Macs Sassy Red

Brewed by Macs Brewery
Style: Bitter
Wellington, New Zealand

330ml Good look frothy head strong good size carbonation tops in a red coloured pour aroma toffee honey malt biscuit some fruit flavour toffee biscuit citrus some stone fruit bitter taste good hoppiness apricot note finish fruity mild bitter fizz lingers not bad at all

A very smartly copnstructured beer. shows a great mix and balance of light touch malts, pilsner-like hops and a settled bitter edge reminisce of any decent bitter from the UK. Perfectly drinkable. In fact, were it not for a modest burst from the toffee mlats early I might have been convinced I was sipping a pilsner. Gassy, fizzy finish.

Hoppy nose, I reckon hops were added late as an after thought. as very plain beer. Is red in colour with small head.

Tasted 23/01/2005. Rerated 09/03/2005. A "Pint" at the bar in the brewery. Pours a red amber with an off-white almost creamy head. Temperature of beer at the brewery is too cold to release the full aroma, but the nose hints of berry fruit, wine and some floral notes. Flavour is caramel, aniseed and has a soft hoppy bitter bite. Palate is left very clean. A good kiwi red quaffer but another Wellington Brewery beer chilled well down below maximum enjoyment. Re-tasted 06/01/2007. New branding. Lovely drop. Hop sack indeed! Tropical fruit, a little strawberry and subdued earthiness on the nose. Then fresh grated chocolate and pale malts come through. Fairly highly attenuated for a "Best" but a nice caramel and toasty malt presence, plus lovely strawberry, papaya and lemon hop aromatics make it a winner. I’m almost digging Saaz B. Bottle beats tap, for me. Possibly the most balanced of all these new world ales coming through in this part of the world. I guess that’s why it’s winning best Amber Ale every year at BrewNZ.

Beautiful copper deep red and floral nose. Sweet but well balanced. Best example of style that I’ve had. Excellent.

Looks good with a deep copper red hue and a generous though short lived beige head. Initial mixed fruit hop aroma followed by some smooth chewy malts. On tasting it is dry and fresh in the mouth, then a bit of a sweet burst during the swallow, then followed by a long dry bitter finish. Interesting the first couple of times but a bit of a jumble after. Nice depth of body and pleasant drinking made easy with a good level of carbonation. It seems like a bit of a dogs breakfast, but it is interesting and more-ish.

Mmmm....Looks a treat but just had an unendearing quality. Very malt sweet with little bitterness to counter balance.

33cl bottle, Wellington. Pours a deep amber colour, thin head, very hoppy aroma that does not follow through to the flavor. A good beer, but perhaps not as good as the Mac’s Copperhop for hops lovers.