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Special Limited Release Craft Beers
Alongside our traditional offerings, we regularly brew special limited release beers for competitions, to take advantage of seasonal events such as the local hop harvest, and just for the fun of it! Most are strictly limited in volume and will sell out fast – so if you’re keen to try them, head down to your local Sprig & Fern Tavern without delay.
Many of these limited releases are also medal winners. You can find out more about our award winning beers on the Awards page. Get advance notice of our upcoming releases – sign up here to receive our email newsletter.
Lemongrass wheat
december 2020
Summer beer? Sorted. We have combined the spicy, lemony notes of lemongrass with the popular citrus-dominant Nelson Sauvin hop. To keep it light, we've used a wheat malt for a lighter body. The result...a refreshing, light summer beer with a distinctive citrus zing. Enjoy our latest limited release, Lemongrass Wheat on tap at Sprig & Fern Taverns Wednesday 16 December.
4.3% ABV
coned up pils
November 2020
Our brewing team at Sprig & Fern have used the Riwaka hop flower to create a pungent and punchy Pilsner for the summer. When combining tropical passionfruit and grapefruit characteristics with a typical Pilsner bitterness, refreshing magic happens.
5.0% ABV
Anything gose
october 2020
Anything Gose (pronounced Goes-uh) in this warm fermented unfiltered german wheat beer that has been soured inside a kettle. It has the addition of Marlborough flaked sea salt and freshly ground coriander seeds which is typical of this style of sour beer. Give it a go, Anything Gose!
3.7% ABV
Hopnotised IPL
october 2020
This hopped up India Pale Lager showcases two of the best aromatic hops we could find– Motueka from NZ and Amarillo from the USA which give this beer notes of tropical and citrus fruits. You’re sure to find it Hopnotising and super refreshing!.
5.4% ABV
HAZY IPA
SEPTEMBER 2020
Our brewers have created this juicy hop bomb that delivers citrus, passionfruit and stone-fruit flavours. Sprig & Fern’s Hazy IPA is distinctively soft with a smooth body and just the right amount of bitterness.
5.5% ABV
HitchCOCK IPA
August 2020
We wanted to make something a little SCARY for the ANNUAL West Coast IPA Challenge- being in its 13th year. Our Team present ‘HITCHCOCK’S IPA’- a Hazy IPA which packs an aromatic fruit punch with an all-American hop addition of Amarillo, El Doroado, Sultana and Comet. Hope the birds don’t scare you off!
6% ABV
Nectaron® Pale Ale
July 2020
17 years in the making, NZ Hops newly launched Nectaron® hop is sure to be a hit with brewers around the world. Nectaron® has intensely tropical, citrus and stonefruit characteristics – perfect for our Strong Pale Ale..
6% ABV
Southern Cross SHIPA
June 2020
It was a Hop, Sprig and a jump from Kentishman Farm in Upper Moutere to the Brewery - with our fresh-hop harvest of Southern Cross. Our brewers have crafted a Single-Hopped IPA (S.H.I.P.A.) that delivers lemon and orange peel zest and touches of pine needle flavour.
5.4% ABV
Harvest Pilsner
April 2020
The fresh hops within this beer are special. Once chosen for harvest, we bagged them up by hand and without wasting freshness, drove them the few kms to the Brewery. Enjoy a bold citrus aroma, tropical notes with a crisp, dry finish…and savour those hops!
5% ABV
Krausen Kolsch
March 2020
Kolsch beer originated in Cologne, Germany. Our brewers have made Sprig & Fern Krausen Kolsch - which is pale in colour, easy drinking and has a good dose of the popular German hops Perle and Saphir added for good measure.
5.2% ABV
Nitro Irish Red Ale
February 2020
Deep reddish in colour with a moderate caramel and toastiness. A nice balance of hops and malt sweetness rounds out this beauty with a smooth finish.
5% ABV
Southern Weisse
February 2020
Our brewers have paired together a Bavarian Weissber and a NZ Pale Ale to deliver this aromatically fruity blonde beauty. A blast of fruit hits you with flavours of pineapple, lime and citrus and with some subtle notes of banana.
5% ABV
Ginger Driver
February 2020
Refreshing and spritzy with a subtle hop palate and medium ginger spice that lingers in your mouth for just the right amount of time, this is a low alcohol option without sacrificing flavour.
2.5% ABV
Nitro Amber Cream Ale
December 2019
Traditionally, Cream Ale is an American Style beer that is light in colour with a lower degree of hop bittering. The brewing team have put our Sprig & Fern spin on this and crafted a slightly darker Amber Cream Ale which we are pouring on a Nitro tap. We know you will love this beauty!
4.2% ABV
Brut IPA
December 2019
A popular beer style for the summer - Brut IPA's popularity continues to grow due to its light, dry champagne like finish and bold, fruity aromas. This golden example is just that!
5.9% ABV
The Breeze Cider
November 2019
This fruit cider with Cranberry and Orange juices was lovingly made in conjunction with the good folk at The Breeze for launch at the Annual NZ Cider Festival in Nelson. A combination of fruits and an Apple Cider base make this so refreshing for the Summer.
5.5% ABV
Galactic Pale Ale
September 2019
This golden Pale Ale is brewed with the Australia’s most internationally recognised flavour hop - Galaxy. It packs a punch of peach, passionfruit and citrus and truly is out of this world.
5% ABV
Spiced Blond
September 2019
Golden and unfiltered with a subtle fruity and spicy aroma followed by a sweet malt character with notes of honey.
6.1% ABV
Gamechanger
July 2019
Game Changer (Strong Pale Ale)
Brewed for the annual coveted West Coast IPA Challenge, we have gone the extra mile with the use of hops in this US Strong Pale Ale. Big bold hops and bold flavour abound..
6.7% ABV
California Common
June 2019
California Common (Keg only)
A lightly fruity beer with a toasty aroma and a caramelly flavour. Brewed originally as Steam Beer in the Gold Rush era.
5.4% ABV
Nitro Chocolate Porter
June 2019
Nitro Chocolate Porter (Keg only)
Brewed with a combination of five malts and featuring luscious chocolate aromatics and flavour, this dark and creamy chocolate beer indulgence is smooth and silky to the last drop.
5.0% ABV
Quintessential Hop
April 2019
The Quintessental Hop (Keg only)
This unfiltered NZ Pale Ale has been brewed with one of the most sought after hops in the world. Our very own master brewer was the first brewer in history to use the Nelson Sauvin hop when it was released in the year 2000. Packed with gooseberry, citrus and wine-like characteristics, this really does pack a fruity punch.
5.3% ABV
Nitro English Mild
April 2019
A dark malt focused British-Style Session Ale displaying chocolate, coffee and caramel that carries through both the aroma and flavor filling the palate with the creaminess of a nitro brew. Creamy, chocolate, coffee and caramel….who could resist.
3.9% ABV
Harvest Pilsner
April 2019
The fresh hops within this beer are special. Once chosen for harvest, we bagged them up by hand and without wasting freshness, drove them the few kms to the Brewery. Enjoy a bold citrus aroma, tropical notes with a crisp, dry finish…and savour those hops!
5.0% ABV
Quantum of Hops
March 2019
An interaction of four different fruity hop varieties and an American Ale Malt give this Pale Ale great balance and drinkability.
4.8% ABV
Nitro Original Bitter
February 2019
Original Bitter comes from a family of British Bitter style beers. Original Beer can sit around or about 4%, Best Bitter sits around 5% and ESB or Strong Bitter sits around 5.5-6%. Drinkability is a key element of this style.
Traditionally Bitters were made having no pressure and pulled through hand pull at cellar temperatures but more and more brewers these days carbonate with Carbon Dioxide and dispense from a keg.
This Original Bitter with biscuit, bready and caramel notes has been carbonated using Nitrogen which gives a smoother, creamy texture and a dense foam.
4.1% ABV
Mr Giblin Strikes Again
February 2019
After Gary’s semi-retirement in 2018 we couldn’t keep away from brewing our liquid gold so we thought why not raise another glass. Mr. Giblin Strikes Again dry hopped IPA is perfect for lazy days in the sun toasting to our very own Gary Giblin’s years of brewing.
5.5% ABV
Golden IPA
January 2019
This is an all American hopped IPA using 3 hop varieties that each possess their own individual characteristics of Tropical, Spicy and Citrus. A perfect style of beer to be consumed at this time of year.
5.6% ABV
Nitro Smoked Bock
December 2018
We’ve created a classic malty and toasty Smoked Bock. This balanced and flavoursome all German style beer uses Bamberg smoked malt to create a perfect balance between the smokey flavors and malty sweetness, all with the creaminess of a nitro.
6.8% ABV
Saison
November 2018
This is a beer that use to be traditionally brewed for the summer months. Also referred to as a Farmhouse Ale, farmers would brew this style for Christmas. It is a complex style with fruity, spicy and earthy notes.
5.8% ABV
Dry Hopped Pilsner
October 2018
Having a combination of German Mandarina Bavaria and Australian Galaxy hops gives this classic style a bold citrus and passionfruit taste sensation with a true Pilsner crisp finish.
4.9% ABV
Soiree
September 2018
35th Anniversary in Brewery Celebration brew.
Brewed in celebration of Tracy Banner's 35 years in the Brewing Industry, this Marzen Rauchbier displays smokey characteristics from the use of Bamberg Beechwood Smoked Malt and exhibits sweet toasted notes.
5.6% ABV
Barrel Aged Imperial Porter
September 2018
The aromatics of this Pinot-Noir Barrel aged Imperial Porter fill your senses before you have tasted the initial notes of mocha and liquorice. With each deliciously velvety mouthful, the earthy Pinot Noir flavours come to the fore, balance beautifully on the roasted malt of the Imperial Porter. The finish is full, sweet and smooth, lingering long after the final drop has been drained from the glass.
8.2% ABV
All On Black
July 2018
Pouring jet black in color this brew offers bags of aroma, typical of dry hopping. With an abundance of American hops giving it floral, herbal and fruity characteristics, which are typical of US hops, you’ll be savouring this Black I.P.A till the last drop is drained from the glass.
6.5% ABV
American Brown
July 2018
This dark-hued American Brown ale displays rich malt tones which is why this style is becoming increasingly popular. It makes for smooth drinking and exhibits toasted and nutty notes, with caramel and chocolate characters rounding out the palate.
5.8% ABV
Doppelbock
June 2018
Six quality malts give this smooth, full-bodied German-style Doppelbock a dark almost black colour and a rich, dominant malt aroma and sweetness. It has a warming but soft smooth mouth feel, whilst the aroma is toasted and biscuity with delicate hints of caramel. This is a beer that needs to be consumed at a warmer than fridge temperature (preferably 6 – 8°C) to best enjoy the array of malt flavours and aromas this beer style is best known for therefore it is ideal to allow to warm being consuming.
8.0% ABV
Hop Selection #4
April 2018
This is the fourth (4th) beer in our Hop Selection series.
This White IPA has been brewed with Pacific Jade hop varietal which is a dual-purpose bittering/aroma hop. The beer displays citrus and spice characteristics that transition our Hop Selection series from Summer to Autumn. With a crisp dry bitterness to finish, there’s nothing better to pair with a crisp autumn evening.
4.9% ABV
Harvest Pilsner
April 2018
The fresh hops within this beer are special. Once chosen for harvest, we bagged them up by hand and without wasting freshness, drove them the few kms to the Brewery. Enjoy a bold citrus aroma, tropical notes with a crisp, dry finish…and savour those hops!
Available in 1.25L PET, 500ml glass and 50L kegs.
5.0% ABV
Mr Giblin
March 2018 (Marchfest Beer)
What better way to honour our very own Gary Giblin, than with buckets of fresh hops in liquid gold. After brewing alongside Tracy for the last 23 years it’s time for a break at the bach, so Gary is hanging up just one of his gumboots as he heads into semi-retirement. The Mr. Giblin fresh hopped IPA is perfect for lazy days in the sun toasting to his years of brewing.
5.5% ABV
Hop Selection #3
February 2018
This is the third (3rd) beer in our Hop Selection series.
This White IPA has been brewed with a single hop variety called Taiheke which displays tropical fruit characteristics. In keeping with the style of the current series, this is intentionally lighter bodied beer that ensures the citrus and grapefruit properties also shine through. Finishing on the palate with a crisp dry bitterness it is the perfect late summer brew.
4.9% ABV
East Coast IPA
January 2018
Following on from our successful West Coast IPA last summer, we've brewed an East Coast IPA. With a more complex malt flavour our East Coast IPA is still packed with aroma hops so the beer jumps out of the glass at you.
5.5% ABV
Hop Selection #2
January 2018
This is the second (2nd) beer in our Hop Selection series.
This White IPA has been brewed with a new hop selection called Hort9909 that has been bred from a European hop in the Plant & Food hop breeding programme.
Like Hop Selection #1, we have intentionally brewed a light bodied beer using 50/50 wheat and barley so that the beer can showcase the hop character. This beer displays citrus, herbal and peppery notes and has a crisp dry bitterness to follow.
4.9% ABV
Red IPA
August 2017
Deep red in colour, this limited seasonal release is packed with copious amounts of NZ hops giving bold citrus and tropical notes typical of an IPA. The biscuit, toasted and caramel malt flavours finish this beer off wonderfully.
The inspiration for this product came from our Master Brewer Tracy Banner who noted we’ve had limited releases of a both White I.P.A and a Black I.P.A in the recent past. It was now time to go Red!
6.0% ABV
Belgian Pale Ale
December 2017
Belgian Pale Ales were first brewed to compete against Pilsners around the time of WWII. Spicy characters are typical of this style which derive from the use of a Belgian yeast, we've added a bucket load of hops to compliment and balance the aroma and flavour of this wonderful style of beer.
5.2% ABV
Hop Selection #1
December 2017
This is the first (1st) beer in our Hop Selection series.
We have intentionally brewed a light bodied beer using 50/50 wheat and barley so that the beer will showcase the hop character. This beer displays an abundance of fruits with tropical notes, peach and tangerine at the fore.
4.9% ABV
Chocolate Chilli Porter
Launched at GABS 2017 in Auckland and just in time for the winter solice this is a delicious winter warmer. A combination of Dominican and Peruvian Cacao nibs accompanied by the subtle addition of crushed Thai chilli give this Robust Porter layered complexity. You can expect chocolate and roasted notes followed by a warming sensation.
5.8% ABV
Harvest Pilsner
April 2017
New Zealand’s highest awarded Pilsner has won four Gold medals in four consecutive years at the Brewers Guild of NZ awards, 2012 to 2015!
For this very special Pilsner we use two freshly picked hops - Motueka and Nelson Sauvin - that are harvested from the Kentishman Hop Farm in Upper Moutere, a stone’s throw away from the Sprig and Fern Brewery.
As well as the distinctive hop bouquet gained by using fresh hops (the Motueka hop gives passionfruit and tropical notes and Nelson Sauvin imparts bold citrus aromas), this quadruple gold medal winner has a crisp Pilsner finish.
5.0% ABV
X.P.A.
March 2017
It is possible to have the best of both worlds. Take our Limited Release X.P.A for example.
We bring together the best bits of an I.P.A and an A.P.A to form a golden brew which oozes distinctive tropical, passionfruit and citrus, both in aroma and flavour.
To make this truly our own style, instead of traditional US hops we have used locally grown Nelson hops.
4.8% ABV
West Coast IPA
January 2017
Brewers on the Wild West Coast of the USA have a reputation for pushing the envelope, and cramming as much hops into their beer as possible. We’ve used an abundance of US hops to craft this hop forward West Coast IPA.
Dry hopped in the fermenter, this beer displays a moderate floral, piney and citrus aroma and flavour which are typical of American hops.
5.5% ABV
Bohemian Pilsner
October 2016
The world owes the town of Plzen (Pilsen) a debt of gratitude, for it was here in the Czech province of Bohemia, on 5 October 1842, that the first modern batch of Pilsner was brewed.
Our Limited Release Bohemian Pilsner pays homage to this hugely popular beer style, with its golden colour, balanced malt base and a crisp, refreshing hop finish.
4.8% ABV
Extra Special Bitter
September 2016
Britain might be leaving the EU but her proud brewing tradition lives on, spread far and wide throughout the world. This limited release Exit Special Bitter continues the fine legacy of British ESB - full bodied with a strong malt base, richly flavoured with a fantastic blend of fruity, spicy and floral hop character.
5.5% ABV
Mango & Lime Cider
December 2016
As the old saying (almost) goes - ‘When life gives you mango and limes, make an awesome summer cider." And so that’s exactly what we’ve done by creating our limited release Mango & Lime Cider.
Packed with the sweetness of magdalena mango from Colombia and the subtle balance of lime from the Motueka region this fresh, delicious cider is sure to be as essential as jandals and suncream.
4.0% ABV
Harvest Pilsner
April 2016
You can almost feel the anticipation in the air! It's that time of year again, the end of another long, hot Summer in Nelson, and the hops have finally been harvested. Then we get them off the vines and straight down the road to the Brewery, where we make our freshly hopped, special limited release Harvest Pilsner - New Zealand's Highest Awarded Pilsner. Harvest Pilsner will be on Tap in Sprig & Fern Taverns today, and available at selected craft beer outlets and Supermarkets nationwide. Enjoy it while you can.
5.0% ABV
Galactic Pale Ale
November 2015
From out of the deep, dark and unexplored nether regions of the cosmos, comes... Sprig & Fern Galactic Pale Ale. Our summer special release is a golden Australian Pale Ale brewed with the most internationally recognised of Aussie hops - Galaxy. The Galaxy hop gives passionfruit, peach and citrus aroma and flavours.
5.0% ABV
White IPA
Marchfest 2016
Collaboration Brew
Our Special Release for Marchfest this year is a collaboration brew with Steve Plowman of Auckland's Hallertau Brewery.
White IPA's are traditionally brewed with a malt base of Belgian Wit and some have spice additions, however we focused on creating a lighter colour and body to let the boldness of the hops shine through. The resulting brew is light golden in colour with distinct citrusy, tropical fruit aroma and flavour derived from the copious amounts of US and NZ hops used.
5.4% ABV
Dunkelweizen
September 2015
Dunkelweizen is a darker version of a German Weissbier or Weizenbier (more commonly known as a Hefeweizen). 'Dunkel' means 'dark' in German and 'Weizen' stands for wheat - therefore a dark wheat beer.
Brewed with darker speciality malts and 50% wheat malt which is traditional for style, it has pronounced clove, vanilla, nutmeg and banana flavours, and delivers chocolate and roasted notes. Dunkelweizen also has a noticeable cloudy appearance.
5.1% ABV
Black Beer Month
July-August 2015
Black Tyre Stout 4.2%
A traditional Milk Stout, also known as a Cream or Sweet Stout. Speciality roasted malts and the addition of lactose makes this pleasantly creamy and full flavoured with lighter carbonation.
Raspberry Infused Stout 4.2%
Our cream stout has been infused with raspberries. The tartness of the raspberry is a good foil to the sweetness of the stout. Roasted, smooth and fruity.
Black I.P.A. 6.0%
This is an evolving beer style that lacks the roastiness of a stout but is hoppier than a porter. This beer was dry hopped with an abundance of American hops giving a big hop aroma and flavour.
Long Black IPA
August 2015
Beervana Media Brew
Back in August we took part in Beervana’s Media Brew, and were paired up with Cuisine magazine for the collaboration. The theme was 'Flag Brew - capturing the taste of New Zealand' - and after a quick trip to a local coffee roasters, Cuisine’s digital editor Amy Stewart and our Tracy started getting their hands dirty back at the Brewery. The resulting brew is Long Black I.P.A. – a black I.P.A. made with espresso from award-winning Pomeroys Coffee & Tea Company.
Nelson Sauvin Pilsner
June 2015
Our next fresh hop beer will be released today - June 9th. The Nelson Sauvin hop is a fantastic, dual-purpose hop meaning it has great bittering properties and also produces a moderately strong hop aroma. Grapefruit, lemon and other citrus aromatics jump out of the glass whilst balancing well with the malt sweetness and crisp Pilsner aftertaste.
As always, there's only a limited amount so get into your nearest Sprig & Fern Tavern without delay, and savour the last of the fresh hop pilsners for this season.
5.0% ABV
Kohatu Pilsner
June 2015
They say all good things must come to an end, and that is surely the case with the release of our fifth and final fresh hopped beer of the 2015 season, Kohatu Pilsner.
The Kohatu hop was released from the NZ Plant and Food Research Hop Breeding Programme in 2011, and this year, Kentishman Hop Farm in the Moutere grew it for the first time. We were fortunate enough to get the first pickings from the vine, and this limited release Pilsner is the result. True to style, the Kohatu Pilsner has a crisp aftertaste and displays subtle, fresh tropical fruit characteristics.
5.0% ABV
Motueka Pilsner
May 2015
Our second fresh hop release of the season, Motueka Pilsner (5%), is now available in Sprig & Fern Taverns. Grown in Upper Moutere, the hops are freshly picked in the morning and in the brew by lunchtime the same day, giving it those lovely passionfruit characteristics. The beer has a crisp Pilsner finish and a wonderful hop bouquet - a reflection of fresh Nelson hops at their very best. Don't delay - there's only a very limited amount available, so Motueka Pilsner won’t be around for long.
5.0% ABV
Harvest Pilsner
April 2015
New Zealand's highest awarded Pilsner!
This freshly hopped Harvest Pilsner has won medals (the last four have been gold) in five consecutive years at the Brewers Guild of New Zealand International Beer Awards and is eagerly awaited by craft beer lovers every year. This year we have used two freshly picked hops, Motueka and Nelson Sauvin, harvested at Kentishman Hop Farm in Upper Moutere, a stone’s throw away from the Brewery. As well as the distinctive hop bouquet gained from using fresh hops, Motueka gives passion fruit and tropical notes and Nelson Sauvin bold citrus aromas. With a crisp and dry Pilsner finish this triple gold medal winning beer is one to savour now before it’s all gone.
Harvest Pilsner will be launched in the Sprig & Fern Taverns on the 24th of April. This year for the first time a limited amount will also be available in 1.3 litre riggers at selected supermarkets and liquor stores. Don't delay - this brew is strictly limited and will run out fast!
Lemongrass Wheat
December 2014
We wanted to create something light and refreshing for the Summer months, so we've combined the spicy, lemony notes of lemongrass with the popular citrus-dominant Nelson Sauvin hop. To keep it light, we've used a wheat malt for a lighter body. The result...a refreshing, light summer beer with a distinctive citrus zing. Enjoy.
4.2% ABV
Pacifica Paley Aley
Marchfest 2015
This is a 5.5% International Style Pale Ale brewed with some of the first hops to be harvested at this year's Hop Harvest. We used freshly picked Pacifica hops from Kentishman Hops in the Upper Moutere that give fruity and floral notes. The hops also give an orange marmalade aroma to this beer.
On tap commercially for the first time at Marchfest (which is part of the Marchfest rules) - this beer was extremely popular and sold out on the day. It has now been launched in Sprig & Fern Taverns today (31st March) and is only available for a very limited time!
5.5% ABV
Wai-iti Lager
February 2015
Brewed with a trio of hops, this 3.4% lager is light and refreshing. 'Bigger' beers naturally have more body, but it’s a little known fact that lower-alcohol beers can be harder to brew so Tracy was really put to the test on this one! Wai-iti hops have been used for the first time in our brewing process and were used as our main hop addition, to give the beer a zesty blend of citrus characteristics.
3.4% ABV
Hop Medley
November 2014
Hop Medley is an European-style Pilsner which showcases New Zealand hops. It features a whopping eight different Nelson grown hops - Nelson Sauvin, Wakatu, Motueka, Riwaka, Pacific Gem, Dr Rudi, Green Bullet and NZ Cascade. Hop Medley has a medium body, with a typically moderate Pilsner bitterness and bready, biscuity and malty notes. This is a refreshing beer for a nice, hot sunny day.
5.0% ABV
The Freshly Hopped Series
April 2014
The Freshly Hopped Series returns with 3 Green Hopped Nelson Pilsners.
Harvest Pilsner 5.0%
Our eagerly awaited Harvest Pilsner is back! The hops for this years' brew were grown at the Kentishman Hop Farm in Upper Moutere. We have used two freshly picked hop varieties, Motueka and Nelson Sauvin, with Motueka delivering notes of passionfruit and Nelson Sauvin giving bold citrus notes. The beer has a nice crisp Pilsner finish and a wonderful hop bouquet aroma. Enjoy.
Nelson Sauvin Harvest Pilsner 5.0%
The second release of the series, the Nelson Sauvin Harvest Pilsner is released once the Harvest Pilsner runs out. Nelson Sauvin is a fantastic dual purpose hop meaning it has great bittering properties and also produces a moderately strong hop aroma. Grapefruit, lemon and other citrus aromatics jump out of the glass whilst balancing well with the malt sweetness and crisp Pilsner aftertaste.
Motueka Harvest Pilsner 5%
Our third and final fresh hop release of the series, this Pilsner has been brewed with Motueka hops. These hops are a little more subtle than Nelson Sauvin and they display passionfruit and tropical notes to both the aroma and flavour rather than the citrus tones of Nelson Sauvin. Once again, this has a nice crisp finish and the balance of hops and malt just perfect for a Pilsner.
Black Tyre Stout
March 2014
Named in honour of all the cyclists and mountain bikers who are big supporters of the Sprig & Fern, this limited release is a traditional Milk Stout, also known as a Cream or Sweet Stout. A blend of oats and speciality roasted malts followed by an addition of lactose makes this pleasantly creamy and full flavoured. We have purposely targeted a lower carbonation because of the style of this stout, the lighter carbonation being much better for the creamy taste of the beer.
4.4% ABV
Brewer's Pearl: Tracy Banner celebrates 30 years in the brewing industry
September 2013
Our latest limited release, celebrating Tracy's 30 years in the brewing industry is a specialty beer brewed with a combination of peated and smoked malt as well as 5 other malts that give this beer its depth and complexity. In addition to the malts, Bush Honey has been added giving a delicate honey aroma which compliments the smoked and roast malt characteristics of this beer.
Peated Malt is malt that has been smoked over burning peat and is used in the production of some malt whiskeys. Smoked malt is typically dried over an open flame giving a distinctive smokey flavour.
6.85% ABV
American Pale Ale
July 2014
This medium bodied APA has been brewed with US Chinook (pronounced shin-ook) and copious amounts of the popular US Cascade hop giving citrus, floral and pine characteristics that these American hop varieties are known for. A portion of the hops were added during fermentation which is not uncommon for this style of beer.
The APA was first released at the Nelson Art Expo, in conjunction with the announcement of the Fresh Choice People's Choice Art Award winner. The limited run rigger label features the award winning painting by artist Nikki Romney.
5.2% ABV
Barrel Aged Ruby Ale
August 2013
The very delicious and limited Barrel Aged Ruby Ale hits the taps at your nearest Sprig & Fern tavern this month. It's been aged in a reconditioned French Oak Chardonnay barrel, which gives this deep ruby ale delicate notes of vanilla, caramel, medium oak and toasty characteristics. There's only one keg per Tavern, so if you're keen to try it, don't delay.
6.5% ABV
3 Green Hopped Nelson Pilsners
April 2013
Harvest Pilsner 5.0%
The 2013 Harvest Pilsner is on tap and as always, it's being chopped through pretty fast! We can't give you the complete tasting notes just yet, as we're running a competition in conjunction with our 'Freshly Hopped Series' of 3 green-hopped limited releases. The competition invites you to try the beer, rate it, and complete the tasting notes to win $50 bar tab prizes. Entry form are in Taverns.
Nelson Sauvin Pilsner 5.0%
The second release of the series, Nelson Sauvin Pilsner will follow once the Harvest Pilsner runs out.
Motueka Pilsner 5.0%
The third and final release of the series, the Motueka Pilsner will follow once the Nelson Sauvin Pilsner runs out.
Oceania Ale
April 2013
A trifecta of Nelson grown Pacific hops varieties have been added to this copper-coloured brew at varying times in the kettle boil. Pacific Gem was added for its great "bittering" qualities, along with Pacifica and Pacific Jade for their fruity, floral and citrus properties. This crisp Pale Ale has been brewed using 3 speciality malts - Munich, Crystal and Wheat Malt. Oceania Ale is available at your nearest Sprig & Fern Tavern, as always, until it runs out.
5.0% ABV
Oatmeal Stout
March 2013
Our Oatmeal Stout contains a blend of oats and speciality roasted malts that create a pleasant, full-flavoured and smooth taste. This year we have lifted the Oatmeal to 10% of the malt grist to provide even more of that delicate, creamy smoothness. With caramel, coffee, chocolate and nut-like flavours dominant, the black hue and creamy head give this stout the perfect finish.
It will be on tap at your local Sprig & Fern Tavern from Friday March 15, just in time to be enjoyed for St Patrick's Day.
Sláinte - to your good health!
5.3% ABV
Hefeweizen
Back by popular demand!
October 2012
Our Summer beer is back, and it's a beauty! Hefeweizen is a wheat beer made with at least 50% malted wheat, and is traditionally unfiltered. The word “Hefe” means yeast and “Weizen” means wheat. Our Hefeweizen is brewed faithfully to style using 100% German malts and a noble Hallertau hop addition. This beer delivers a smooth delicate banana and fruity aroma with some clove spiciness. It is medium bodied with a slight tart aftertaste. In homage to tradition, it's unfiltered and has a noticeable cloudy appearance.
5.4% ABV
Harvest Pilsner
Gold Medal BGNZ 2012
September 2012
This year's annual Harvest Pilsner was brewed with two different freshly picked hops. The ripe hops were picked in the morning from hop vines in Tapawera and added to the brew by lunchtime. Grapefruit 'citrus' and passionfruit characters dominate this typically crisp Pilsner, a beautiful beer that is a perfect reflection of fresh Nelson hops at their finest.
5.0% ABV
Barrel Aged Ruby Ale
Silver Medal BGNZ 2012
September 2012
Aged in a reconditioned French Oak Chardonnay barrel for 8 months, this deep ruby ale delivers delicate notes of vanilla, caramel, medium oak and toasty characteristics. This was a hit with our patrons last year and it's received a silver medal two years running at the Brewers Guild of NZ Awards - pretty darn good!
6.5% ABV
Prototype 1
First Release
September 2012
Barrel aged in a Kentucky Bourbon barrel, this dark ale was the first beer to go into the barrel after it was used for Bourbon. The bourbon characteristics are pronounced with subtle undertones of caramel, chocolate and coffee. This beer is warming, with a smooth and silky texture.
8.0% ABV
Ole Jamaican Ale
First Release
September 2012
We added several kilos of sun dried Californian raisins to this strong German-style lager that was matured in a Jamaican rum barrel. The addition of the raisins gives a rich sweetness, full fruit and balances well with the rum. It packs quite a punch at 9.4% though so take it easy!
9.4% ABV
American Amber Ale
may 2012
This ale is brewed using an American ale yeast and three varieties of US hops - Zythos, Centennial and Cascade - which give both citrus and fruity notes to the brew. It is beautifully balanced with toasted malt characteristics from the blend of 6 speciality malts and it finishes nicely with an amber/orange hue.
5.6% ABV
Harvest Pilsner
April 2012
This year, our eagerly awaited annual Harvest Pilsner has been brewed with two different varieties of very freshly picked hops. The ripe hops were picked in the morning from hop vines in Tapawera and added to the brew by lunchtime. Grapefruit “citrus” and passionfruit characters dominate this typically crisp Pilsner - a beautiful beer that is a perfect reflection of fresh Nelson hops at their finest. Enjoy it while you can, because it does not last long!
Sprig and Fern's Harvest Pilsner has been regularly awarded at the BrewNZ Awards, winning Gold in 2012, Silver in 2011 and Silver in 2010.
5.0% ABV
Oatmeal Stout
March 2012
A blend of oats and specialty roasted malts make this pleasant, full flavoured and delicately smooth tasting. With caramel, coffee, chocolate and nut-like flavours dominant, the black hue and creamy head finish the beer off perfectly. Released just in time for St. Patrick's Day.
4.5% ABV
Hefeweizen
January 2012
Our Summer beer is here, and it's a beauty! Hefeweizen is a wheat beer made with at least 50% malted wheat, and is traditionally unfiltered. The word “Hefe” means yeast and “Weizen” means wheat. Our Hefeweizen is brewed faithfully to style using 100% German malts and a noble Hallertau hop addition. This beer delivers a smooth delicate banana and fruity aroma with some clove spiciness. It is medium bodied with a slight tart aftertaste. In homage to tradition, it's unfiltered and has a noticeable cloudy appearance.
5.4% ABV
Black Bruges
September 2011
Our final 2011 Special Release was brewed in homage to our national rugby team. Despite its dark colour, Black Bruges is actually a light to medium bodied, easy drinking beer, similar to the Pale Ale or Tasman Lager. We entered Black Bruges as a 'Festive brew' at the 2011 BrewNZ Beer Awards in Wellington, where the theme for the awards was ‘Let’s go…black’ and were awarded a bronze medal for this one.
Black Bruges is brewed in a Schwarzbier style. Schwarzbier are typically German-style but we have put a spin on this and brewed a Belgium Schwarzbier. Deep ruby to nearly black in colour - it is light to medium bodied with typical Belgian characteristics of cloves and spice.
5.5% ABV
