Upon discovering that their local municipality was being reclassified from Taranaki to Whanganui, the residents of Whangamomona protested by boldly declaring themselves an independent republic. Since that day, the town has celebrated their independence with a biannual 'republic day', in which a president is elected. In '99, Whangamomona voted in their first ever animal president - a goat by the name of Billy Hircus, aka Gumboots. Gumboots was accused, but not convicted, of eating his opponent's ballot papers.

Charlie the Cockatoo - a feathered New Plymouth icon - lived until the ripe old age of 40, mostly situating himself alongside the Tea Rooms at Pukekura Park. A brief disappearance in 2013 had people guessing that he'd flown the coop, or worse, had gone to 'visit the farm'. Rather, he had been relegated to an aviary around the back of Brookland's Zoo, quite possibly due to the swear words that he had learned from dastardly teenagers. It appeared that Rehab served him well, however, as Charlie landed back at his usual perch for many more years entertaining locals and visitors alike. This Hazy IPA is brewed with Galaxy, Nelson Sauvin, Peachrine, Citra, and offers up flavours of juicy stone fruit, passionfruit and citrus.

Chew Chong of Canton, knew nothing of Saison. What he did know, however, was how to make a buck, specifically with fungus and milk. He initially made his fortune extracting fungus from decaying Taranaki native trees and exporting them back to China as a delicacy. Then, from his dairy factory in Eltham, he was the bright spark who created the famous pound of butter. Shining Peak brewed this Belgian style Saison 'farmhouse ale' in his honour, using traditional Belgian 'fungus' (otherwise known as yeast) while nodding to his Kiwi heritage with a hint of Kawakawa and Horopito.

Born one of eleven children, John Edward Shewry, better known as Ned, grew up just outside the border of the Whangamomona Republic. At 17, Ned and his brother Archie went to work, clearing their family farm with just an axe, a saw and a box of matches. His elders soon saw Ned's potential with the Axe and entered him into the local Wood Chopping competition. Disposing of the local competition, Ned would go on to win multiple world titles, setting world records along the way. His skills became legend that he could dehorn cattle with one swift swing. This NZIPA delivers a hefty blow of Rakau and Nelson Sauvin from Clayton Hops, and was first brewed for Smith's NZIPA Challenge 2024 in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Back in the day, Whare Matangi, estranged son of Ngarue, was given a magic dart, or tara, that would lead him to his father. After a few throws the tara hit Ngarue's house at the mouth of the river. The place became known as Te Whai-tara nui-a-Ngarue, or Waitara. Shining Peak's own Magic Dart aims for an American-style golden ale with a combo of US and kiwi hops combining sweet stonefruit and tropical aromas.

At the height of the Great War in 1916, German Raider SMS Wolf sailed from Germany to disrupt and sink Allied shipping. She ventured as far as Taranaki, laying mines that claimed at least two ships off the shores of Aotearoa in what was the first known hostile act against New Zealand. One keen Coastal local by the name of Frank Mace, discovered a mine just off Surf Highway 45, pulling it ashore using chains. It would undergo a controlled detonation on the beach watched by many keen onlookers, as the explosion rocked houses as far as New Plymouth's hills, leaving a massive crater that swept along the beach. This West Coast IPA explodes with a minefield of Citrus and Tropical hops over a malt base, and was first brewed for Malthouse WCIPA Challenge 2024 in Wellington, New Zealand.

The bustling community known as Tarata is home to less than six hundred people, but close to a couple of hundred thousand sheep. Known for its winding roads, wool-shed parties and red-band tan-lines, Tarata is now home to Wayward Hops - a burgeoning Hop Farm established by Tim and Maggie Verry, under the wise tutelage of Kevin Murphy in 2022. Oapui Road Pilsner is a crisp brew, fermented cold, and liberally hopped with freshly picked Riwaka cones grown in the heart of Taranaki's back-country.

Classically-styled and supremely easy-drinking, Fields of Gold Hefeweizen hits all the marks you'd expect from a Hefe done well. Straw-coloured with a stunning haze, and a nose with notes of banana, stone-fruit, a sprinkling of baking spices. On the sip there's a juiciness with a slightly tart edge, and a wheat base that gives a bite of banana bread. They can think of no better beer to whisk us all towards warmer weather.

For the third Haze of the People, they handed the vote to those with their finger on the pulse of what's hot in the world of hops - that is, the owners and staff of Sprig + Fern Taverns and other fine establishments pouring your Sprig + Fern favourites. With the lion's share of votes, the hops we lined up for Haze of the People #3 include the legendary Mosaic and Nelson Sauvin varieties. Together, they send out an aroma of pear, plump grapes, tangerine and lemon sherbet, while the tastebuds get to enjoy white grape, melon, a slight herbaceousness and white jet planes (y'know, the lemon-y ones). Crisp, smooth and easy-drinking, this earns the votes.

Long Days of Haze is a smooth and sessionable hazy pale ale, handcrafted for the summer months. A bright and lively aroma of mandarin, white grape and gooseberry lead to a full-flavoured fruit salad for a zesty, juicy and refreshing sip. One to toast to the good times ahead.

Stoke Extra Pale Ale Legacy Edition.

Layers of tropical fruit (Mango, Passionfruit, Pineapple) hop aroma from loads of Nectaron, Citra, Mosaic and Galaxy. Creamy mouthfeel and a smooth body.