Fresh - May | '26

We’re trying something new this May. New Zealand Sign Language week kicks off on May 4, and this year marks the 20th anniversary of NZSL’s recognition as an official language in New Zealand. It’s such a cool milestone that we’re devoting a whole month to celebrating it. FRESH May, brought to you in collaboration with Deaf Aotearoa and New Zealand Sign Language Week, with art from Ryan Cassidy, who fans will know from our Talk To The Hand beers in previous years. It’s a big hazy for a big anniversary. Light lager malt, wheat and malted oats deliver a signature glowing green gold haze. Hot side hopping is 100% Nelson Sauvin, with a blend of T90 and cryo to lay down the full spectrum of Nelson flavour. Then dry hopping with the same tag team of T90 and cryo Nelson along with Strata and Oregon Chinook. Cracking the can releases an instant aromatic sweet fruit punch. If you’re feeling civilised enough to want a glass it pours a pretty picture, with dense glowing haze topped with tight titanium white foam which weaves a beautiful complex lacework down your glass as you enjoy your pint. The aroma is tropical fruit forward, with a touch of sticky Sauvin resin. Then there’s even more tropical fruit in the mouth, with ripe mango followed by guava, passionfruit and sweet pineapple, rounding off with a squeeze of pink grapefruit. The word juicy gets bandied around a lot when describing hazies, but I struggle to find a better word to describe the near perfect balance of citrus and tropical fruit flavour, patisserie sweet mouthfeel and mouthwatering hop bitterness. Damn, May’s juicy! So crack a can of FRESH, and while you’re at it why not go online and learn some sign. It’s fun and who knows where it will lead. Happy 20th NZSL!