Nov 21, 2011

Moa 5 Hop Ale

Moa 5 Hop Ale photo

I knew absolutely nothing about this beer when I plucked it off the shelves last month. I think the cleanly designed label may have piqued my interest while scanning the options at my local shop.

I now know, only after researching the beer, that it’s an English style IPA that’s been brewed with a variety of five hops, including New Zealand grown B Saaz and Hallertau aroma hops. Beyond that, there’s not much background on the beer. Regardless of how little information is out there, the beer is still pretty darn tasty with a strong hop character that’s more toward the leafy, grassy side than the fruity end of the spectrum.

Appearance

The beer pours with a slight haze to the orangish amber liquid. The head was long lasting head is tawny and dense.

Aroma

There’s a good amount of grass, citrus and pine on the nose as well as a subtle caramel and toast way in the background.

Taste

Your tongue is greeted immediately by grassy, leafy hops with hints of grapefruit and pine on the tail end. The finish is quite drying and has a good bit of astringency to the hop bite. It’s not a brutal bitterness, but still brings about a twinge of a pucker. At 6.2% ABV the alcohol is hidden well.

Overall

All in all, Moa 5 Hop Ale is pretty darn tasty. The finish is a bit too drying for my liking as it takes away from any refreshment the beer may offer. The earthy, grassy hops are the key feature to a brew that was fun to try out, though not sure I would buy again.

Rating: 3.75/5

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