Movies have long been a source of inspiration for craft breweries when searching for beer names and for their New Zealand pilsner, Urban Alley have taken their cues from a little-known New Zealand film series, The Lord of the Rings. The Beacons Are Lit is a showcase of Motueka, Superdelic and Riwaka Hop Kief and it’s a beer that’s as reassuring as watching that film trilogy for the 30th time. Call it for aid and you’ll find green grapes, lime zest, grapefruit, berries and stone fruit, while a light, dry cracker character runs through each lean sip.
Likewise, Vermilion is something of a battle between good and evil, with the colour once used to celebrate summer, bless, and ward off bad omens. The hazy pale is filled with Strata and Simcoe Cryo hops, which bring pineapple, pawpaw, bubblegum, orange juice and a dank hit of cannabis. There's also a a whole load of berry flavours at play that seem to combine almost all of them at once so expect to find a delightful mix of strawberry, blackcurrant, blackberry and raspberry in one go.
Will Ziebell
Published March 11, 2025 2025-03-11 00:00:00
