Hopwired
8 Wired Brewing Co.

HopwiredHopwired
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From:
8 Wired Brewing Co.
 
New Zealand
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
7.3%
Score:
90
Avg:
4.05 | pDev: 9.63%
Reviews:
130
Ratings:
360
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 21, 2021
Added:
Nov 26, 2010
Wants:
  36
Gots:
  45
We're pretty sure HopWired is the first bottled new world India Pale Ale made with NZ grown pale ale malt and 100% unique NZ hops. We bet you'll find nothing else like it on the shelves.

Although there's plenty of malty sweetness, this beer is all about the hops. But unlike an American IPA, which will mainly challenge you with grapefruity and pine-like flavours and aromas, the kiwi hops used in HopWired produce something more like a tropical punchbowl: Passion fruit, limes, oranges and Sauvignon Blanc grapes to name but a few. A local Marlborough winemaker even said it smelled like gooseberries... Gooseberries? When did you last actually smell a gooseberry??

Decide for yourself, or just enjoy it without further complication. Cheers!

70 IBU
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Rated: 3.68 by zknight from Korea (South)

Jun 21, 2021
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

4.31/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.3%. Hazy deep golden colour, large white head. Wonderful aroma of tropical fruits, crushed white grapes, citrus and crushed gooseberries. The flavour is a burst of fruity New Zealand hops, also with resinous notes, on a medium sweet malty base. Bitter finish, long and very bitter aftertaste, but not too extreme. Excellent beer!
Feb 16, 2021
Photo of flyingpig
Reviewed by flyingpig from Scotland

3.99/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
33cl bottle from Beers of Europe (£3.99):
A clear, warming looking amber with a 2cm, foamy white head that settles about half that with good lacing stuck to the sides too. The nose is a mix of pine hops, some floral notes, citrus & a background sticky sweetness with some mango & apricot coming through, it's not the strongest but it does at least seem quite fresh with a bitter finish. The taste is stronger with more of a dry bitterness & touches of warming alcohol on top of the grapefruit & pine hops with mango, apricot & juicy fruits following. It's lively with good carbonation & a dry finish with a bitter hop aftertaste; great stuff.
Jun 13, 2020
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Reviewed by rex_4539 from Greece

4.02/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L: Hazy amber color, one finger white head, nice lacing and carbonation.

S: Hops, malts.

T: Hoppy, malty. Slightly bitter on the back end. Very straightforward IPA.

F: Light bodied, easily drinkable, plenty of flavor.

O: Nice, plain IPA.
May 14, 2019
 
Rated: 4.31 by raiderbk from Canada (AB)

Mar 12, 2019
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.97/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
General comment: this AIPA and lots of NZ brewing reminds me of Portland in the 1990s. Back then and there, homebrewers had great hops grown regionally and started throwing more and more of them into beer. It worked for Portland to create production that greatly outsized its modest population. So it seems to be with NZ.

As for Hopwired... it has too many hops for me to have it again. (70 IBU as I understand it.)
But, I sure enjoyed Looking at it... lots of suds persisting all over the glass. Smells? I don't mind piney Smells, but I'd like some more fruit to go with it. Tastes are largely the same. The mouth is refreshing and not too many bubbles and I don't mind the lingering bitter hops as much as I would in Portland. But... I'm not ready for a second Hopwired and that may last for many, many years.

Hopwired gets a more favorable review in "300 More Beers To Try Before You Die!" It is written by gentleman that many of us know of, Roger Protz. Refer to page 92 for and more balanced and interesting review than I just gave you.
Jan 03, 2018
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Reviewed by Everydayoff from Thailand

4.05/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
330ml bottle poured into a teku glass.

Hazy orange amber color, it tops with a finger of frothy off-white head that gradually falls to some bubble sheet on the surface and leaves some lacing patch and spot on the glass-side.

Loads of tropical and juicy hop in a nose, it is reminiscent of orange, lime, passion fruit, pineapple, grape, berry, resin, floral, herbal, and a bit pungent. Malt is in the supporting with notes of bread and cracker.

The taste is led and dominated by the intensity of hop with all the characters stated in the aroma which is mostly focus on fruitiness, juiciness, along with moderate bitterness that is being balanced by rich bready and crackery malt.

Light body with semi-smooth mouthfeel and lively carbonation, the feeling is crisp and refreshing with a typically dry finish.

This could be a benchmark for good NZ IPA with its unique hop profiles of grape and berry unlike the American side.
Jun 24, 2017
Photo of cyrenaica
Reviewed by cyrenaica from Canada (ON)

4.34/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
500ml bottle
7.3% ABV
Royal Bank Plaza LCBO Outlet (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
April 7, 2013
The beer pours a reddish gold colour with a thin white head and some effervescence. The aroma was citrusy hops, tropical fruit, and grass. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. The flavour is tropical fruit and citrus and bready malts. Very refreshing, and very good! An easy drinking IPA.
Jun 07, 2017
 
Rated: 4.03 by Dharmelink from Wisconsin

Mar 26, 2017
 
Rated: 3.25 by Hayley_86 from Netherlands

Feb 22, 2017
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Reviewed by Jeffo from Netherlands

3.97/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Got this from the Mitra in Maarssen.

From a bottle into a snifter.

APPEARANCE: Pours a 1+ medium looking, foamy white head with good retention. Hazy safety orange in color with no carbonation. Slowly fades to a full foamy cap leaving lacing clinging to the sides of the glass. Splotchy wisp remains leaving some decent lacing on the glass as it empties.

SMELL: Melon, honeydew, pale malts, light grapefruit notes with some lemon and lime on the nose. Bold enough.

TASTE: Pale malts, melon notes, some citrus, lemon and lime, and grapefruit at the swallow. Bold and lingering finish of bitter grapefruit, citrus, lemon and lime, light caramel sweetness and plenty of hop bitterness.

PALATE: Medium body and medium levels of carbonation. Creamy smooth on the palate, goes down smooth and finishes dry. Enough hop bitterness lingers.

OVERALL: Good stuff. Very hop forward and a nice mouthfeel to support it. An enjoyable new-world IPA that is well worth the effort. Pick it up if you get the chance. Recommended.
Jan 08, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Nov 26, 2016
 
Rated: 4.49 by jebrew from Maine

Nov 05, 2016
 
Rated: 4.39 by BeerwithmeNZ from Canada (AB)

Sep 07, 2016
 
Rated: 4.37 by EdTheEdge from California

Aug 28, 2016
 
Rated: 4.5 by redfox405 from Virginia

Aug 17, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by mush from Illinois

Aug 11, 2016
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Reviewed by Weisenbeer from Ohio

4.4/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
New Zealand...who knew!? This is an excellent, hop filled and flavorful IPA. Got it in bomber size from a local specialty store. I had never seen it before and had no knowledge of this brewer before my purchase. Highly recommend this terrific brew if you can find it.
Jun 07, 2016
 
Rated: 4.49 by mcthfg from Korea (South)

May 22, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by Howlader from Canada (AB)

Mar 24, 2016
Hopwired from 8 Wired Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 360 ratings