BREWERY // In 2012 there were no breweries in Queenstown so local Eliott Menzies spotted an opportunity. At the time he was working for a winery and had been getting more serious about home brewing for years with praise being heaped on his beers by all who sampled them. He started out contract brewing his recipes at a Christchurch brewery for sale in the Queenstown market before finding a permanent site. A couple of years later, he was joined by business partner with perfectly complimentary skills, Eddie Gapper, who had formerly worked in advertising. Fast forward a few years and Altitude's brewery sits at Frankton Marina a short bike ride from Queenstown on the edge of Lake Wakatipu beneath the Remarkables with one of the best taproom views in the world. They mainly use local ingredients and have a close relationship with a local hop farm. Core to the Altitude ethos is the the environment and spirit of adventure which fits in nicely with the '1% for the Wakatipu' scheme with donations being made to local outdoor causes and the environment.
BEER // There is a general adage that it's easier to make tasty high abv beer than low abv beer - there's a reason imperial stouts and double IPAs rule the top rankings of Untappd. Generally more alcohol means more body and a solid malt base that can support big hop flavours which is why modern IPAs are generally in the 6-7.5% region. It takes some clever malt wrangling, often incorporating wheat and oats, to get the full mouthfeel and body to support the shedload of hops required for a satisfying NEIPA. For the hops, Altitude blended IPA favourites Citra and Mosaic with NZ Waimea and Citra to result in a beer with plenty of flavour and a big juicy profile at a very impressive 4.5%.
BREWERY // Altitude
BEER // Sled Dog
STYLE // Session Hazy IPA
ORIGIN // Queenstown
ABV // 4.5%
TEMPERATURE // Cool - 7-10C
FOOD MATCH // Burger & Fries. Kentucky Fried Cauliflower. Raclette
VESSEL // IPA Glass