Moa Noir

Brewed by The Moa Brewing Company
Style: American Dark Lager
Blenheim, New Zealand

Bottle, from store in Hanoi. Murky deep brown, opaque with scant head. Yeasty aroma is candy sugar, Belgian-influenced, dark sugars, chocolate-covered berries, cake. Easy palate is prickly at first but not high carbonation. Finish is abrupt. Thin, minerally, and dry. Flavors are not as complex as the aromas let on, it’s not a sophisticated brew but it is nice, has dry cocoa flavors.

Dark brown. A bit murky-looking. Interesting nose - dark toffee/molasses thing is promising. This character carries through on a medium body. At the end, there is some toastiness.

Bottle. Brown with reddish tinge and tan head. Sweet malt with little to no bitternes, chocolate etc. Small coffee notes. Not very exciting.

Bottle. Very dark & opaque. Deep off white head that lasted for a while. Some lacing. Smell is all about the malt and in particular chocolate & roasted malt. Taste is very much built around the roasted malt. Quite nutty & a little smokey. A little think with minal mouthfeel. Could certainly drink a few of these.

Bottle sample at Knoxville Brewers Jam 2009. Poured hazy brown color with an average frothy off-white head that was mostly lasting and excellent lacing. Moderate toasted malt aroma. Medium body with a smooth texture and soft carbonation. Medium sweet flavor with a medium sweet finish of moderate duration. Session drinkable brew.

Bottle at Minibar in Queenstown. Pours dark brown with a small tan head. Aroma is malty, with roast, hops, and caramel. The flavor is more of the same, along with some wood, molasses, and herbal notes. Medium bodied. Dry and roasty finish, with a roasty aftertaste. Good example of the style.

Such a mild little "pop" of the cork, I was surprised to see a few bubbles about to come out of the bottle. Brown color with a lovely hue of purple on the edges when held to the light. Tall, near rocky beige head. Aromas heavy with heavily caramelized malt. Hints of molasses, grass and roasted malt. Has some heft in the body, but that is quickly lost with very lively carbonation. Actually quite dry in flavor with only hints of pale malt and light fruit. Bits of herbal hops in the middle. LIght roasted malt in the finish along with some black malt acidity. A bit of roasted malt in the linger.

Pours a light brown with a fine, fluffy, lingering head. Nose of roasted malts, caramel and mild coffee. Flavor had notes of chocolate and caramel and coffee. Light with a slight sourness. Finished smooth. Pretty good.