moa sultana IPA

This is part of Moa’s ongoing series of single hopped IPAs.  The hop this time around is a recent American variety that started life as the experimental X06277 before being commercially released as Sultana towards the end of 2019.  As hops go it’s a new one for me, so I’ve gotten lucky being able to try it on its own.  The up-front aroma has HUGE citrus oil, like crushing fresh grapefruit peel right in front of your nose.  Behind that there’s fresh pineapple and a streak of sticky pine resin, but really that nose is all about the grapefruit.  The citrus is less outrageous on the tongue, still out in front but giving the more subtle tropical mango, melon and pine notes some room to move.  The malt body is on the lighter side of medium for  6.0% abv, which gives the bitterness lots of space to charge in on the end of the palate and really hit hard.  A lighter bodied and absolutely hop forward IPA, the perfect beer to really show off what a hop can do on its own.

Exploring Vancouver’s historic Brewery Creek

It's 12 years between drinks in Vancouver, but I'm finally back at one of my favourite taprooms. In late 2014, Brassneck Brewery was just a year old, but it's now transitioned from craft beer pioneer to a community hub for the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. Brassneck's...

Don’t Fear The Dark — How To Enjoy Stout

In 15 years writing and talking about beer, I’ve learned the style that most surprises people — once they give it a chance — is stout. The fear is about the “weight” of the beer — that it’ll be “heavy” and/or high in alcohol. Or it’s a fear based on a fledgling sip of...

Price of Beer: Paying More Might Be Worth It

Inflation, that invisible bandit, has been nicking coins out of our pockets faster than you can say “another round, please.” It’s no wonder we wince when we see the price of beer these days. The old “cheap as chips” supermarket beer now looks like a bargain bin...

Fermented Culture — After The Fall

An email comes crashing through the ether like Arnold Schwarzenegger on a motorbike shouting come with me if you want to drink… “I write to you my Friends from the Past in the 9th month of the year of our lord 2036. The changes we have seen over the last decade seem...

Continued Consolidation with Volstead Takeover

The group behind Christchurch’s small and experimental Concept Brewing have taken over the larger Volstead Trading Co and brewery, continuing the consolidation of the industry that’s been the trend of the past year. And the owners are joined by American Steve Sloan,...

Globe-trotting Kiwi Brewer Sets Up In Singapore

Nick Calder-Scholes the Kiwi brewer behind the phenomenal success of Sydney’s One Drop is now head brewer at the just-opened People People Brewing Co. in Singapore. He talks about his global journey. Nick Calder-Scholes spent his teenage summers in Nelson picking...