Looking back on the memorable beers of 2016 a few themes started to emerge. The rise of sour and barrel-aged beers, a move to sweeter-style pale ales and IPA, where fruity hop character takes centre stage over bitterness, an increasing number of good low alcohol beers, and a scattering of American brown ales – a style that packs great flavour into a relatively low alcohol beer.
Another massive development has been the increasing importance of labels and branding. Standing out on supermarket shelves is becoming increasingly difficult so a great label, or interesting name, or preferably both, has become as important as what’s behind the facade.
The fact one of our most well-established craft brans, Tuatara, chose to rebrand shows just how crowded the house has become.
With all that in mind, here’s 20 words on 16 beers that stood out for me in 2016:
Emerson’s Bird Dog – The opening of Emerson’s new brewery in Dunedin featured The Chills, bagpipes, Robbie Burns, haggis, laughs and this on-song beer.
Choice Bros Reet Petite – To misquote Jackie Wilson from the song “finest beer you ever want to meet”. Red IPA made with candied ginger.
Townshend’s Old House ESB – Townshend’s was bashed from pillar to post after beers made under contract at Tuatara gushed. Happily drink again with confidence.
Garage Project Party & Bullshit – Controversy brewed as Garage Project took murky East Coast IPA mainstream. Looks like muddy water, tastes like Muddy Waters sounds.
Epic Thunder – They call it the “Supercharger killer” for its ability to knock Panhead’s star off its pedestal. Sweet prince of APA.
North End Oud Bruin – Fruit, chocolate, light acidity. This modern take on a Flanders Brown Ale is so drinkable. Warm, friendly and food-loving.
Dales Doppelbock – One of the joys of 2016. Layers of luscious caramel, toffee malt character. Forget what you think lager should be.
Renaissance Empathy – A 2.4 per cent beer that’s really quite tasty. So pleased to discover they stock it at my golf club.
Craftwork Red Bonnet – Gave this a perfect score in a blind taste test. Sweet, sour, funky, fulfilling, faultless, Flanders Red with sour cherries.
Hop Federation Brown Ale – Is brown the new black (again?). This hoppy brown ale at 4.5 per cent gives you flavour, drinkability and sessionability
Invercargill Smokin Bishop – The peak-hour drive to Auckland airport was worth every hour to pick up a hand-delivered flagon from brewer Steve Nally.
Panhead Black Sabbath – Mike Nielson gave this recipe for my home brew book thinking he’d never make it again. Thank god he did.
ParrotDog Kowhai Double IPA – ParrotDog’s smart move to the Flora series is next level pretty. This is a beautiful beer behind a beautiful label.
8 Wired Wild Feijoa Ale – Bursting with feijoa, this sour ale, which takes two years to make is a cross between wine, cider and beer.
Outlier Cartel Apricity – Surprise beer of year. Fruit cakey spiced bock-style made with wheat and oats, based on Dutch speculaas shortbread biscuits. Spectacular.
Tuatara Tomahawk – Tuatara’s rebrand came up with some whacky names (Mot Eureka is just weird) but Tomahawk (a hop) is orange-ade awesome.
