#39 Moa – Methode

Name: Moa Methode
Brewery: Moa (Malborough, New Zealand)
Style: Pilsener
ABV: 5.5%
Source: Fort Street Union

Arg. So much frustration – so little time!

Today  I planned to have an Epic/Dogfish Portamarillo, so nipped out on my lunch break to O’Carrolls where I had seen it for sale few weeks ago.

But no – O’Carrolls was packed and I wasn’t going to get a seat, so I went off to try and find the new bar on Fort St that’s apparently selling Hallertau. Unfortunately I’m useless at finding anything unless I have the address punched into my iPhone, so I walked frantically in circles for 10 minutes before giving up.

Running out of time and getting desperate, I went up to Fort St Union, a vast and lively place that had one craft beer which I readily bought. It was the Moa Methode.

I’d heard  good things about this beer so I was perfectly happy to be drinking it instead of the Portamarillo, which I would get to later. It arrived in a Moa glass, on which was written “Handcrafted Super Premium Beverage”, which I assume is a joke – a tongue-in-cheek prod at big commercial brewers who employ this kind of marketing gumph regularly.

I didn’t get much of an aroma beyond a normal lagery smell and a bit of fruity hops. It was served a lot colder than the beers I drink at home, so that might be why. The flavours were clearer when I tasted it – flowery hops, honey, and a citrusy bitter edge. It was subtle, well-balanced, and a would be a magical thirst-quencher on a hot day.

To be honest it didn’t turn me on massively, but then lager-style beers generally don’t (except the Emerson’s Pilsener – I love that beer!) It’s obviously a good brew – just not really my thing.

I popped into O’Carrolls on my way back to the office thinking I’d just test-drive the Portamarillo before I had one as my beer of the day, but apparently it sold out a month ago. I really, really want to try this beer because I love tamarillos, so if anyone out there is hiding a secret stash then I beseech you to share one with me!