Cruel Summer

◎ Appearance

Pale straw in colour with brilliant clarity and fine, persistent carbonation. The head forms quickly and clings to the glass with good retention, leaving delicate lacing on the walls. The beer presents a clean, inviting visual character typical of the Cold IPA style.

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with bright mandarin and orange peel from the Citra and Mandarina Bavaria additions, followed by a pronounced layer of crushed lime and zesty grapefruit from the Motueka and Riwaka dry hop. Passion fruit notes round out the aromatic profile, with a light, clean fermentation character underneath that allows the hop character to dominate without any solvent or yeast-driven complexity.

◐ Taste

Entry is light and crisp, with subtle malt sweetness providing just enough body to carry the hop character. The mid-palate balances zesty citrus with a firm, dry bitterness that builds gradually without harshness. The alcohol remains well-integrated at 4.6%, never warming or distracting, while the dry hop adds a slight herbal edge that keeps the beer feeling refreshing and lively.

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and lingering, with hop bitterness and lime character persisting through the aftertaste. No residual sweetness remains; the beer closes with a dry, slightly astringent impression typical of New Zealand hop character.