Hop Butcher Only Interested in New Zealand 4Pk

Hop Butcher Only Interested in New Zealand 4Pk is a Double India Pale Ale brewed at 8.0% ABV, sold as a 4-pack of 16oz cans, showcasing three premium New Zealand hop varieties. Produced by Hop Butcher For The World — named Illinois Brewery of the Year at the 2021 New York International Beer Competition — this DIPA holds a 4.1 out of 5 rating across more than 1,600 reviews on Untappd.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8.0%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Double IPA  |  Brewery: Hop Butcher For The World  |  Hops: Pacific Sunrise, Nelson Sauvin, Riwaka

Production & Heritage

Hop Butcher For The World, based in Chicago, Illinois, has built a reputation for rotating, small-batch IPAs that spotlight specific hop combinations. Only Interested in New Zealand is dry-hopped exclusively with three New Zealand-grown varieties: Pacific Sunrise, Nelson Sauvin, and Riwaka. Pacific Sunrise contributes citrus and melon aromatics, Nelson Sauvin is prized for its white-wine grape and gooseberry character, and Riwaka rounds the blend with additional tropical depth. The result is a hazy, unfiltered Double IPA that leans on these Southern Hemisphere hops rather than the American Citra-Mosaic profiles dominating the category.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with tropical fruit — pineapple and ripe melon — layered over softer floral and berry undertones. Compared to many Hop Butcher DIPAs, the aroma is more restrained and wine-like, reflecting Nelson Sauvin's distinctive gooseberry influence.

Taste: The entry is plush and immediately juicy, with pineapple, banana, and coconut flavors arriving on a pillowy, full mouthfeel. Mid-palate, passion fruit and lychee notes emerge, and the sweetness stays in check thanks to a measured bitterness that builds gradually without overwhelming the tropical core.

Finish: Medium-long, with a soft, resinous fade and lingering gooseberry and citrus pith. The balance between sweet and bitter remains intact through the close, keeping the 8% ABV remarkably drinkable.

How to Drink Only Interested in New Zealand

Pour this DIPA into a tulip glass or wide-mouth pint at around 40–45°F to let the hop aromatics open fully. It drinks best fresh and unadorned — no garnish needed. While this beer shines on its own, it also works in hop-forward beer cocktails: a Michelada variation using this DIPA adds tropical complexity to the classic tomato-lime base; a Beer-mosa pairing it with fresh mango or pineapple juice plays to its fruit-forward character; and a Hop Shandy with lemon soda tempers the ABV while amplifying the citrus notes from Pacific Sunrise hops.

Best For

• Hop enthusiasts exploring New Zealand hop profiles beyond the usual American varieties
• Sharing with friends during a weekend tasting of rotating craft releases
• Pairing with a backyard cookout featuring grilled seafood or jerk chicken
• Gifting to a craft beer collector who follows limited Hop Butcher drops

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Only Interested in New Zealand taste like? This Double IPA delivers a juicy blend of pineapple, banana, coconut, and gooseberry flavors carried on an exceptionally soft, full mouthfeel. A balanced bitterness keeps it from veering too sweet despite its tropical intensity.

How does Only Interested in New Zealand compare to other Hop Butcher DIPAs? While many Hop Butcher releases rely on popular American hop varieties like Citra and Mosaic, this expression uses an all-New Zealand hop bill of Pacific Sunrise, Nelson Sauvin, and Riwaka, producing a more wine-like, gooseberry-driven character in place of the typical citrus-pine profile. The nose is also notably more muted and elegant than the brewery's American-hopped offerings.

Is Only Interested in New Zealand good for sipping on its own? Yes — the soft body, layered tropical flavors, and controlled bitterness make it a satisfying standalone pour, especially when served fresh at cellar temperature in a tulip glass.

Where is Only Interested in New Zealand made? It is brewed by Hop Butcher For The World in Chicago, Illinois. The brewery focuses on small-batch, rotating hop-forward ales and was recognized as Illinois Brewery of the Year at the 2021 New York International Beer Competition.

What foods pair well with Only Interested in New Zealand? Grilled shrimp or fish tacos complement the tropical hop character without competing for attention. Spicy Thai green curry mirrors the beer's lychee and passion fruit notes. A creamy coconut-based dessert like haupia echoes the coconut undertones in the beer. Sharp aged cheddar provides a savory contrast to the fruit-forward profile, and pork belly with a citrus glaze bridges the gap between the malt sweetness and hop bitterness.

What sizes does Only Interested in New Zealand come in? This release is packaged as a 4-pack of 16oz cans, which is the standard format for Hop Butcher For The World's rotating DIPA releases.

Is Only Interested in New Zealand worth the price? It positions in the premium craft DIPA tier, consistent with small-batch, rotating releases from top-rated regional breweries. The exclusive use of three sought-after New Zealand hop varieties and the brewery's strong critical reputation support its placement at this level.

Why Only Interested in New Zealand?

The defining feature here is the all-New Zealand hop bill — a deliberate departure from the American hop-dominated hazy DIPA landscape. Pacific Sunrise, Nelson Sauvin, and Riwaka each bring distinct Southern Hemisphere characteristics that rarely appear together in a single brew, producing a tropical-yet-vinous flavor profile that stands apart from the crowd. Backed by a brewery that earned Illinois Brewery of the Year honors and maintains a 4.1 Untappd rating on this specific release, Only Interested in New Zealand delivers on both concept and execution. For anyone looking to taste what New Zealand hops can do when given full creative space, this is a focused and well-built argument.