Freshwater Brewing Co Freshie Pils

It's fair to say that not only does the Freshie team like lagers, but they particularly love pilsners. Within a year or so of getting up and running they'd canned a Pacific Pils, the Czech style Dukes Pilsner, and this one to which they gave the brewery and suburb's nickname.

Think of it as a New World version of the Dukes: instead of Bohemian floor-malted pilsner malt, they've used malt from Gladfield in New Zealand, and instead of traditional Saaz hops they've gone with new Euro varieties Mandarina Bavaria and Hallertau Blanc. The result is a lager that remains crisp, clean and refreshing but switches out spicy, straw like hops for fruitier ones: orange citrus and stonefuit to the fore.

James Smith