MOA ‘Southern alps’ White IPA

Rating:

image“Brewed with Vienna and Pale Wheat malts, Moa Southern Alps is hopped and dry hopped with a blend of Nelson Sauvin and Citra hops giving a strong citrus/lemon grass aroma. Add the esters from a Belgian ale yeast and coriander for spicing and you have quite some complexity in this fusion of Belgian Wit and IPA.”

This is why we love craft beer, taking a certain style and tweaking it is the sole foundation of this culture. The white IPA is only a new version of the IPA but it offers a spicy blend of Belgian/German witbier and the hoppy notes of a west coast IPA. Great stuff. We served this in an IPA glass and we were met with a slightly hazy golden amber pour with some unsettling floaties. The fizzy 1 finger head retains well with plenty of lacing trailing it down. Instantly the olfactories are abuzz with dominant yeasty aromas of clove, nutmeg, lemongrass and banana lollies. Vibrant undertones of mandarin, lychee, caramel and herbs balance out this gorgeous aroma and offers up extra depth. In the mouth it’s dry and bitter with medium carbonation. Medium-full bodied. Upfront the taste buds are hammered with bitter grassy hops, spice, pine needle and lemon. An aggressive hoppy dryness in the mid-palate delivers a crisp, herbal finish. Highly palatable and very refreshing WIPA. 6.4% ABV is only slightly felt in the finish but other than that it’s bang on. Pretty good beer from these boys from NZ, well done.