Hawkes Bay is famous for several things, including wine and great weather, but now we can add beer to the list.
I recently took a trip to Napier to visit the impressive Hawkes Bay Independent Brewery, the home of three great beers and the excellent Kingston range of ciders. To say I was impressed would be grossly understating the case.
It's not a huge brewery, with a maximum capacity of 1.4 million litres, but quantity isn’t everything, especially for brewer Leon Mickelson. Leon started with the brewery sweeping the floors but these days he is busy brewing the beers that have moved the brewery from being best-known for making the Mates range to producing striking versions of classic beers.
The range now numbers five, including a seasonal summer ale and — with four ciders to try as well — any visit means making sure you have a sober driver, because if you try one, you’ll want to try them all.
They are available in many bars in Auckland and also in selected supermarkets and liquor stores to take home. Leon told me what he aims for is balance and that is the common thread in the beers. From the crisp pilsner through the amber ale and the porter, there is no sign of the current trend for overhopping.
Instead there is a near-perfect balance between the hops and malt, making all of the beers — and the ciders, for that matter—easy to drink and versatile partners for food.
Hawke's Bay Pilsner
Made in classic pilsner style, this has a nice bitter hop character on the nose and on the front of the palate. Then comes a great wave of crystal malt, backed up by nice fruity, almost citrus notes. Ideal summer drinking.
Black Duck Porter
One of my favourite beers, a heady mix of chocolate and coffee on the nose, with the addition of caramel on the palate. Complex and rich, it's not a big, heavy porter, and doesn't have the bitterness of many stouts. A wonderful beer at any time of the year.