I resume my world beer tour ensconced on my couch in Blenheim, New Zealand at Moa Brewing Company. I am about to sample their Breakfast Ale.  They ambiguously put “ale brewed with natural flavors” on their matte black label, so I am in for a surprise.  I would say this is my first breakfast ale; I have had breakfast stouts, but this is definitely waned, and I do not expect
the usual coffee and oatmeal notes typical of a breakfast stout.

Appearance:  It comes in a forest green, caged twelve ounce bottle. It pours a vivid polished gold with a bone white head.  There are almost no bubbles, which is completely opposite what I expect given the caging, although the cork was very quick to pop when I removed to cage.

Smell:  There is a very pleasant, fruity aroma:  cherry sorbet, kiwi, watermelon and fresh cut  strawberries.  It is like a liquid fruit cup.

Taste:  It does not quite match the smell in terms of layered fruits, but it is crisp and not cloying.  It does take on a Champagne quality and it seems the cherry is dominant. That part seems a little one dimensional but there is a touch of hop bitterness in the finish to keep the sugar sweetness in check. 

It seems like a good “beermosa” to have with breakfast because of its “extra dry Champagne” taste.  
Look for this as well as Moa’s Pale Ale at your local ABC.   

Beer blogger Adam Shugan is still on his virtual world tour, tasting beers from just about  everywhere. He is the store manager at our Archer Road ABC in Gainesville.