Motueka Italian Pilsner
Goldspot Brewing

Poured from a 16 oz can into a tulip glass a 2F white foam head forms that quickly fades with virtually no lace. Color is pale lemon yellow with about 80% transparency. Lots of effervescent bubbles emerge as it settles. With some cans, the beer is more cloudy and had a fair amount of visible dark particulate bobbing around and finally settling in the bottom of the glass.

On the nose when straight from the fridge I get a bit of herbal hop notes and a little lemony yeast.

Here is where things get really different. After about 5 minutes from the fridge I notice a strong bitter hop notes like oregano oil along with a slight soap like sourness. After about 20 minutes and some swirling the beer transforms with notes of floral chamomile, lighter oregano bitterness and tangy lemongrass. The hops are heavy herbal flavored and dry, yet malt and notes of basil also come through. Yet, a revisit with food and the strong oregano oil notes hit way too hard.

Mouthfeel is medium and punctuated with sharp and crisp effervescent tang at first with heavy metallic notes. As it warms and swirled the bubbles are smaller and the carbonation smooths a bit. Light astringency accompanies the slippery texture to a dry and light bitter finish.

Overall this is a chameleon beer. You have to let it warm up before discovering its true character. I know you cannot judge beer as well when cold but this change was remarkable. Still, I am not a big fan. More malt is needed to keep the hops in check for me. Oil of oregano note is too much for me.