Panhead Supercharger

The first beer I write about might as well be what I would consider the quintessential Kiwi beer. I know it's an American Pale Ale, made from American hops, so really isn't much of a Kiwi beer. And Panhead have been bought out by Lion Red, but from what I understand, Mike Nelson, the creator of Panhead remains head brewer.

Back when craft beer was a relatively new thing, Panhead Supercharger was one of the first beers with a big hoppy flavour over a strong malt backbone to gain mainstream attention. I think this beer had a big part to play in popularising hoppy beers in New Zealand. It also put Wellington (well... Hutt) on the map in NZ as the craft beer capital.

I like that they're still using the same infamous orange label, description with some lame joke about a Palm Springs wedding, and most importantly the beer still tastes good. The craft beer industry has evolved signifcantly since Supercharger was born and again since it gained mainstream attention, but it still remains a delicious beer that to me is kind of the pinnacle craft beer.

Tonight I watched a movie with the kids and drank a couple of Superchargers. If you read my last blog I've been neglecting beer for the last few months, so I really enjoyed these, savouring the hops and the malt flavour. I really can't stand when the corporation owned "craft" pale ales lack either a good malt backbone, or the strong hop aroma (they usually substitute it for bitterness), but Supercharger has maintained both. It's still a good beer, and always will be.

That's my Supercharger rant for tonight. Overall, I like it. I really do.

https://www.panheadcustomales.com/

https://www.instagram.com/panheadcustomales/

ABV: 5.7%
Brewery: Panhead Custom Ales
Region: Hawke's Bay
Style: American Pale Ale
Wife check: Likes to have a sip of mine, but wouldn't choose it