New Zealand IPA showcasing their most acclaimed hop variety. Like the rest of the brand, this beer is named after the ancient reptile native to New Zealand and the bottle bears ’scales’ reminiscent of this fascinating animal. Thickly ’membranous’ lacing, medium sized, off-white, moussy head on top of a pale orangey blonde, clear beer. Dank yet primarily sweet aroma of overripe mango, yellow Zespri kiwi (could be mere association), chicken spices, sweet curry, biscuit, freshly cut dill (the Nelson Sauvin speaking, I suppose), fresh fennel, pink grapefruit, stale sweat, smoky ripe papaja, melon, pineapple, ripe nectarine, freshly grated ginger, juniper, tomato concentrate, paprika, raw cigarette tobacco, cooked carrot. Crisp, lively onset of ’clean’ but effective fruitiness (green banana, yellow plum, kiwi, papaja) with agreeable balance of sweet and sour with a minor umami factor making things even more interesting, minerally accents here and there, medium carbo just right for the style, lots of orange ’fraîcheur’; supple, lean body, caramelly malt sweetness fitting in well, while the fruitiness and light umami accent dance on top. Finishes in juicy malt sweetness topped with a very aromatic hop character, retronasally all the pink grapefruit, spicy-sweet tropical fruit and even a hint of pine return, while in the mouth, a citrusy, spicy, ’lively’ bitterness develops, pairing beautifully with the ongoing malt sweetness and drying gently for a long time. Soft and aromatic while at the same not harshly bittering, I’d argue this is closer to APA than to IPA, but who cares: this beer - though having travelled a very long way - showcases its native hop variety in the most beautiful way imaginable. And it is only right that this beer would come all the way from New Zealand. Fascinating!

Tap at Roundhouse Wanchai. Deep amber pour with very dense white head. Aroma is sharp bitter hops with some sweet biscuit malt. Taste is very sharp effervescent hoppiness - somehow "air hopped" seems apt. Lasting bitter bite. The tart white wine flavor seems like Nelson Sauvin. Good light but flavorful pale ale/IPA

Bottle at HB&B. It pours clear pale gold with a thick white head. The aroma is fresh, straw, cracker, pineapple, passion fruit and bread. The crisp, clean, grapefruit, lemon, cracker, straw, bread, passion fruit and pineapple with a dry finish. Light body and moderate, foamy carbonation. Crisp, fruity and refreshing.

On tap at Beer DeLuxe Melbourne, pours a clear copper with a small white head. Aroma brings out piney hops, some light resins, a little metallic quality and biscuity malt. Flavour is fairly astringent, with floral and citrus hops, and biscuity malt on the back. Fairly astringent on the finish. Not the best balance. Okay.

330ml very tactile bottle from Donfield Beer Stop - Nice copper body with a foamy white head.Nose has a fruity hoppy aroma with an earthy background. Taste is sweetly malty with that bitter prickly earthy hop character and light sweetness. Decent enough, and I liked the bottle.

Keg at The Hanging Bat. Murky amber body with a thick white head. Good lacing. Aroma of caramel and vine tomatoes. Flavour of grapefruit, melon, toffee and peppery hop spice with a bold, bitter finish. Medium to full body with a creamy mouthfeel. Soft fizz. It’s not particularly clean (this was the end of the keg, to be fair) but it’s absolutely loaded with hops and I like that.

On tap at Bitter Phew, pours a clear pinkish blonde with a large white head. Aroma brings out sweet and sour raspberries, with an almost hazelnut quality. Flavour is bizarre, with pitted stone fruits, and sweet and sour raspberries. Very sharp on the pitted fruits. It's alright, but needs some tweaking.

bb30/6/16 bottle medio ambrata limpida schiuma mefia discreta persistenza naso florele lieve caramello in bocca un po spenta bilanciata

Nice stinky cat pissy hops with pineapple and mango as it warms. Nice NZ pale!

Bottle from Tanakaya for 375 yen (pretty cheap for Japan). Stinky, cat pissy hops on the front with pineapple and mango as it warms up. Good carbonation with the same tropical fruit on the palate with a bit of passion fruit. The finish is a little bitter and the passion fruit notes clash a tad, but still a good NZ pale.