Tinker Tailor IPA / Apricot Hazy IPA

I lived in Plimmerton in my first home when Tinker Tailor opened, so they were my first local brewery, and as far as I know still the only brewery in Porirua (while every other region in Wellington/Hutt is bursting with amazing breweries). They have a unique catch to their beers, in that every beer is released as a pair - a "Tailor" version which is true to the classic style and a "Tinker" version which is an experimental or alternative take on the style.

IPA is the perfect style for this model, and they've done a really good job of it.

The "Tailor" IPA has elements of a classic British IPA with a good strong malt base coming through, but also has hints of an American IPA with a fruity hop aroma, and more importantly a good essence of NZ IPA. The British biscuity maltiness coming through was a highlight, and balanced well with a good hop bitterness, that really lets you know you're drinking a classic IPA.

The "Tinker" Apricot Hazy IPA was quite a different kettle of fish with massive hop aromas and apricot coming through. A big strong hoppy beer too, but the similarities stop there. The malt character was much less domimant, and the bitterness much tamer, while the fruity and pungent NZ and American (I'm assuming) hop aromas were nose smashingly delicious.

I love what they've done here, contrasting classic with modern, and making two delicious beers.

tinkertailor.beer

IPA
ABV: 6.4%
Brewery: Tinker Tailor
Region: Plimmerton, Wellington
Style: IPA
Wife check: "Yeah, now that's an IPA."

Apricot Hazy IPA
ABV: 6.1%
Brewery: Tinker Tailor
Region: Plimmerton, Wellington
Style: Hazy IPA
Wife check: "I don't know, leave me alone, I tasted it and then I got distracted 'cause someone else called me away" (sorry)