As Rocks continue their deep dive into Phantasm-infused brews, I find myself increasingly intrigued by this brewer's MSG, especially wrapped up in a package like this: a showcase of NZ ingredients pouring the suitably hazy colour of a sippable mango with a stiff white head.
A Hazy Day In Aotearoa has the aroma of the aftermath of a Seville orange fight in a pine forest, one that leaves pulp and rind splattered on trunks and trodden into the warm earth. On the mouth, it's a trip I wish I had prepared for. I write "on the mouth" rather than "on the tongue" because this beer will wake up every taste bud you possess.
There might be a tiny hint of refreshment, but this feels every bit as potent as its 8 percent ABV: a double hazy IPA brewed for fans of big beers. The addition of Phantasm not only takes the beer into the zing dimension, but keeps things on theme: this brew is such a palate-basher a ghost could taste it.
And if you're a card-carrying member of the hop-spotters club, Hazy Day features a veritable supergroup of NZ hops: Hop Revolution late harvest Nelson Sauvin and Turkeys Pick Blend, plus Freestyle hops Nelson Sauvin, SubZero Hop Kief.
Benedict Kennedy-Cox
Published March 7, 2024 2024-03-07 00:00:00
