Stranger things have happened, but my fervent hope is that we are not going to see any crazy tariffs on anything coming out of New Zealand anytime soon.
Yes, I know they have an amazing cultural heritage that I am always keen to learn about (If you’ve never seen the All Blacks do a pre-match haka, go take a look on YouTube. It’s amazing and has quite the historic significance).
But the reason I mention New Zealand here is their agriculture. They’ve got some amazing agriculture, especially when it comes to both white grapes and hops. For some inexplicably beautiful reason, both of these are infused with the most amazing tropical fruit flavors, leading to Sauvignon Blancs that must be tasted to be believed and some fantastic hop varietals.
If you need to get a feeling for those flavors, I would definitely check out Whakatane (Hazy IPA, 7.7% ABV, 27 IBU) from our new friends at Chubby Mermaid Brewing.
It’s a New England, which is perfect for hops like these as it lends itself beautifully to focusing on bold, bold, insanely bold fruit flavors. Nestled in the wilds of a creamy mouthfeel and incredibly hazy, incredibly light malt bill, the beer practically explodes with papaya, mango, apple, passionfruit, and so much more. Bitterness is kept moderate to low. It’s not going to be too aggressive, which works since the creamy fruitiness is what really carries the day.
It’s a good reason why I love New Zealand hops, because they have a flavor profile you just don’t see anywhere else. It’s delicious and is something I will readily reach for if and when available.
May it always stay available.
Drink Florida Craft,
Dave
@floridabeerblog
floridabeerblog@gmail.com
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