Press Release: Twisted Hop

Christchurch craft beer institution The Twisted Hop are pleased to announce the limited release of their seasonal Enigma Barley Wine for 2011.

This release is all the more remarkable given that the Twisted Hop remains behind a military guarded cordon, in Christchurch’s Red Zone seven months on from the February 22nd earthquake.

Whilst the future of the Hop, and of the wider iconic Poplar Lanes remains in the hands of insurance companies, lawyers and bureaucrats, access was granted in early August for just enough time to grab essentials.

“We knew we had a range of beer in conditioning tanks, but we were unsure of how it would taste after all the time, although we held out great hope for Enigma”, says Martin Bennett, one of the two founders of the Twisted Hop.

“We couldn’t have expected how well it aged”, confirms co-founder Stephen Hardman, “so we knew we had to get it out and into bottles”.

“Barley Wine is actually a beer, the name a British term for the strongest offering in a brewery’s range, and the strength has been tempered and the flavours enhanced remarkably, so the frustrating wait has yielded at least one positive result,” Bennett shares.

This release, named Red Zone Enigma, is then more than a little special. Bottled by Harrington’s, the 10.5% cordon conditioned strong ale is the taste of triumph over two major shakes, countless smaller shakes and will be available in strictly limited quantities at discerning craft beer retailers nationwide.

The Twisted Hop also managed to retrieve a small quantity of their regular beers and a special brew that was planned for the ill-fated Christchurch Jazz Festival, Inspiration Pale Ale.

These will be available from Pomeroy’s on Kilmore and Cassels & Son’s Brewery in Christchurch.

For distributor enquiries please contact BeerNZ.

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