South Wairarapa's only craft beer brewery cleverly describe themselves as "a carbonated thorn amongst a heck of a lot of rosé”. In the heart of wine country, Martinborough Brewery has a taproom in Ohio St, right in the town's popular tourist area. Good beer amidst the brilliant wines is a welcome addition and their first appearance in the Top 30 shows that brewer Eugene Black, who learned his craft at Wellington's Occasional Brewer, is on the right track. This spectacularly bright IPA is light and spritzy with grapefruit and rockmelon characteristics. The judges loved the good looks, silky mouthfeel and building bitterness, calling it "very drinkable".

Find out more about Martinborough Brewery on the Ale Trail.