REVIEW #104: New Zealand Pale Ale (Hawkshead Brewery)

Pours golden-amber from the bottle with a brief, plain white head. Toffee and hop-resin on the nose. This is a beautifully balanced brew showcasing a delicious interplay between the acerbic, resinous, bitter, green, leafy, pine-forest, white grapefruit, elderflower hops and oat-crumble malt. On top of all that its pretty full-bodied, having an oily consistency resulting in a satisfyingly robust drink (something I often find lacking in pale ales). At the same time its some manages to slake the thirst. The carbonation is not aggressive but definitely there. A winner on all fronts.

New Zealand Pale Ale (NZPA) is a part of Hawkhead's 'Well Hopped Ales' range along with Windermere Pale and Cumbrian Five Hop, all at 6% ABV. Its a beer brewed by Hawkshead's New Zealand-born brewer using only New Zealand hops. It was also brewed to celebrate the brewery's 1000th brew at their Stavely-based brewery. A visit from bonny Prince Charley marked the brewery's 10th anniversary in style! I have another Hawkshead review in the offing in the form of Brodies Prime, a dark ale.

• MALTS: ?

• HOPS: GREEN BULLET; MOTUEKA; RIWAKA; NELSON SAUVIN
• IBU: ?
• ABV: 6.0%

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