Our bi-monthly Limited Release series of beers for 2023 proved to be some of our most popular brews of the year. Hazy and West Coast IPA’s featured prominently, as well as two franchise versions of other popular Black Hops beers in the form of California Haze and Hop Swap.
Here’s a recap of all six Limited Edition beers that we brewed in 2023 – what was your favourite? Some of these beers are still available at our Taprooms and Online Store.
January/February 2023: Sundancer
Kicking off 2023 with passion saw us welcome our first Limited Release in the form of Sundancer, a 6.5% Passionfruit Hazy IPA.
Sundancer is a lush & juicy hazy IPA with the jive-inducing hop trio of Samba, Strata and Sabro, injected with lashings of fresh passionfruit. The daytime counterpart to previous limited release, Moondancer, Sundancer is ready for your adventures, wherever they may take you.
Those with an eye for Black Hops history will recognise the animated character catching a wave on the Sundancer can as none other than Hop Man. This hoppy little fella first made waves back in 2020 at the GABS Can Design Awards, held in recognition of the fine art of designing a killer craft beer can.
Related: Sundancer and the Story of Hop Man
March/April 2023: XRAY HAZE
Our second bi-monthly Limited Release of 2023 was XRAY HAZE, a thick, juicy Hazy IPA packing a citrus and resinous punch with a story deeper than what you see on the surface.
Related: X RAY HAZE: The Inside Story
Brewed with HPA, Australia’s new Galaxy Spectrum hop variant, this hop derived liquid is 8 times stronger than traditional hop pellets. The hop intensity is paired beautifully with a protein rich malt bill of oats and wheat for a thick and pillowy soft mouthfeel.
The XRAY HAZE can, created by regular Black Hops design collaborator Aidan Howes, also claimed fifth position at the annual GABS Can Design Awards – our fourth consecutive top ten finish!
May/June 2023: Untamed
Our third bi-monthly Limited Release for 2023 was Untamed, a 7.5% West Coast IPA with a distinctly NZ heritage.
New Zealand is home to some of our favourite beers and hop varieties and Untamed showcased an all NZ lineup of Green Bullet, Moutere, Motueka, Nectaron, NZH-107, Riwaka, Taiheke and Wai-iti hops. Together, this blend of hops gives the beer tropical and citrus aromas and flavours of pineapple, guava, grapefruit and lemon as well as stone fruit such as apricot and peach.
We teamed it with a malt bill of ale, wheat, toffee and sour grapes malt to give the beer medium sweetness and body, finishing with a lingering bitterness.
Capturing the wild spirit of the rugged West Coast of New Zealand, this NZ IPA commands a lineup of 100% NZ hops. Expect gritty bitterness, juicy tropical fruit and citrus aromas with a subtle malt body. Embrace your inner adventurer and take a sip of the wild Untamed.
Related: Check out our clip on Instagram, featuring our Head Of Production Lara getting into the nitty-gritty of how this beer came together.
July/August 2023: Hop Swap
The Hop Swap series is our chance to collaborate with our friends in the beer industry, where each of us brings their favourite hops to be showcased in a new brew.
We had an incredible experience partnering with Behemoth Brewing Company in 2021 and rocking it with our mates at Rocky Ridge Brewing in WA for 2022.
For the third instalment of our Hop Swap series we joined forces with Hop Nation Brewing Co in Footscray, Victoria to brew a collaborative West Coast IPA. Together, we decided our hop of choice for this beer and landed on the tantalising blend of Galaxy & Nelson Sauvin hops.
Pouring a radiant amber hue, this West Coast IPA beckons with an irresistible clarity, hinting at the vibrant flavours that lie within. Aromas dance from the glass, releasing a chorus of zesty citrus, and tropical fruit. These intense flavours are backed by a balanced malt profile that provides a subtle biscuit sweetness.
September/October 2023: California Haze
The original California Love proved to be a stand out in the ever popular West Coast IPA style. But this didn’t stop us from thinking how delicious a Hazy version of Cali Love would taste, so we decided to find out.
California Haze, the next chapter in the California Series, is a 6.8% Hazy IPA hopped with the tropical blend of Amarillo, Riwaka and Mosaic hops. It’s filled with the juicy flavours and aromas of zesty grapefruit, luscious mango, fresh pine and orange citrus. Paired beautifully with the warmer sunshine-filled months of Spring, California Haze is the sun-kissed oasis you seek.
November/December 2023: Golden Nebula
Golden Nebula, a juicy 6.8% NEIPA, was our last bi-monthly limited release for 2023. If you’re looking for a beer that is out of this world, then this is the one for you ..
This celestial brew harnesses the intense flavours of liquid Galaxy and Eclipse Spectrum Hops. A juicy New England IPA, bursting with flavours of fresh tropical fruits and zesty citrus, paired beautifully with a protein-rich malt bill of rolled oats for a pillowy soft mouthfeel. Shining with its opaque juicy appearance, it’s easy to lose yourself in the wonders of the Golden Nebula.
Watch here as we create this juicy New England IPA using the freshest ingredients and harnessing the intense flavours of Galaxy and Eclipse Spectrum hops.