Golden Weka Ale

A SMaSH-variant IPA built around Golden Promise and Motueka — one malt, one hop, the simplest possible format for showcasing what these two New Zealand-adjacent ingredients actually taste like together.

Grain Bill

Six kilograms of Golden Promise at 100% of the grist. The Scottish spring barley malt is known for its clean, slightly sweet base with a warm, nutty quality that complements rather than competes with hop character. Single-malt bills with Golden Promise give a clear read on what the hops are doing.

Hops

Motueka from start to finish — 300 g total at 92 IBU:

• Boil: 15 g at 60 min, 30 g at 20 min, 45 g at 10 min
• Whirlpool: 60 g at 80°C, 20-minute stand
• Dry hop: 150 g at day 2–3 (below 1.020)

Motueka’s lime, lemon, and tropical fruit character with a herbal Saaz base comes through cleanly in a single-hop format.

Fermentation

LalBrew Pomona at 18.5°C. Dry hopped at day 2 when gravity dropped below 1.020, leveraging active fermentation for biotransformation. Temperature stepped to 21°C then 22°C for clean-up with pressure building naturally. Cooled to 4°C before keg transfer.

Packaging & Tasting

Kegged 15 days after brew day, carbonated to 2.4 vol CO₂. Tasted at kegging: promising Motueka hop expression and good body, with minor haze still present — expected to clarify fully in the keg.