every can tells a story.
join the experiment.
Test Lab is about trying new things. We give each new brew to a writer and ask them to create the next chapter in our serialised science fiction saga.
craft beers you can read.
So far we’ve got aliens, mad professors, Swedish vegans and a witch doctor passionate about coffee & mushrooms - Every can really does tell a story and is also a delicious, drinkable experimental experience.
Crack a cold one and then read the next installment!
Our heroes
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Pale Alien
An American style amber coloured, hop-forward IPA. Out-of-this-world flavour is about to enter the atmosphere via your face hole, earthling… landing a true USA classic with a great body and a little something extra-terrestrial under the bonnet.
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Tahuna Fog
Let’s walk into the haze together - A hop juicy New England IPA, that delivers big on the hop haze and rounds it off nicely with some sumptuous silky oats. Nectaron and Motueka hops pair up to throw some torch light on your taste buds.
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Bitta Froot
Call this a girly drink and you might just get a slap around the lips with fruity flavour. This is a fruit twist on the popular hazy style. Delicious fruit driven aromatic hops, hints of passionfruit and mango, paired with popular bittering hops to tickle your taste buds…ya! It’s bitta and frooty.
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Lights Out Stout
It takes eight grains and cereals (chocolate rye and oats among them) to concoct this tasty formula. A mild hopping addition and generous body deliver a knockout flavour that’s like a rolling brown out for your senses.
We let Brett (Brettanomyces) have his wild yeast way with this sour brew, making it funky, fruity, and a bit complex.
But that’s the thing about Brett, when he gets amongst our ferment, anything can happen - the result can be tangy or tart, but it always ends up a little bit cheek-suckingly sour.
the Latest from the lab is sournado!
our supporting cast
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Lab Rat
LIMITED EDITION
This beasty has teeth. It’s New Zealand hops that give this cheeky little IPA its chompers. Pacific Jade, Taiheke, and Nelson Sauvin (to name a few). This crisp rat’s got a pleasant hop aroma with a big bite at the tail end - definitely worth experimenting with, you know, for science (and stuff). -
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Head Banger
LIMITED EDITION
To the eye: classic, bold orange/brown hue in the glass.
The nose: an understated aroma.
The tongue: a medium bitterness.
Palette: soft caramel malt notes.
The finish: wham bam thank you ma’am head slam in the door jam! -
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HopSonica
LIMITED EDITION
This magic potion is all about the hop, baby. Warrior, Centennial, Simcoe and Citra. A bold and pleasant pine-fruit combination on the nose. Then, citrus and fruit shine through on the first taste, rolling up your tongue with a subtle malt body ending with a well-rounded hop bitterness to savour. -
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Red Planet Rave
LIMITED EDITION
A distinctive brown hue - with fringe tinges of red. Sweet malt biscuits in one nostril, then slight floral hops in t’other. Toasted malt medley taste with subtle sweet body on one hand, then a bold second hand slap of bitterness. -
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Pukka-Up
LIMITED EDITION
When this Chilli Pilsner hits your throat, you will get a tiny touch of heat and feel refreshed simultaneously. Wait for your senses to get a little muddled as your taste buds come to terms with the quaffable crispness, followed by a warm glow without that burning ring of fire. -
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Spice Invader
LIMITED EDITION
The ginger is like a ninja. It sneaks up on you and then hits with subtle heat that tends to linger. We call it the ginger ninja linger. Add to that a hint of lemon… the zinger. The ginger zinger ninja linger. Say that fast five times - see how your tongue feels. -
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Toff Secret
LIMITED EDITION
It’s got a toffee nose and will melt any stiff upper lip. Imagine a caramel éclair dissolving from the tip of your tongue to your tonsils. A guilty pleasure. Find somewhere quite and keep this to yourself. SSHHHHHHHH, its a secret. -
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Sournado
LIMITED EDITION
We let Brett (Brettanomyces) have his wild yeast way with this sour brew, making it funky, fruity and a bit complex. But that’s the thing about Brett, when he get amongst our ferment, anything can happen - the result can be tangy or tart, but it always ends up a little bit cheek-suckingly sour.
