Over twenty years ago, Shaun traveled to New Zealand for the first time, sparking a lifelong infatuation with the island nation’s landscape and the dank, punchy hops that it produces.
A decade later, during the early years of Hill Farmstead, the drive to find the perfect New Zealand hops took Shaun on a dizzying hunt, one that nearly led him to start his own hop farm in New Zealand. Instead, while he was visiting the country again in late 2016, a chance encounter brought Shaun together with Freestyle Hops in Upper Moutere, which has continued to serve as our primary source for New Zealand hops ever since.

The passion of that winding journey lies at the heart of this IPA, which showcases some of our favorite hop varieties from New Zealand, harmonizing them with American hops, our house ale yeast, and water from our well. The result is a bright, balanced beer that integrates the best characteristics of Motueka™, Nelson Sauvin, and Simcoe® hops.

“Of First & Last Things is really meant to be a torchbearer for what the best Americo-New Zealand IPA could be,” Shaun says. “There’s something about the trifecta of these hops that’s like mirepoix or something — they just seem to accentuate each other so well.”
Of First & Last Things has been a regular fixture in our IPA rotation since it was first crafted in 2018, usually appearing about every six to eight weeks. Previously, the name Of First & Last Things belonged to another Hill Farmstead beer, since discontinued, that was inspired by an IPA we made in collaboration with our friend Pat McIlhenney, owner and brewer at Alpine Beer Co.

Of First & Last Things is available on draft by the glass, as well as in cans and growlers to take away, currently.