Before landing on the other side of the world, my partner and I had already booked a weekend on the serene Waiheke island. It’s famously known for its beautiful beaches, stunning views, and abundant vineyards – basically a must visit destination for anyone spending any time in Auckland.
Despite being quite the uncultured wine drinkers, we gave it our best and sampled an extensive range over the few days (learning in the process that we both do in fact like white wine).
The island may be known for its wine, but one vineyard housed a tiny microbrewery. We happily welcomed a break from all the pinot gris, and gave Alibi Brewing Co. a visit.
Tucked away beneath Tantalus Estate’s tasting room lies the brewery and taproom. Between the ambient lighting, exposed brick and dark mahogany tables, Alibi creates an alluring space to share a beer.
After carefully perusing the menu, we opted for a flight and sat eagerly at the bar.
4 out of 4 – the flight hit a homerun.
The pilsner was crisp and refreshing, the APA was piney and citrusy. For me, the standout was the New England pale ale, Muddy Grimes, which exclusively used hops grown by a single farm in Nelson. Early-picked Nelson Sauvin, early Motueka, late Pacifica and mid-harvest Pacific Jade were combined together to build this vibrant hop profile.
Damn tasty, damn tasty indeed.
After a full day of wine tasting, and with the All Blacks Vs Springboks Rugby World Cup match ahead of us, we left it at that, extremely happy with our brief brewery interlude.
