Dec 7, 2012

Moa Blanc Evolution

You’ve gotta give New Zealand’s Moa Brewing Company some credit. They certainly do have nice looking packaging — from the shape of the bottle to the modern yet classic label artwork — they know how to look good. Oh, and they brew a pretty decent beer, as well.

The packaging is part of the reason I picked up their Blanc Evolution, a 6.2% Witbier. The black on black lettering and artwork is eye-catching. Would the beer prove to be equally, uh, tongue-catching? Almost. The beer has a welcoming aroma and decent flavor profile, but ended up presenting a bit too much sweetness for my liking, but I may just be looking for something to complain about. As far as witbiers go, this one is pretty darn good.

Appearance

A slowly falling, fluffy white head rests atop the golden amber brew.

Aroma

Grains, wheat and light cereal form the base of the nose, but I don’t really pick up al that much coriander. That said, there is a certain amount of “spice” character to it, but it’s rather subdued. A good thing in my eyes.

Taste

THe coriander and spices make more of an appearance here, but again, are rather light in the mix. There’s a sticky sweetness that is left on the lips after each sip, probably a bit too much for the style. Stone fruits, wheat and grain dominate the flavor profile as the beer shifts smoothly to a lightly hopped finish that presents hints of grass and citrus along with a mild tingle of bitterness. The alcohol leaves a subtle warming sensation in the finish.

Overall

All in all, Moa’s Blanc Evolution is a tasty little brew. It’s a bit on the sweet side, but it does present the wheat and spices in a well balanced manner that, coming from a non-fan of wheat beers in general, makes for a pretty decent drinking experience. The higher alcohol content that accompanies the flavors isn’t quite enough to cut the sweetness, but does come out nicely as the beer warms in the glass. Again, not bad.

Rating: 3.5/5

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