Garage Project's Brussels bombshell
Wellington brewery stuns Belgian beer scene with medal. Hemp IPA poised to be the next big thing. Rogue Ales closes — what went wrong? Fortune Favours officially in liquidation. Untappd goes rogue.
Welcome to Friday Night Beers — which I like to think of as your weekly mixed dozen of beer news, reviews and views.
First out of the box tonight is the continued success of Garage Project’s Chance Luck & Magic 2021.
Already named Champion Beer at the New Zealand Beer Awards, the 2021 vintage of this blended wild ale was also Champion International Beer at the Australian International Beer Awards in 2024.
And this week it arguably picked up its biggest honour — venturing all the way to Belgium to win a bronze medal at the annual Brussels Beer Challenge.
With 1700 entries from 36 countries, the Brussels Beer Challenge works a bit like the World Beer Cup with only limited medals awarded in each category, sometimes just one or two.
In the Old style Gueuze-Lambic category, Chance Luck & Magic was one of four medallists.
It’s reported that there was an audible gasp from the audience when a New Zealand brewery popped up on the big screen alongside beers from famed breweries Lindemans, Tilquin and HORAL (High Council for Artisanal Lambic Beers), the Belgian organisation that promotes and defends traditional Lambic and Geuze beers and which makes “mega-blends” from eight traditional lambic producers.
Garage Project are the first non-Belgian brewery to win a medal in this class.
Garage Project Wild Workshop brewer Dave Bell (pictured below) was on hand to pick up his medal — he was already in Europe when he received an invitation to the event and had to change his flights at the last minute to attend!
This unprecedented honour for Chance Luck & Magic follows the World Beer Cup medals (silver & bronze) won by the 2020 vintage.
It’s hard to say what is more impressive: winning a World Beer Cup silver medal or going to the very heart of Belgian beer and springing a surprise for the ages.
What’s certain is that Chance Luck & Magic is a world-class beer!
Chance Luck & Magic — And Hard Work | Pursuit of Hoppiness
Beer of the Week No 1
Sticky Forest from Wanaka’s b.effect is described as a Hemp IPA, but it’s a bit more complex than I imagined, so I’ll share the back story further down. But first things first: it’s delicious.
There’s been a few beers brewed now with the addition of terpene oils derived from cannabis and while Sticky Forest utilises terpenes from Abstrax to great a rich pineapple note which is almost like baked pineapple.
But it’s the use of hemp cake, the cold-pressed hearts and seeds, in the mash that offers a real degree of difference to this beer. It’s rich and textural and packs way more punch than it’s 5.5% ABV would indicate. It lives up to it’s name: sticky!
So, what’s the deal with Hemp IPA? And could it be the next beer trend?
This started when b.effect brewer Andy Duke met Nigel Hosking from Hemp NZ at a party and one thing led to another in terms of finding a new way to use hemp.
Adding the hemp to the mash distinctively changed the body and mouth feel of the beer, says Andy. So much so, they’re applying what they’ve learned to other beers, notably their gluten-free lager.
Fermentation in gluten-free beers is notoriously difficult but Andy says the hemp not only helps the ferment, but the beer has better mouthfeel and texture.
“The ferment used to tail off and take forever and we’ve just had one rip through in four days and we think we’ve found our silver bullet. Hemp has gone from being a novelty to a brewing aid.”
While oats could be used to amp up mouthfeel in gluten-free beer, it’s almost impossible to source gluten-free oats in New Zealand because they are usually processed in facilities alongside other grains.
That gluten-free beer is now b effect’s biggest volume in cans, and they do benefit from being one of the few breweries making a gluten-free beer.
“Long may that continue but I imagine one of the big boys will be watching and will get into this at some point.”
Andy is currently rebrewing Sticky Forest as the original batch sold out in eight days when he expected it would take more like six weeks to get through it.
They have other hemp beers in the planning and are keen look at ways to use other parts of the plant in the brewing process.
“Obviously we can’t use the parts of the flower but should be able to use the leaf. And then we need to look at what part of the brew process that will go in to.”
Hemp flowers contain cannabidiol (CBD) and trace amounts of THC, the psycho-active part of cannabis. The hemp cake doesn’t have any CBD in it.
THC-infused beers have been a massive success in the US in recent years, but that’s about to come to a grinding halt thanks to a new law passed by the US Congress this week.
Congress Limits The “Hemp High” And What This Means For Brewers – American Craft Beer
Dusty’s Beer of the Week
From the Woods is a 7% Flanders Red Ale from Pukehina’s Lumberjack Brewing. Aged on American & French oak barrels for 18 months it delivers complex layered notes of red berry, vanilla & raspberry vinaigrette with oaky notes providing further depth.
There’s a beautifully balanced juxtaposition between sweet/tart, the mouthfeel starting sharp with a hint of salinity but moving to butter-like as it warms, a sherberty carbonation and bone dry finish complete an absolute treat, highly recommend this.
Fortune Favours in liquidation
Despite selling their brewery to Garage Project, Fortune Favours are now officially in liquidation.
The business has debts of around $2.3m and most of that is owed to the shareholders, Shannon Thorpe and Dale Cooper.
The company also owes $196,246 in an unsecured loan and $15,651 in unsecured employees’ outstanding leave entitlements.
The liquidators said there was some money in the bank and they were going to sell the three vehicles at auction to try to recoup more cash.
It’s still possible the brand and associated IP could be sold.
Tim’s Beer of the Week
We’ve been getting away with it for a while (in Canterbury anyway), but the end of year heat has now well and truly arrived so it’s time to crack out the Pilsner. Polygamy (maybe one of the weirdest naming decisions ever) is a re-brew of one of Bach Brewing’s early beers, a Bohemian style Pilsner called Czechmate (itself a rebrew of Limburg Czechmate*, the winner of back-to-back trophies at the NZ Beer Awards in 2006 & 2007, it should be noted).
Like its first incarnation, this traditional Pilsner doesn’t cut any corners, utilising Bohemian malts and Czech Saaz hops (one of the parents of both Motueka and Riwaka). Fresh and deeply grainy on the nose with brown bread crust and that unmistakable grassy, herbaceous character of Noble European hops. Slippery smooth on the palate, with a full malt body and significantly more intense hop character and bitterness than typical Saaz driven beers.
This is what old world Pilsner is all about; serious, stern and satisfying. — Tim Newman is the chief reviewer for Pursuit of Hoppiness.
*Bach Brewing owner Craig Cooper was a part-owner of the legendary Limburg alongside brewer Chris O’Leary, hence the lineage of this beer. And there’s some good background by Geoff Griggs.
Sawmill — A Cut Above
The latest podcast from The Third Pint Theory is up and running. In this episode myself and co-host Martin Bridges are talking about Sawmill Brewing, with Martin calling into the brewery in Matakana to talk to owners Mike Sutherland and Kirsty McKay.
We’ve done a few of these pods now, we’re up to Episode 16 (and we’re nearing the end of season 1), and this is one of my favourites.
Sawmill are such an intriguing brand. They are one of the biggest craft breweries in the country but also the ones arguably doing the most work in the environmental, sustainability space.
Martin’s Beer of the Week
Hoppy birthday to you, hoppy birthday to you, hoppy birthday dear Brave Brewing, hoppy birthday to you!
I was disappointed not to be in Hastings for Brave’s recent 11th birthday celebration so I had to console myself with a couple of bottles of their birthday beer: BBC11 West Coast Pilsner. I’m still not entirely certain what a West Coast Pilsner is meant to be, but who cares when it tastes as delicious as this. A lovely melange of tropical and piney hops with a nice grippy bitterness. Here’s to many more years of awesomeness from our friends at Brave. — Martin Bridges is the co-host of The Third Pint Theory.
The end of an era as Rogue Ales closes
There’s a certain generation of New Zealand craft drinker that will have very strong memories of Rogue Ales, the massively influential Oregon brewery that closed abruptly this week.
Rogue was one of the brands regularly imported by Beers Without Borders in the early part of this century. Their Dead Guy IPA is probably the best-known but the Rogue beer that had the biggest impact on me was their Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale. This sweet, smoky beer felt other-worldly when I first had in 2013. It was way ahead of the dessert-beer curve and it made me very happy.
I’ll leave you with Jeff Alworth’s take on this, because he knew Rogue better than anyone.
Rogue Ales, 1988-2025 — Beervana
Beer of the Week No 2
It’s pilsner weather for sure, and it’s almost time (next month) to celebrate Epic’s 20the birthday. That birthday toast might be with Armageddon, but right now their JIRA Pilsner is tasting huge.
The name might reference Godzilla (or Gojira in Japan) but feels like it could also be Frankenstein in terms of the mash-up of styles (in a totally good way!). At 5.9% yet light, crisp and tight, it has the texture of Japanese rice lager. And then it’s hopped with New Zealand and American varieties to deliver a West Coast Pilsner vibe, yet somehow staying true to a European heritage. It’s a fantastic, monster pilsner and I thoroughly recommend it.
Pour your own bar comes to Queenstown
I’ve tried a pour your own wine system in Wanaka and it was a fun and easy thing to do. But beer… I have my doubts given how hard it is to create a great pour.
Budget lifestyle hotel LyLo in Queenstown has opened what they say is the country’s first ever self-pour cocktail and beer wall at their rooftop bar, promising the convenience of helping yourself along with enjoying sweeping views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables.
Among their offerings are Altitude Brewing’s top-selling Sled Dog Hazy Pale Ale and Canyon Brewing’s popular Espresso Martini.
The system requires a venue manager to authorise a customer’s card, and re-authorise it after three drinks as well as having the power to cut someone off if they’re over-doing it.
A duty manager ensures responsible service in line with local council and police requirements.
There are plans to install the technology at LyLo venues in Auckland and Christchurch.
Beer of the Week No 3
The number of breweries producing their own non-alcoholic brands increases by the week it seems. I’d just the other day had a great one from Three Sisters, on tap if you don’t mind! It’s fantastic.
And then Canyon Brewing kindly dropped me a sample of their just-released Bright-Eyed non-alc hazy IPA.
This one throws some tock-solid tropical punches with a nice kick of bitterness to boot. Very impressed.
Untappd loses the plot
Have you rated a can of Coke on Untappd yet?
The beer-drinker’s social rating app has gone rogue, as far as I can tell, by adding soft drinks and other non-beer beverages to its app.
Speaking to the drinks business, Untappd chief product officer Kyle Roderick said:: “I’m incredibly excited about this evolution because it’s a direct response to what we’ve been hearing from our community of breweries, bars, and restaurants. The modern drinker’s curiosity doesn’t stop at one category. People who love craft beer are also exploring craft spirits, natural wine, and non-alcoholic options as more become available. This update reflects that reality and gives both drinkers and producers a more complete way to connect.”
Craft spirits, natural wine … I get it. I can see why they’d add those to get a bunch a new users in. But Coke?
Roderick went on: “I don’t see this as a shift away from beer, but as a way to better serve the full journey of discovery. Brewers themselves are expanding into ready-to-drink beverages (RTDs) and non-alcoholic beverages, and we want to make sure Untappd continues to support them across their entire portfolio. Our foundation will always be our incredible beer community, and this expansion allows us to embrace the creativity that now defines the wider beverage world.”
Brewers might be expanding their range, but they can still add new products to Untappd … and Coke is not a brewer. Or is it?
Look at this screen shot. According to Untappd, Coke has produced 73 “beers” (apologies for my imprecise mark-up!).
And the original Coke is listed as “non-alcoholic”. I should hope so.
Look, I’ll give Roderick one more chance to explain this.
“Increasingly, craft beer consumers are diversifying beyond beer, discovering and enjoying new beverage types.”
“New” beverage types? Coke? Maybe 130 years ago.
Look, I enjoy looking at Untappd to see what nonsense gets posted there, but I stopped check-ins five years ago: November 20, 2020, to be precise. And having the chance to rate Coke is not going to draw me back in.
Right, that’s us for another week. Enjoy your weekend and whatever beers you have at hand.
Michael