For the third year running, hazy ales are enjoying their own spotlight in the New World Beer & Cider Awards.
As the name implies, these beers have a hazy or cloudy appearance, hinting at the fullness of flavour they deliver. Beloved for their maximum fruity and citrus character, they are perfect for the hottest summer day or an autumnal evening.
Out of our Top 30 for 2023, five hazy ales made the cut.
Keep scrolling to discover the best of the best New Zealand-made hazy ales for 2023 plus our favourite food pairings for each beer.
Double Vision Brewing Mouth Party
Type of beer: Hazy
Brewery: Double Vision Brewing Company
Flavours: Apricot, lime
Judges’ comments: Double Vision is based out of a popular brew bar in Miramar, Wellington. Mouth Party’s in-your-face can art is backed up by in-your-mouth flavour. Well-executed hop inclusions bring through apricot and lime flavours— like a sun-shower of fruit drizzled on your tongue. It’s an easy-drinker, with the judges saying it “invites you in — rather than jumping at you”.
Pairing Recommendation: Spritzy fruit and a light body will suit Malaysian noodles such as mee goreng or char kway teow.
For more on this beer visit: doublevisionbrewing.com
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Ruapehu Brewing Co. Unlimited Vis Hazy IPA
Type of beer: Hazy IPA
Brewery: Ruapehu Brewing Co.
Flavours: Hops
Judges’ comments: Ruapehu Brewing Co started out small, a tiny brewery in the heritage railway station building in Ohakune in 2017. The first brewery in the area, they focused on serving the local community. In 2022 they joined forces with Big Mountain Mead to build a brewery & meadery production facility in the heart of Ohakune, which has an off-licence for rigger fills. Unlimited Vis is one of the first brews off the new production line and it’s a testament to the investment. This is a robust hazy IPA, with a creamy, lush body overlaid with an assertive hop-driven flavour that comes with a raunchy bitterness, not always found in hazies, which makes it quite memorable.
Pairing Recommendation: For a beer from a town represented by a giant carrot? Carrot cake is perfect for the lush, sweet hops and slight bitterness.
For more on this beer visit: ruapehubrewing.co.nz/
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Shining Peak Petite Pegasus Session Hazy
Type of beer: Hazy
Brewery: Shining Peak Brewery
Flavours: Smooth tropical fruit yet light and dry
Judges’ comments: New Plymouth brewery Shining Peak uses their brews to tell local stories. Petite Pegasus is the namesake of a plane belonging to WWII fighter pilot, Harold Newton. It’s as light as air on your palate, but carries some big flavour. The judges loved it, “Pineapple and lime aroma, light in body but still lush and juicy. Vibrant hazy, nice!”
Pairing Recommendation: Lithe, tropical, juicy this sessionable hazy works well with fish n chips or grilled snapper sliders.
For more on this beer visit: shiningpeakbrewing.com/
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Urbanaut Newtown Hazy Pale Ale
Type of beer: Hazy Pale Ale
Brewery: Urbanaut Brewing Co.
Flavours: Pineapple, sweet orange, hops, honey malt
Judges’ comments: Urbanaut, who have a brewery and bustling taproom in Auckland’s Kingsland are all over this competition when it comes to hoppy beers. Their Newtown Hazy Pale Ale is one of three that made our Top 30 from 14 entries submitted. This is a rambunctious hazy, with a creamy, thick body that delivers a whoosh of tropical hop-notes. To pack this much flavour into a sub-5% ABV beer is no mean feat — making it balanced and drinkable is another level of skill. There’s pineapple and sweet orange hops but also some honey malt character underpinning it. “Big and juicy,” said the judges..
Pairing Recommendation: TCreamy, lush body and fruity hops try it with spicy, Nashville-style chicken or deep fried pickles.
For more on this beer visit: urbanautbeer.com/
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Urbanaut Silver Palace Citra Hazy IPA
Type of beer: Hazy IPA
Brewery: Urbanaut Brewing Co.
Flavours: Mango, passion fruit, edgy lime, hops, fruity
Judges’ comments: Citra in the name of this beer refers to the Citra hop variety, the most popular hop in the world based on production volume. Adding a twist to an old favourite, the Urbanaut team have used a cryo version of Citra, which entails flash-freezing the hops to take out some of the astringency and bitterness Citra is known for. What’s left behind is a study in the essential oils that hops bring to a beer. The judges got mango and passionfruit as well as some edgy lime character, declaring the hop aroma “banging”. The bulging aroma compounds transfer over into a smooth and fruity palate with lots of “juice”.
Pairing Recommendation: Silky smooth and sweetly hoppy, give this beer something crunchy & spicy to work against: nachos!
For more on this beer visit: urbanautbeer.com/
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Thirsty for more top New Zealand beers?
If you’re after dark beers, lagers or more unique craft varieties, don’t forget to check out the articles linked below, or browse the Top 30 from the New World Beer & Cider Awards 2023 using our Beer Finder.
Not sure what you like? Our craft beer guide will walk you through what makes craft beer special and the different styles and flavours you can find in Aotearoa.
Related articles:
Best New Zealand craft beers for 2023
Best New Zealand IPAs and pale ales for 2023
Best New Zealand lagers and pilsners for 2023
Best New Zealand stouts and porters for 2023
About the author
Michael Donaldson is one of New Zealand’s most renowned beer writers and was named Beer Writer of the Year by the Brewers Guild of New Zealand for a third time in 2018. He has been the Chair of Judges for the New World Beer & Cider Awards since 2016.
His writing appears in North & South, The New Zealand Herald, Stuff and Drinksbiz. He is also the editor of The Pursuit of Hoppiness magazine published by the Society of Beer Advocates (SOBA). He is the author of New Zealand's definitive beer history Beer Nation - the Art and Heart of Kiwi Beer as well as The Big Book of Home Brew: a Kiwi Guide and The Hopfather, the biography of Emerson's founder Richard Emerson.