Monteith's Maximalt
Monteith's Brewing Co.

Tried at the Brewery, early November 2005.

We got told this one was brewed for a recent NZ brewing competition, in which it didn't win anything. Rather inauspicious beginning, but then we got to try it.

It looked rather bland, an orangey-brown, slightly translucent brew with a small amount of white frothy head. Minimal carbonation.

Then I took my first smell, and it was amazing. Complex range of esters, strong fruity aromas with banana and mango prominent. Under this was the sweet dark malty undertones on which the beer was based. Very, very good smell. Rich complex, intricate.

Neither did the taste disappoint. It was rich and filling, with a good malty backbone. The fruity esters roamed about my mouth and it finished with a rather sweet, but dry flavour. There was very little bitterness, as this brew was under-hopped, but it gained all its complexity from the maltiness sitting underneath.

This was a really big surprise, and a remarkable beer. It really stood out from the rest of the Monteith's range (which in general, I quite liked). I guess that, unfortunately, it won't be around very much, but if you get a chance to sample it, do it.