Ashton BrownWitchdoctor’s hopping mad (geddit?) craft beer guru is a longtime fan of the craft beer legends at Hallertau and couldn’t resist the opportunity to taste six of their best.
Since 2005, Hallertau, which was founded by Hayley & Steve Plowman, has been a staple of the NZ craft beer industry. Hallertau brewery has stood the test of time amid many challenges that the NZ industry has faced, and has long been a household name for many beer drinkers.
They also have some epic venues in Clevedon and Riverhead, where I have attended many a stag do (including my own), which involved brewery tours and sweet, sweet whiskey tastings. There’s a reason Hallertau has survived for so long: it’s because they make consistently good craft beer.
The kind folk at Hallertau sent me a range of beers to review to give you a feel for their styles and flavour profiles.
Hallertau #10
Hazy Hazy Pale Ale
4.5%
Ah man, it’s hard to fault Hallertau. It may not necessarily push boundaries, but it does everything it sets out to do with such a high standard. This hazy is no exception. Not too fruity, quenchable, sessionable, tasty, summery and hoppy without being too hoppy (some people think that’s a thing). The result is a totally accessible and user-friendly hazy, a great entry-level drop for people who might not think they like crafties or hazies. It’s simply a very easy beer to drink and enjoy.
While it may slightly lack the super hoppy, fruit vibe I prefer in my hazies, you can’t fault Hallertau’s ability to make a beer so easy to drink.
#2 Pale Ale
5.3%
Something that can be said about Hallertau is the fact that everything they say they are doing on the can, they do incredibly well. It might not be necessarily unique or groundbreaking, but it’s consistent and enjoyable.
#2 is a good example of a pale ale just being a pale ale and doing it so well.
There is nothing overly fancy about this drop. It’s classic. It’s palatable. Refreshing. Easy yet gently hoppy. It’s warming and summery, and it’s well balanced. This is a good example of brewers who just get it right. They aren’t challenging anything here, instead, they are nailing the expectations beer drinkers have. And then some. A great sessionable beer, a great night out beer. Just a joy to drink.
Boric Tangelo Witbier
5.2%
Citrus witbier!? Wit ze hell!? I generally don’t love Belgian beers. They usually either fall into the too wheaty or too malty pile for this fussy hop lover.
Now after pouring, this looks hazy, so I’m certainly onboard, and although it doesn’t smell overly fruity, I’m not sure it’s meant to. I don’t think I’ve ever had a tangelo before – it sounds like a Pokemon, but maybe I’m just such a millennial that I think of Japanese Anime before I think of slightly less mainstream fruit when I hear a new word.
Taste-wise, it’s interesting. This is the most out-there beer I’ve had from Hallertau and it’s quite experimental for the brewery. The mix of whitbier and fruit is quite unique. It’s a clever composition, and although it might not be for me, it’s definitely going to satisfy fans of Witbiers.
Hallertau 7 Maximus IPA
5.8%
This is just a classic, and damn good. When you think of a damn good, damn traditional IPA, you think of the Maximus. If you looked IPA up in the dictionary, it would be Hallertau 7. Slightly hoppy, refreshing, balanced, sessionable enough without being boring. Brilliant. Nuff’ said.
Hallertau Grapefruit IPA
6.8%
I was excited about a big grapefruit kick here, but it’s more of a subtle afterthought than a driving force. I was almost a little disappointed at first, but as my journey through this 440ml can of IPA continued, the grapefruit made itself more and more known. It was a little shy at first, but worked up its confidence the more I drank (as did I). Overall, it’s a solid IPA with a gently balanced grapefruit flavour and an undercurrent of bitterness that overall make this a very decent IPA which packs a solid boozey punch.
Hallertau Kiwi Lime Sour
5.3%
What happens if you put NZ’s native bird into a blender and then let it ferment? 5-10 years in prison and an in-depth psychological review. Fortunately, if you want something a little less violent and disturbing, then the Hallertau Kiwi Lime Sour is an absolute delight, and completely free from animal cruelty.
It’s a cloudy-looking morsel resembling the furry jacket that wraps around the Chinese gooseberry itself. I can’t overstate how refreshing this well-balanced sour was. So delicious and with the right amount of sour tang without it taking away from its palatability. I like kiwifruit, but I don’t generally like kiwifruit juice, so I was surprised at how great this is. An absolute corker of a sour proving yet again why Hallertau have continued to be a leading force in the craft beer market.
