Kiwi hops have been enjoying quite the time in the sun in recent years – we wrote about their rise late last year. For the most part, this has been driven by newer hop varieties, particularly those suited to fulsome hazies, as well as some of the advanced products hitting the market from NZ's growers. For this celebration of the country's hops (a lesser-known one of which fires their flagship West Coast IPA), Hawkers have leant into a couple of more established varieties: Riwaka and Kohatu. Sure, there's the stonefruit-galore Nectaron in the mix too, but this delivers more old-school Kiwi charms.
Foreign Influence is less sweet, rounded tropical vibes, more leaping citrus – lime and juicy mandarin – plus a squeeze of kiwi fruit (unless the last is a mind trick caused by the label) and a touch of spiciness that serves to add to its lean nature. The hops are delivered with a real vibrant cleanliness too, while a slow-building, resinous bitterness balances the oily texture.
tl;dr – hops for days.
James Smith
Published February 15, 2025 2025-02-15 00:00:00
