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Little Fern

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A pilsner in the New Zealand style: crisp, dry and led by its hops. It pours a bright gold. Crushed lime, grapefruit and fresh herbs come first on the nose. Underneath sits a delicate lager malt profile that keeps the beer clean, while lime zest, sweet mandarin and lemon peel build towards a zesty finish. The bitterness is balanced. The fern in the name is a national emblem of New Zealand and doubles as a nod to the brewery's session IPA, Little Fawn.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter35 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold3
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppycitrusyclean
hoppy
citrusy
clean
herbal
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with pronounced citrus notes—crushed lime and grapefruit dominate, joined by fresh herbal undertones that suggest aromatic hop character.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Little Fern

◎ Appearance

Little Fern pours a bright, luminous gold with excellent clarity and fine carbonation evident throughout. The head forms with good initial retention, settling into a delicate collar with even Schaumkleiden around the glass. The appearance reflects a classically clean lager presentation with no haze or particulate matter.

bright goldclear, well-carbonatedfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with pronounced citrus notes—crushed lime and grapefruit dominate, joined by fresh herbal undertones that suggest aromatic hop character. Beneath these top notes sits a delicate Malz foundation that remains restrained and clean, allowing the hops to maintain their presence without becoming aggressive or one-dimensional.

lime, grapefruitfresh herbsrestrained malt backbone

◐ Taste

The palate opens crisp and dry, with lime zest and sweet mandarin notes building immediately. The mid-palate carries lemon peel and citrus complexity while a balanced bitterness—true to its 35 IBU character—integrates seamlessly rather than dominating. The Malz profile remains clean and supportive throughout, never competing with the hop-driven character.

zesty citrusbalanced bitternessdry, crisp palate

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and lingering, with lemon peel and citrus zest building toward a refreshing, clean conclusion. The aftertaste remains bright and hop-forward without harshness, inviting another sip.

dry, zesty fadelingering citrus
80
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
81
Appearance
85
Finish
78
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve well-chilled at 4–6°C for maximum crispness. A pilsner served too warm loses its defining snap.

Pilsner glass

The tall, narrow pilsner glass preserves carbonation and showcases the golden clarity that defines the style.

Drink fresh and cold. Pilsners do not improve with age — within 3 months of packaging is ideal.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Little Fern

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About New Zealand Pilsner

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a New Zealand Pilsner?

Pilsners are crisp golden lagers with 4–5.5% ABV and IBU 25–45. Defined by spicy, floral Saaz hops over a light malt backbone — bright carbonation and a dry bitter finish.

Finding a similar New Zealand Pilsner

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same dry, crisp, hoppy character as Little Fern will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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