Beverage style guidelines are used with the permission of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). BJCP Style Guidelines Copyright © BJCP, Inc. The most current guidelines are available at www.bjcp.org.
Vital statistics
| Original gravity | 1.044 – 1.056 (11.0 – 13.8 °P) |
|---|---|
| Final gravity | 1.009 – 1.014 (2.3 – 3.6 °P) |
| Bitterness | 25 – 45 IBU |
| Color | 2 – 6 SRM (4 – 12 EBC) |
| Alcohol | 4.5 – 5.8% ABV |
Overall impression
Pale, dry, cleanly fermented golden lager/ale showcasing tropical, citrusy, fruity, grassy New Zealand hops over a soft, smooth, neutral-to-bready malt base.
Aroma
Medium–high modern NZ hop aroma (tropical, lime/white grapefruit, gooseberry, melon; light green bell pepper/grassy). Medium-low to medium malt (neutral to bready-crackery). Very low DMS acceptable. Clean/neutral yeast; very light sulfury optional. Hop character leads with some malt evident.
Appearance
Straw to deep gold (typically yellow-gold). Quite clear to brilliant; haze is a fault. Creamy, persistent white head.
Flavor
Medium–high clean bitterness dominant yet smooth and lasting. Medium–high hop flavor echoing aroma (tropical/citrus/gooseberry/melon/grass). Medium to medium-low grainy-sweet, bready, or crackery malt. Clean fermentation (esters are a fault). Dry to off-dry, smooth finish; bitter but not harsh aftertaste. Malt may suggest sweetness but beer isn’t sweet.
Mouthfeel
Medium to medium-light body. Medium to medium-high carbonation. Smooth, never harsh or astringent.
Comments
Hop aromatics often evoke NZ Sauvignon Blanc. Frequently fermented cool with neutral ale yeast (hybrid approach). Keep sulfur low to avoid clashing with hops.
History
Defined by Emerson’s Brewery mid-1990s; broadened with the rise of NZ hop varieties.
Characteristic ingredients
NZ hops (Motueka, Riwaka, Nelson Sauvin; Pacific Jade for bittering). Pale/Pilsner base with small wheat possible. Low-mineral water with more chloride than sulfate. Clean lager or very neutral ale yeast.
Style comparison
Softer, fuller, and less crisply dry than German Pils; cleaner and less malt-complex than Czech Premium Pale Lager; similar balance to Kölsch/British Golden Ale but with bigger modern NZ hop aroma; not as bitter/hoppy as an IPA.
Commercial examples
Croucher New Zealand Pilsner, Emerson’s Pilsner, Liberty Halo Pilsner, Panhead Port Road Pilsner, Sawmill Pilsner, Tuatara Mot Eureka
Tags: bitter, pale-color, standard-strength, bottom-fermented, hoppy, pilsner-family, lagered, craft-style, pacific