\n Photography courtesy of Hop Culture<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Session Hazy IPA<\/strong> \u2013 Stepping out of the rain, sweaty and sticky after a bike ride, I felt a sense of calm in Nelson\u2019s <\/a> Eddyline Brewery<\/a>, 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. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n While it\u2019s hard to choose a favorite, Octolupulus<\/a><\/strong>, 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. \u201cIt\u2019s one of my favorites right now,\u201d Molley told us. <\/p>\n We loved it because how often do you find a session IPA with such an incredibly complex hop bill? <\/p>\n Actually, a request from some of Eddyline\u2019s accounts to make a lower-ABV IPA, Octolupulus has the mouthfeel and hoppiness of an IPA paired with sessionability. \u201cThat one has a strong following because \u2026 it has a big aroma and great flavor, but people can have more than one pint easily enough,\u201d said Mic. <\/p>\n Read More<\/a><\/p>\n Warkworth, Auckland, New Zealand<\/em><\/p>\n Photography courtesy of Hop Culture<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Golden Ale<\/strong> \u2013 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s Fringe Festival and a free craft beer magazine called The Pursuit of Hoppiness.<\/p>\n 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, \u201cI like color!\u201d<\/p>\n We settled into one of the tables with Townshend ESB on cask and an 8 Wired Blossom<\/a>, an ode-to-spring blonde ale brewed with a bouquet of actual flowers and local Matakana honey.<\/p>\n Perfect for the season, Blossom drank like spring in a glass. <\/p>\n Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n Te Aro, Wellington, New Zealand<\/em><\/p>\n Photography courtesy of Fortune Favours (on the left) and Hop Culture (on the right)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Scotch Ale \/ Wee Heavy<\/strong> \u2013 Located in an old dip stripper factory, Fortune Favours<\/a> makes beer for the bold. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n As a university student, Thorpe wrote letters to breweries with some of his ideas. \u201cI\u2019d cringe if I read them now,\u201d he laughs. After working at one of New Zealand\u2019s big breweries, DB, for ten years, developing concepts for bars, Thorpe decided to strike out on his own.<\/p>\n In the 1,000-litre brew house (and offsite contract brew site), Fortune Favours brews everything from its OG unfiltered pale ale, The Naturalist<\/a>, to The Adventurer<\/a>, a punchy pilsner with Green Bullet, to the flagship, award-winning Wellingtonian, a New Zealand IPA that Thorpe is incredibly proud of. <\/p>\n During our visit, we fell in love with The Claymore<\/a>, a Scotch ale<\/a> that had recently won a gold medal at the Untappd Community Awards<\/a>. Thorpe pulled a can for us. <\/p>\n \u201cI find this one quite well balanced,\u201d Thorpe told us. \u201cEven though you get the peat up front, by the end of the pint, I don\u2019t feel it\u2019s overpowered my palate. I think it\u2019s highly drinkable.\u201d<\/p>\n A perfect see-saw ride between smoke and malt, this 6.5% ABV Scotch ale drinks surprisingly light. I wasn\u2019t planning on drinking the entire can with Thorpe\u2026but I did. <\/p>\n We don\u2019t often drink Scotch ales, but when we do, we wish it could be The Claymore every time. <\/p>\n Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n Wellington City, Wellington, New Zealand<\/em><\/p>\n Photography courtesy of Hop Culture<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Pale Lager<\/strong> \u2013 Visiting Garage Project<\/a>, one of our \u201c13 Best Breweries to Watch in 2024,\u201d<\/a> was a tick off the ol\u2019 bucket list! <\/p>\n One of New Zealand\u2019s highest-rated breweries, housed in an old rat s**t-infused petrol station, perhaps needs no introduction. <\/p>\n Travelers from around the world flock here to try co-founder Jos Ruffell and Pete Gillespie\u2019s terroir-focused hoppy ales, creatively inspired wild ales, and devilishly delicious stouts. Nothing is off limits in this garage. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n It may seem like they still adopt that challenge today. Walk into the gleaming, bustling taproom on Aro Street, and you\u2019ll have some serious choices ahead of you.<\/p>\n Eighteen beakers line the wall behind the bar. Inside a rainbow of liquids ranging from a spectrum of golds to ambers, browns, and blacks. <\/p>\n I put myself in Ruffell\u2019s hands. He curated a flight of five beers, including Pernicious Weed<\/a>, Snug<\/a>, Spicy Pickle Beer<\/a>, the latest March 2025 version of Fresh, and Swifty<\/a>.<\/p>\n I loved Spicy Pickle Beer\u2019s bright, briny notes, Snug\u2019s dry roastiness as an Irish stout, and Swifty\u2019s refreshingly uncomplicated nature as a pale ale. <\/p>\n My favorite, though? A whole pint of Czech pilsner he pulled off the LUKR tap simply called Beer<\/a>. <\/p>\n Simple yet complex, Beer was Garage Project\u2019s unfussy yet still elegant version of the style. <\/p>\n Two hours later, I felt a little dazed when I stepped out of the Garage Project taproom into the late afternoon sun. <\/p>\n I\u2019ve 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. <\/p>\n Read More<\/a><\/p>\n Wellington City, Wellington, New Zealand<\/em><\/p>\n Photography courtesy of Heyday Beer Co.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Imperial Pilsner<\/strong> \u2013 Garage Project may be a name heard round the world, but it isn\u2019t 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\u2014let your feet follow.<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n Walking under the rolltop doors, a similar seafoam-tiled bar immediately splashes out at me, drawing me closer. To my right, the brewery\u2019s gleaming steel tanks stand in the open for all to see, a conscious decision from Heyday Beer Co.<\/a> Co-Founder, Director, and Designer Hannah Blackwood \u201cto get the best out of the brewers, but also to let the customer feel involved in the process.\u201d <\/p>\n At Heyday Beer Co., at the bottom of New Zealand\u2019s North Island, the motto is simple: \u201cBe Kind, Stay Safe, Drink Beer.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s 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\u2019s basement rather than a brewery. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n You\u2019ll find a bit of everything at Heyday, but I wouldn\u2019t leave without trying at least one lager and one sour. <\/p>\n For the former, I recommend a core called Jeremiah<\/a>. <\/p>\n This imperial pilsner drinks like a cross between a New Zealand pilsner and a New Zealand IPA. A favorite of Heyday\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n \u201cIt ticks a lot of the boxes,\u201d says Cornes, noting that an imperial pilsner is \u201csomething you just don\u2019t see that often.\u201d<\/p>\n A healthy dose of Riwaka in the dry-hop gives the beer a \u201cdanky, kerosene-y, almost passionfruit-type vibe,\u201d according to Switzer, noting some Freestyle Motueka hops add a supporting citrus and tropical fruit backbone. \u201cThe idea is just to be super crisp, but also really flavourful and just have that New Zealand hop character.\u201d<\/p>\n Including this beer style in Heyday\u2019s core lineup still \u201craises eyebrows,\u201d says Cornes. \u201cBut when people come in and see we have a pilsner in the core range, they remember that beer and it\u2019s a memorable experience for them.\u201d <\/p>\n Much like the story behind this beer. Blackwood says a late-night karaoke session during a work trip in Queenstown inspired the name. \u201cI\u2019d 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,\u201d laughs Blackwood.<\/p>\n Read More<\/a><\/p>\n Wellington City, Wellington, New Zealand<\/em><\/p>\n Photography courtesy of Parrotdog<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Hazy IPA<\/strong> \u2013 Parrotdog formed its roots in the early 2010s as Wellington started to come into its own as the country\u2019s craft beer capital. <\/p>\n Today, Parrotdog is a watering hole for Wellingtonians. Modeled off an English pub, Parrotdog has become a place for all to drink\u2014families and hopheads alike. <\/p>\n \u201cWe want to be a pub where everyone feels welcome,\u201d Parrotdog People & Culture Manager Tiff Stewart tells me as we work through a flight.<\/p>\n While Bitterbitch<\/a> built Parrotdog\u2019s reputation, Birdseye<\/a> has probably become its future. Launched in 2020, this hazy IPA quickly became Parrotdog\u2019s top seller. Stewart describes the beer as \u201cinsanely drinkable.\u201d<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n Miramar, Wellington, New Zealand<\/em><\/p>\n Photography courtesy of Hop Culture<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Cream Ale<\/strong> \u2013 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. <\/p>\n Double Vision launched eight years ago with an American pale ale (APA) and red IPA called Red Rascal<\/a>. Yes, you read that right. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n \u201cWe wanted to take the pretentiousness out of beer,\u201d says Drahota, who describes himself and his partners as just a bunch of nerds. \u201cSo Double Vision is kind of a smart-ass approach to lighten the mood and take the seriousness out of drinking.\u201d <\/p>\n Like Double Vision\u2019s logo, which reads like an eye chart. <\/p>\n Or Smooth Operator<\/a>, which will have you doing a double-take when you first hear that it\u2019s a cream ale with vanilla. \u201cWe take the boundaries and give them a nudge,\u201d says Drahota. <\/p>\n The beer begins with flaked maize and wheat, lending it a luxurious mouthfeel. \u201cWe thought, what goes well with this?\u201d says Drahota. \u201cOh, you know, a bit of vanilla and honey.\u201d <\/p>\n The first sip immediately reminded me of the cans of Dr. Brown\u2019s cream sodas I\u2019d drink by the poolside during neighborhood barbecues in muggy Minnesota summers. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d watch an older audience try it and go, oh my god, this takes me back to being a kid,\u201d 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\u2019t even care. <\/p>\n Would I order double? Every time. <\/p>\n Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n Wellington, New Zealand<\/em><\/p>\n Hazy IPA<\/strong> \u2013 Walk through the open doors and head up the stairs toward the neon sign. Stepping inside Mean Doses<\/a>, with its tabletop shuffleboards and arcade games, is like strolling down the streets of Miami Vice. <\/p>\n At its heart, Mean Doses replicates the vibe founder Dean Moses loved growing up, heavily inspired by the \u201880s. \u201cWe took things that were really, really awesome from that era and reintroduced them,\u201d he says as we bask in the glow of a purple Mean Doses sign in N\u00e9o noire font. \u201cWe funnel everything through that neon sign to see what comes out!\u201d <\/p>\n That\u2019s the test at Mean Doses. And people have taken to it, like Richard Simmons to aerobics. <\/p>\n With just a 600-litre kit, \u201cwe can roll the dice a little bit more,\u201d says Moses. \u201cWhile I say we haven\u2019t got a core range, there are definitely beers on repeat.\u201d<\/p>\n Those like a best-selling hazy pale called Mean Juice<\/a> exclusively featuring American hops\u2014Citra, Amarillo, and Simcoe. \u201cThat\u2019s pretty proper, big orangey vibes to that one,\u201d says Moses. <\/p>\n Actually, if Mean Juice were a sign, it would probably be neon. <\/p>\n Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia<\/em><\/p>\n XPA<\/strong> \u2013 From Wellington, we hopped over to Melbourne, Australia, where we took part in HPA\u2019s Brewers Tour, which brings twenty brewers from across the world together to tour the hop-growing regions of Australia during harvest. <\/p>\n We started at Brewmanity, a philanthropic brewery that donates a portion of each beer sold to research for Motor Neurone Disease (MND\/ALS). <\/p>\n If you don\u2019t know from my story last year on Australia\u2019s hottest style, XPA is something that draws me in every time. <\/p>\n After a quick perusal of Brewmanity\u2019s menu, I had to order Slider. <\/p>\n Brewmanity actually considers their version an \u201cextra crisp cold XPA,\u201d brewed a bit colder and longer. <\/p>\n Imagine a Cold IPA and an XPA went out on a third date. The conversation by now is casual, fun, and easy. They\u2019ve felt each other out and have decided they kind of like each other. It\u2019s not love. Certainly not. But it\u2019s that feel-good vibe that there might be something there. <\/p>\n Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n Bright, Victoria, Australia<\/em><\/p>\n Photography courtesy of Hop Culture<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Australian Pale Ale<\/strong> \u2013 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. <\/p>\n It\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n Featuring the area\u2019s majestic Mystic Mountain on the can, Bright Pale Ale is \u201cas refreshing as a dip in our pure Alpine waters,\u201d writes the brewery in the beer\u2019s Untappd description. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s probably one of my favorite beers,\u201d says Bright Brewery Head Brewer Lewis Kerr as he shows us around the brewery. \u201cIt\u2019s not fancy. \u2026 It\u2019s a 4% [ABV] clean, crisp, very much an Australian-style ale.\u201d <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n Would I jump in that river every morning like Capaldo did? Hmm. But would I drink Bright Pale Ale every night? Resounding yes. <\/p>\n Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n Beechworth, Victoria, Australia<\/em><\/p>\n American Pale Ale<\/strong> \u2013 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\u2014Nelson Sauvin, Galaxy, and Vic Secret\u2014along with older North American ones\u2014Cascade, Simcoe, Amarillo, and Centennial\u2014and even European ones (shout out East Kent Goldings). <\/p>\n If Bright Pale Ale is the beer I\u2019d 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\u2019re going to pick up the conversation like it was just yesterday. <\/p>\n Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n Dandenong South, Victoria, Australia<\/em><\/p>\n Photography courtesy of Magic Muncie, Social Media Manager, Hop Culture<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mexican Lager<\/strong> \u2013 We ended our time in Australia\u2019s hop-growing region, Victoria, at the High Country Hop festival<\/a>. Hosted by the aforementioned Bridge Road Brewers, this epic event is well worth the journey. <\/p>\n Hop Culture Social Media Manager, Magic Muncie, described the event in his own words. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n You can also discover a dynamic display of local winemakers, distillers, and food artisans. Whether you\u2019re into BBQ or gin, you\u2019ll find something special that showcases the region\u2019s rich history and natural beauty.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s 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\u2019s The 5.6.7.8s, songsmith Darren Hanlon, the retro jump blues and R&B from Benny & the Flybyniters, and the unique \u201cinterstitial sounds\u201d brought by the Sky High Trio.<\/p>\n 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!<\/p>\n A standout for me, KAIJU! Beer is a brewery you can\u2019t miss, literally. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n The part-time Magic the Gathering enthusiast created his own KAIJU! beers that became new Magic cards, for instance. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n He handed me Wet Hopped Cerveza<\/a>. <\/p>\n Known for hop-forward IPAs, KAIJU! ventured into lager land simply because Reeves says he loves them. <\/p>\n According to Reeves, KAIJU!\u2019s \u201cKaijheitsgebot,\u201d which used to be \u201cmore hops is never enough,\u201d shifted. <\/p>\n And Reeves thought a crushable Mexican-style cerveza fit Australia\u2019s environment perfectly. As I stood cooking under the eighty-degree sun, trying not to get sunburned, and sipped Wet Hopped Cerveza, I\u2019d have to agree. <\/p>\n Wet Hopped Cerveza is like two best friends crashing a wedding, an unexpected adventure that you\u2019ll tell everyone about for years to come. <\/p>\n Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia<\/em><\/p>\n Photography courtesy of Magic Muncie, Social Media Manager, Hop Culture<\/p>\n<\/div>\n New England Pale Ale<\/strong> \u2013 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<\/a> for forty-eight hours of incredible drinking and eating. <\/p>\n Here and what follows are some of his favorite beers, told in his own words. Don\u2019t forget to check out his whole guide, coffee shops and eateries included, here<\/a>. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Kicks has made quite a name for itself in the area, especially when it comes to its prodigious IPAs. Whether it\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n Ironically, while I heard raindrops pitter-patter along the rooftop, I enjoyed Rain or Shine<\/a>, 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. <\/p>\n Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia<\/em><\/p>\n Photography courtesy of Magic Muncie, Social Media Manager, Hop Culture<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Wild Ale<\/strong> \u2013 Next, I moseyed over to Wildflower Brewing & Blending<\/a>, where we were warmly welcomed by Co-Founder Topher Boehm and Head of Hospitality Nemesia \u201cMeesh\u201d 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.<\/p>\n When Wildflower opened, Boehm concentrated exclusively on three unique beers: Gold<\/a>, Organic Table Beer<\/a>, and Amber<\/a>. This focused approach is arguably a major credit to Wildflower\u2019s remarkable success. <\/p>\n But if you see St Walter 2023: Montepulciano<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019t regret it; we certainly didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n Emu Plains, New South Wales, Australia<\/em><\/p>\n Photography courtesy of Magic Muncie, Social Media Manager, Hop Culture<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Hazy IPA<\/strong> \u2013 After wrapping up my adventure in the Inner West, I eagerly headed to another brewery on my must-visit list: Mountain Culture<\/a>. Located just a short fifteen-minute drive away, Mountain Culture\u2019s Redfern spot has a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. <\/p>\n I decided to tap into my friendly beertender Lindsay\u2019s 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>, a 7% ABV Hazy IPA created in collaboration with Fast Fashion.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n Manly Wharf, East Esplanade, Manly, New South Wales, Australia<\/em><\/p>\n Photography courtesy of Magic Muncie, Social Media Manager, Hop Culture<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Pale Ale<\/strong> \u2013 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.<\/a>. Dean, or Dean-O as his friends call him, invited me to visit. Although he wasn\u2019t available to join me, I connected with Felons Taproom Manager, Will Ryan.<\/p>\n 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 \u201cmiddy,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n I enjoyed all the beers I tried, but one stood out: a Japanese Rice Lager<\/a> in collaboration with Seabin. This refreshing bottom-fermented beer, brewed solely for the Felons Manly location, boasts a crisp profile. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\nHop Culture\u2019s Top 20 Beers We Drank in March\/April 2025<\/h2>\n
Queen of the Meadows \u2013 Small Gods<\/h3>\n
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Vacation Hazy Pale Ale \u2013 Canyon Brewing<\/h3>\n
![\"canyon](\"http:\/\/www.hopculture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/canyon-brewing-vacation-hazy-pale-ale-queenstown-new-zealand-100x0750-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nRuaille Buaille \u2013 Altitude Brewing<\/h3>\n
![\"altitude](\"http:\/\/www.hopculture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/altitude-brewing-ruaille-buaille-irish-dry-stout-queenstown-new-zealand-100x01333-1-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nOctolupulus \u2013 Eddyline Brewery<\/h3>\n
![\"eddyline](\"http:\/\/www.hopculture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/eddyline-brewing-nelson-tasters2-credit-grace-lee-weitz-LEAD2-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBlossom \u2013 8 Wired<\/h3>\n
![\"free](\"http:\/\/www.hopculture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/free-house-nelson-esb-and-blossom-credit-stacey-lee-weitz-1000x667-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Claymore \u2013 Fortune Favours<\/h3>\n
![\"fortune](\"http:\/\/www.hopculture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/fortune-favours-the-claymore2-scotch-ale-wellington-new-zealand-1000x667-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBeer \u2013 Garage Project<\/h3>\n
![\"garage](\"http:\/\/www.hopculture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/garage-project-wellington-beer-czech-pilsner-credit-grace-lee-weitz-1000x1333-1-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nJeremiah \u2013 Heyday Beer Co.<\/h3>\n
![\"heyday](\"http:\/\/www.hopculture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/heyday-beer-co-soul-cat-hazy-ipa-and-jeremiah-imperial-pilsner-credit-heyday-beer-co-1000x1000-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBirdseye \u2013 Parrotdog<\/h3>\n
![\"parrotdog](\"http:\/\/www.hopculture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/parrotdog-hazy-ipa-wellington-credit-parrotdog-1000x667-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nSmooth Operator \u2013 Double Vision Brewing<\/h3>\n
![\"double](\"http:\/\/www.hopculture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/double-vision-brewery-wellington-co-founder-warren-credit-grace-lee-weitz-1000x1000-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nMean Juice \u2013 Mean Doses<\/h3>\n
Slider \u2013 Brewmanity<\/h3>\n
Bright Pale Ale \u2013 Bright Brewery<\/h3>\n
![\"bright](\"http:\/\/www.hopculture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/bright-brewery-bright-pale-ale-bright-australia-1000x1333-1-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBeechworth Pale Ale \u2013 Bridge Road Brewers<\/h3>\n
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Wet Hopped Cerveza \u2013 KAIJU! Beer<\/h3>\n
![\"kaiju](\"http:\/\/www.hopculture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kaiju-beer-co-founder-nat-reeves-high-country-hop-festival-australia-credit-magic-muncie-hop-culture-1000x1250-1-819x1024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nRain or Shine \u2013 Kicks Brewing<\/h3>\n
![\"kicks](\"http:\/\/www.hopculture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/kicks-brewing-sydney-australia-rain-or-shine2-hazy-pale-ale-credit-magic-muncie-hop-culture-1000x1250-1-819x1024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nSt Walter 2023: Montepulciano \u2013 Wildflower Brewing & Blending<\/h3>\n
![\"wildflower](\"http:\/\/www.hopculture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/wildflower-brewing-and-blending-pouring-sydney-australia-credit-magic-muncie-hop-culture-1000x1250-1-819x1024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAir Ann \u2013 Mountain Culture Beer Co.<\/h3>\n
![\"mountain](\"http:\/\/www.hopculture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/mountain-culture-beer-co-glass-credit-magic-muncie-1000x1250-1-819x1024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nJapanese Rice Lager \u2013 Felons Brewing Co. Manly<\/h3>\n
![\"felons](\"http:\/\/www.hopculture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/felons-brewing-co-glass4-sydney-australia-credit-magic-muncie-hop-culture-1000x1250-1-819x1024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n