The Naked Hop | Issue Three

WELCOME TO THE NAKED HOP! A monthly publication coming to you from the Glengarry team of beer experts, where we explore everything beer related. Here you’ll find an in depth look into the beer world and what makes it tick.

For our third issue of The Naked Hop we gear up in our lumberjack ensemble and head over to the mill to check out Sawmill Brewery and why they're winning awards. We also review the fresh results from this year's Australian International Beer Awards, explore the hop varieties from around the world with our Hop Glossary and answer some of your burning questions about beer. Feeling thirsty for a taste of something new? Pop into one of your local Glengarry stores for our instore tastings trying new craft beers from a variety of breweries.

SAWMILL

For anyone wanting to get out of the madness that is Auckland City, Sawmill Brewery is unquestionably a destination you want to load into your GPS. Located in the picturesque area of Leigh, just north of Warkworth, it is only a short hour-long drive from the city centre. Sawmill Brewery was established in 2004 on the site of what used to be a local timber mill that ran in the 1800s and have since built a brand-new brewery area and restaurant, known as the “Smoko

The team at Sawmill have gone to great

Room�, further down the road from the

lengths to ensure their beers are nothing but

original site, where the menu has been

superb and this is reflected by the numerous

created to match the beers perfectly.

trophy and medal wins they received at the Brewers Guild Awards in 2017.

Moving on to more seasonal brews, Sawmill like to play around behind the scenes to release a range that cater for a vast audience and these ones are always quick to move off the shelf as stocks are limited.

The beers speak for themselves and what more can you ask for?

From the Pilsner, which boasts aromas of

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Smart Packaging – Check

lemon and lime by using the distinctive

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Award Winners – Check

Motueka and Riwaka hops - it’s crisp and

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Cans and bottles – Check

bitter and finishes medium dry, to the India

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Wide range of beers – Check

Pale Ale, which is golden in colour with

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Brewery open to public – Check

biscuity malt notes: this bad boy uses American Citra and New Zealand Cascade hops, and surprisingly is lower in alcohol than most other India Pale Ales.

-SW

CRAFT BEER NEWS!

The biggest news in the Craft Beer world

Today it is the largest annual beer

right now is probably that of the AIBA

competition in the world, attracting more

(Australian International Beer Awards)

than 1700 entries from more than 320

results which were announced on 17th May

breweries from all around the world and is

in Melbourne. The AIB Awards have been

held in very high regard in the beer industry.

around since 1987 and were established by

AIBA boasts a highly regarded judging

The Ballarat College of advanced

panel of industry experts, and recognises

Education, with just 35 entries judged by a

high performing breweries that are creating

panel of 3 in its first year. Joining forces

some incredible beers.

with RASV (Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria) in 1993 saw its first judging year open to international submissions.

Results from the night are out and it is so

Our good friends at Bach Brewing also

exciting to see some NZ brands in the mix.

took out a Trophy for Best International-

In amongst the Champion Brewery

Style Pale Ale with their Billfish, and

categories (from Australia and

congratulations to Sawmill for taking out

internationally, broken into small medium

Trophy for Best Design for Outer

and large), Kereru Brewing Company took

Packaging. So many more awesome NZ

out Trophy for International Small Brewery.

beers and breweries took out medals in a

Massive congratulations to them, an

range of different categories too; you can

outstanding achievement and a reflection of

find all the results listed online on the AIBA

all the hard work and effort Kereru put in to

website - check it out and pick yourself up

brewing such fantastic beers.

some award-winning beers!

-HB

HOP GLOSSARY

Let’s take a good look at a few of the hop varieties that get name dropped like we are supposed to know what they are. Here we will break down what they are actually talking about, and what it means for the flavour of your beer. This week we are diving into the world of Noble Hops. What the ale are they?

Noble Hop Term referring to the four traditional varieties of hop most commonly used for traditional European beers. The varieties are: Hallertau, Saaz, Spalt, and Tettnang. These varieties are, like wine, prone to exhibiting their terroir and hence are closely related to their place of origin. Let’s get into them…

Hallertau The namesake of the Hallertau Brewery, even though this hop comes all the way from Germany, as do all the noble hops. This noble hop exhibits earthy, spicy and herbal notes.

Most often used by purists to make traditional German style Lagers and Pilsners. It gets its name from its origin in the Bavarian region of the same name. It has low to medium alpha acid (the highest of the noble hops) and low oil.

Saaz Saaz (also known as Žatec) originates from an area just outside the Bohemian town of Žatec, now in the Czech Republic. Like the Hallertau hops, they have spicy and earthy notes typical of noble hop varieties, but can also show off some floral or citrus notes. The alpha acid and oil however are nearly identical to that in Hallertau hops, with the alpha acid being slightly lower.

Spalt From Spalter in Nuremburg. Mild, yet spicy, this hop is less often used but shows the same noble hop characteristics. It is aromatic and brings floral and herbal notes to the nose. Its oil and alpha acid are the same as the other noble varieties, but with slightly lower alpha acid.

Tettnang From the south-eastern German town of Tettnang. Floral yet spicy, this hop also introduces pepper and black tea flavours and aromas. Tettnang is used in a variety of Belgian, French and German style beers. This hop variety has a slightly higher alpha acid reading than Spalt and Saaz, but low oil as with the rest of the noble hops.

Well, there you have it. Next time you are sipping away at your Lager, Pilsner or Hopfenweisse, you can look over to your buddy, thin your eyes and confidently state which of these four noble hops yo can taste. You might need to look up some pronunciation tips, but at least you’ll be informed.

-CM

NAKED HOP Q&A

The Naked Hop Q&A. Here’s how it works: you ask the questions, and our Crafty team answer them. Simple. Jump on over to our Facebook page - Crafty Beer - and ask your question ensure you add the tag #nakedhop - and a selection of the Q&A will appear in the next edition of the Naked Hop.

Q: Hi there! Please help... I really enjoyed “Garage Project - Strange Ways Sour", can you suggest any other craft beers with the same or similar tasting characters? Cheers! #Nakedhop

A: Hi Sharma! Great question! If it’s the combination of vegetables and sour beer that you’re after the answer has to be the Cucumber Hippy from 8 Wired Brewing. It’s got a lovely sour edge, and the cucumber really does shine through in a wonderfully complimentary way. If you liked the mash up of raspberry and sour beer and another completely random element, I’d have to suggest the Raspberry Chocolate Berliner from Deep Creek Brewing. While we’re on Deep Creek, their Passionfruit Berliner might also be a sour yet fruity match that you’d like.

Thanks for your question Sharma, happy sipping!

VIEW MORE Q'S & A'S

WHAT'S ON OUR TAPS?

Our Victoria Park, Grey Lynn, Kingsland and Kelburn stores have a wide range of kegs on their Growler Stations that are constantly changing. So rather than leave you guessing what’s on where, we thought it mighty handy to collate in one place what’s on.

CLICK HERE FOR WHAT'S ON TAP AND WHERE

EVENTS AND TASTINGS

BACH BREWING | WESTMERE INSTORE TASTING From the refreshing levity of the Beachstone Pilsner to the brooding depth of the Crayporter, there’s a little something for everyone. Some of the Bach beers are good hearted, true to style brews, while others get crafty with hop-loaded or specialty styles. Summer is coming again… eventually; so now’s as good a time as any to get familiar with the range. It might not be togtime yet, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a Bach.

WHEN: Friday 25th May WHERE: Glengarry Westmere, 164 Garnet Rd, Westmere TIME: 4:00pm-7:00pm

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BIRKENHEAD BREWING | PARNELL IN-STORE TASTING Locals Steve & Brad had a simple plan back in late 2015, make quality beer that people will love and get again. The Birkenhead Brewing Company was born and released its first beer, Kauri Double IPA in November 2015 and the rest, as they say, is history.

WHEN: Friday 25th May

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WHERE: Glengarry Parnell, 164 Parnell Rd, Parnell TIME: 4:00pm-7:00pm

SAWMILL | REMUERA IN-STORE TASTING Loaded down with awards and medals (nine alone at the 2015 Brewers Guild of New Zealand Awards), this innovative lot were the first in New Zealand to put their crafty product into cans. Beer with roots, is how they put it.

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WHEN: Saturday 26th May WHERE: Glengarry Remuera, 400 Remuera Rd, Remuera TIME: 2:00pm4:00pm

CROUCHER | GREY LYNN INSTORE TASTING Born in Rotorua and loved all over - Croucher is the taste of discovery, from the home of adventure! Croucher are all about celebrating the beauty, the adventure and the hospitality that Rotorua is reknowned for all around the world.

WHEN: Friday 15th June WHERE: Glengarry Grey Lynn, 16 Williamson Ave, Grey Lynn TIME: 4:00pm-7:00pm

Every Croucher beer is an invitation to explore. A challenge to never stop taking risks.

A reminder that life is about making stories, and great beer is about sharing them.

Read More...

CLICK HERE TO SEE TASTINGS

That's it for this month's Naked Hop. Issue Four will be hopping its way to your inbox next month.

Cheers,