Mac's Copperhop Pale Ale
Mac's Brewery

 

6 September 2006, Best Before Dec 06

Copper coloured with a small dense head. Aroma of zesty citrusy hops and some fruit (banana). Tastes fresh and hoppy, fruity, with some toffee-ish malt underneath. Some bitterness in a reasonable aftertaste. Light to medium bodied. Tasty and refreshing. Not a bad pale ale.

when a mate from new zealand first introduced be to mac's beers, i was quite intrugued if only for the reason they still use the pop top on their bottles. this is technology i hadnt seen on a beer in many years. i had also heard the beers were pretty good. and while i very much like the black mac's, im not quite so sold on this one. my review scores are a bit all over this place with this particular brew, and it shows in the beer.

excellent deep amber color, plenty of fizz, but a head that rapidly dies and does not revive. nose is ok, very fruity, lot of citrus and tropical aspects, a hint of toast and some floral hoppiness. however, this is detracted from by a lingering metallic presence that never quite hides itself at any stage. initially pleasant flavor, again quite fruity, some good malt backbone and finishing hop bitterness, but in between there is that unpalatable raspy texture that is common to macros. this is not something i would expect to find in a micro anywhere, and especially not one from NZ. this really causes the drinking experience to deteriorate. however, this is actually a very good beer to drink after youve had a few (and by a few i mean a FEW) as you tend not to notice the poorer elements of the beer.

this beer is not a total stinker, but very much on the disappointing side for a micro and even moreso for a new zealand micro. there are plenty better beers available at the price than this little number.

Thanks to Mr. Nagano for muling this from NZ to Japan for me.

A - Transparent, slightly hazy copper body, with a pure white thin head.
S - Bold and beautiful malt and hop aroma.
T - Mild bitterness follows the bread crusty malt. Very clearly dry hopped, though the bottle says "Late Hopped Pale Ale".
M - A little thin on the mouthfeel and a residual sweetness bring down this beer.
D - I sent word to the Bros. that this should be relabled. after reading rastaman's review, I might agree with pale ale, but can pale ales be dry hopped? Enjoyable but nothing to write home about.

Lagery type IPA. Mild fruity citric/tropical fruity hops. BUt not much esle, for the most part bland with some metallic edges. Whoever added this as a double IPA should be shot, i wouldn't even call it an IPA, tastes like a lager to me, but it is an ale, so it should be acalled a Pale Ale? I thinkthe brewer lists it as an IPA though.

This is Mac's interpretation of an India Pale Ale. I'm more inclined to call it a uniquely-hopped Pale Ale, rather than an IPA, but who am I to argue with the brewer.

Let me explain. This beer, according to McCashin's, is a 'late hopped pale ale.' In practical terms--at least to my nose/tongue--that results in a very raw hoppiness. They use a combination of five different hops--all grown in Nelson, NZ--and they're not added until the end of the boil, which leaves a hoppy freshness right at the front of this beer. It's almost as if the hops are not IN this beer but ON it.

Pours a dark gold color with a slight amber hue. Good, sticky head retention.

Overall, this is a very unique brew. How unique? Consider this: In 4.5 months of traveling in Europe (including Belgium & Germany) then New Zealand, this is the only one I felt compelled to take notes on! If you're ever down New Zealand, skip the Lion Red and Export Gold crap that floods the shelves and look for this beer. Mac's beers are made from "all natural ingredients" (a phrase that actually has some meaning in New Zealand).