Of all the things I love, two of them are black IPA and kiwi hops. But it is summertime, what am I to do? I originally started to make an imperial version of a schwarzbier, maybe with a little tickle of Nelson at the end… but then I felt like using a bit of Moutere, because it had been pretty cool in a previous lager.

At that point, I had to admit that it had gotten away from me, and it was time to lean in. So I added some Riwaka, doubled the original dry hop, and realised I had basically written a very simplified black IPA.

This was the turning point for the entire 4 pack, as now I’d had two beers with the same yeast. I felt the momentum carrying me forward. I knew in my heart I needed to put this pared back BIPA malt bill with a lager yeast to really let it sing.

The crunchy edges of roasted wheat, only hinting and burnt notes, seemed to mirror Galaxy, with it’s layer of heavy bitterness sitting underneath the tropical high notes.

In it went. Now it was less of a NZBIPL, and more antipodean. Shame, that is a trainwreck of an acronym, but it is important to be precise. This beer is dark but not heavy, with tropical notes from the hops and just enough bitterness to give it structure. Perfect for those hot nights when you can’t sleep because the bricks are radiating heat from the forgotten sun.