Garage Project Mātakitaki Valley

Our fourth hop harvest collaboration with East Coast brewing legends Trillium called for something extraordinary. For this, we ventured two hours south of Sunrise Valley, to the new Nelson Lakes Farm, situated in the Mātakitaki Valley. This is the freshest hop-growing location by our friends at Freestyle Farms.

The Mātakitaki Valley is a game-changer for the brewing industry in Aotearoa, presenting a brand new climate and hop-growing terroir yet to be explored. Located in the Nelson Lakes region near Murchison, its climate is characterized by extremes – much colder winters and hotter summers. This was the first full hop-growing season at the farm, and we were eager to discover the impact of this unique climate and soil on the hops. We certainly haven’t been disappointed.

Mātakitaki Valley marks the continuation of our ‘valley’ series, featuring our inaugural beer brewed using hops from the new Nelson Lakes Farm. With a hop-free boil and massive dry hop addition of hand-selected Nelson Sauvin and Motueka, this giant, juicy, and unforgettable hazy brew pays homage to one of New Zealand’s most exciting new hop-growing regions. The finished beer boasts a dense, smooth, and hazy malt base, accompanied by an intense ripe mango aroma and a tropical fruit smoothie palate dominated by mango, pineapple, passion fruit, and rock melon back notes. It’s Nelson Sauvin and Motueka, but not as we know it.

Join us in raising a glass to the first of many remarkable hoppy creations to come out of the Nelson Lakes Farm.