“Our Green Limousine is here and you don’t want to miss it. We’ve got a limited amount available online now for purchase and it’s currently making its way across the country, get it before it goes! The Green Limousine delivers fresh Nelson Sauvin hops to us once a year. Coming from just down the road, they’re as fresh as it gets. In fact, they’re off the bine and into the brew in as quick as thirty minutes. The result is this beautiful golden brew. Super fresh and super delicious.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Deep burnished orange with a thumb of creamy white head that ain’t budging. Thick and blotchy patches of lace clings to the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: Smells fantastic. Displaying a hefty caramel malt profile which not only hands it its excellent balance but a lovely, rounded sweetness as well. The freshness of the Nelson Sauvin hops add a unique touch to it too – they claim that the hops are off the bine and into the brew in 30 minutes. Which is insane but it checks out as they’re situated in Riwaka (the heart of NZ hop country).

Flavour: Yeah we definitely have never tasted NS hops this fresh. Before the hallmark gooseberry and white wine notes is an almost oily/resinous grapefruit. It also has a ganja-like dankness as well. What’s also interesting is the sweet caramels on the nose take a back seat while the hops do all the work from start to finish.

Mouthfeel: Fairly smooth and rounded with discernible bitterness post-swallow. Medium body, a tempered Co2 and the 6% ABV is on the lighter end but positioned nicely.

Overall: This is our first crack at Hop Federation (other than a few collab brews with guys like Epic and Garage Project). Another one we bagged when we took a trip to Queenstown a couple of months back. Impressive stuff. It’s a shame we don’t see more of their beers here in Australia.