M.P.A
Renaissance Brewing

M.P.AM.P.A
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From:
Renaissance Brewing
 
New Zealand
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.82 | pDev: 11.52%
Reviews:
51
Ratings:
83
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 09, 2018
Added:
Dec 09, 2009
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
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Photo of monkist
Reviewed by monkist from Hungary

4.35/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This is the first beer I had from Kiwiland, although I am already familiar with their Galaxy hops if nothing more. This beer proved that the NZ hops have really been modeled after the US originals. Though the end result is a bit behind the American one, it is not bad at all: full of hops in its smell and taste, slightly citrusy amd piney hops that bring bitterness along with the full flavor. Looks very dense and unfiltered, it is a great double IPA from New Zealand!
Jan 09, 2018
 
Rated: 4.09 by mdagnew from Northern Ireland

Feb 18, 2016
Photo of DoctorZombies
Reviewed by DoctorZombies from Florida

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Cloudy deep amber color with off white head which disappeared quickly; little lace and no cap. Earthy hop nose. Dank, oniony, earthy hop flavors with underlying caramel malt; touch of citrus and bitter finish. Medium carbonation, medium lite mouthfeel and resinous tongue coating. Overall, Long lasting bitter earthy linger, yet good balance between malt and earthy hops.
Sep 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by life_of_agony from Australia

Jun 05, 2015
Photo of Chico1985
Reviewed by Chico1985 from Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
500ml DIPA from New Zealand that uses the obscure Rakau hop, "heaps of them" apparently. My first from this brewery, long overdue.

A - Pours a straight up red color with a bit of haze, nice color for sure but strange for an IPA. A thin off-white head retains as a slight cap.

S - Pine, grape leaves, lots of caramel and toffee, grapefruit, earthy honey bread.

T - More grapefruit with some pineapple, resiny piny hops, still big candy caramel and toffee malt with some toasted bread. Kind of a leafy tea-like presence.

M - Big malty feel with light but decent hop bitterness. Sweetness is kept in check. Carbonation a bit on the lower side, light alcohol warmth.

O - Definitely malt-forward but not in a bad way, lots of good caramel and breadiness with decent depth, pretty good hops too though they're buried. Reminds me of alot of DIPAs from 6 or 7 years ago (old bottle or intentional?)
Mar 14, 2015
 
Rated: 3.63 by Ohiovania from Ohio

Feb 13, 2015
Photo of schoolboy
Reviewed by schoolboy from Ohio

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had this ale come out 15 years ago I think it really would have been a renaissance. While it is very much in the vein of current trends, it has a slightly different slant than we usually see, and that makes it worthy of your consideration.

It looks like a normal big, slightly dirty DAIPA, with nice fine fizz and little lacing. The aroma is uniquely pungent. I can honestly say it is a first time whiff for me.

The taste is hoppy but not grassy, bitter, dark, boozy and there is a lot of malt there too (but no sweetness). It is a huge rich taste, with very little bite but loads of growl. The aftertaste lingers bitter and boozy.

This is a great big beer from the Southern Hemisphere that is worth trying. It travelled to Ohio in the USA extremely well.
Dec 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Bencooper27 from Ohio

Nov 14, 2014
Photo of UCLABrewN84
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle pour at Shelton Brothers The Festival 2014 held at Crafted in San Pedro, CA.

Pours a hazy dark honey orange with a foamy bone head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus fruit, and citrus zest aromas. Taste is much the same with citrus zest and slight herbal hop flavors on the finish. There is a medium amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle.
Nov 10, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by bobWFMU from New York

Sep 02, 2014
Photo of Niceroad77
Reviewed by Niceroad77 from Canada (BC)

4.3/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Ok, where to begin? First, I noticed this has been put under American Double/Imperial IPA but apart from the Double, there is nothing american here. This is truly a "Double English" IPA.

A: Nice cloudy medium amber colour. Thick head showing good retention and lacing.

S: Don't expect smelling an American IPA, this is not one! Yes it has pine needles and citrus but there is something more medicinal to it. If you know what great English IPA's smell like, well you won't be disappointed here.

T: Same here. You know English IPA's? Well, enjoy this one!

M: Thin to medium body with good carbonation.

O: I think, as a Canadian living in the Northwest that English IPA's are a great change from the excellent brews we have here. This one being a double, everything is somewhat more upfront. If you are a hop head and can appreciate the good but somewhat different English IPA's, well this is another one for you. But expect to have to double the "ahhhs".
Jun 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Latarnik from New Jersey

Jun 01, 2014
Photo of Hendry
Reviewed by Hendry from Vermont

3.79/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Looks like fresh pressed apple cider,half finger of khaki head,spotty lacing.

Aroma is malty and grassy,underwhelming.

Flavor starts out with a hefty English toffee blast followed by a moderate amount of balanced bitter dank hops. Alcohol well hidden for the abv.

Mouthfeel is creamy and smooth, low level of carbonation.

I continue to question the freshness of New Zealand exports every time I pick one up, and can't help but feel this would have been much more vibrant had it been fresher. I feel like I get a better representation of New Zealand hops when they are brewed here in the States and offered fresh rather than ending up in a warehouse waiting to be shipped.Decent drinkability, but my sample was too malt forward for my taste. Stands to reason that since the California IPAs are typically 2-3 months old by the time they hit the shelves in Vermont, that this import is likely over 6 months old and not a good representation of what this ale once was. Moving forward,undated beer, especially imports, are better left on the shelf for the next guy and not for me. With so many choices offered that offer reliable bottle dating and freshness, this bottle has proven to be another waste of the $8 plunge.
May 18, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by stevergca from Canada (ON)

May 12, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Kroehny_Loves_Hops from Australia

May 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by litchity from Pennsylvania

Mar 26, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by beerhunter13 from Canada (ON)

Mar 13, 2014
Photo of LampertLand
Reviewed by LampertLand from Canada (BC)

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Renaissance Brewing 'M.P.A. Imp IPA' @ 8.5% , served from a 500 ml bottle purchased for $6.25

A-pour is murky gold from the bottle to glass with a smallish off white head leaving a streaky lace along the pint

S-rakua hops , more pine than citrus

T-big hop bomb tasting imp IPA

MF-WEIRD carbonation , full bodied

Ov-good big beer , decent enough imp IPA , especially if you like Rakua hops

prost LampertLand
Feb 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Gasc0igne from Australia

Feb 10, 2014
Photo of BGDrock
Reviewed by BGDrock from Canada (ON)

3.8/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: vigorous carbonation requires careful pour and creates a big, bubbly, lasting head; murky brown, unfiltered, a little like real apple cider

Aroma: toffee, creme brulee, vanilla - it's coming off like dessert, lot's of rich malt

Taste & Mouthfeel: carbonation intense enough that it stings isn't helping, but could be worse; diverges significantly from the aroma with caramelized apple flavours briefly showing at the start, quickly giving way to fairly unique hop notes - pine, but light, with touches of fruit - want to say citrus, but feels more exotic; great length and finish; carbonation calms over time, not a hindrance; some bubblegum; midway through it's really becoming well balanced between the resin and caramelized apple/pear flavours

Overall: interesting stuff going on here, and different; they've done a good job of highlighting a rarely seen hop variety in North America; just a few kinks to be worked out, but definitely worth a try
Jan 22, 2014
M.P.A from Renaissance Brewing
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 83 ratings