Beer #254 - Zeelandt / Bishop's Kick

BREWERY // Brewing is in Christopher Barber's blood. His Hawke's Bay brewery, Zeelandt, opened in 2012 around 125 years after his great great grandfather opened a brewery near Christchurch. Christopher honed his skills working at St Austell Brewery in Cornwall before returning to New Zealand to brew at Hallertau. The brewery's name (pronounced zay-land) reflects the inspiration taken from classic European styles with a distinctly New Zealand twist. Zeelandt have been steadily increasing their output and also releasing more seasonal beers. It's great to see more of their beers around the country. If you find yourself anywhere near Eskdale, be sure to pay a visit to their brewery taproom.

BEER // Wheat beers are designed to be full flavoured and refreshing and Bishop's Kick certainly fits the bill. The high wheat content means Germans often refer to the style as bottled bread. In Bavaria 'Brotzeit' (literally 'bread time') is a delightful late morning snack often accompanied by a tall glass of wheatbeer. At its best the style is a showcase for the amazing, and oft overlooked, flavours created by different strains of yeast. This Hefeweizen from Zeelandt is true to the traditional Bavarian style; cloudy and bottle conditioned. As in traditional wheat beers, the yeast imparts a distinct flavour of fruity banana and phenolic cloves which is radically different to lagers and hoppy beers yet still results in a light and wonderfully quaffable beer. Rouse the yeast before confidently pouring into a tall glass to experience the original hazy beer with a fluffy, aroma filled head.