For Napier Brewing Company head brewer Matt Searle it was a challenge making a limited and unique fresh hops brew on a commercial scale but he received really positive feedback from people who gave it a taste.
Great feedback was always important, given it was the first time he had brewed a variety on that scale, but getting a winning accolade after votes were cast in a competition was even better.
"I'm blown away," Mr Searle said when the results of the second annual Top of the Fresh Hops competition, staged by the Society of Beer Advocates (SOBA) Hawke's Bay, were announced and his FreshHopper NZ IPA got the No 1 nod.
"The award is the icing on the cake," he said.
Beating several more well-known rivals from around the country's craft beer scene was pretty special, he said.