Esker Beer Co Hazy Pale

Nectaron is one of the new wave of New Zealand hops packing plenty of character, most typically of the stonefruit sort, but capable of offering up more besides. It's been used liberally in Esker's Hazy Pale – "Several hop additions are made during the fermentation process to build a layered and complex fruit driven experience," is how they put it – while a hefty addition of oats is charged with delivering the style's requisite soft, full body.

For me, while those expected tropical / stonefruit aromas are very much there, there's also a bitter orange character in the mix upon tasting, alongside some sweet, bready malts, while the 5.5 percent ABV contributes to the palate weight too.

James Smith