They're appearing only sporadically – at least at time of writing – but given the way the wide world of beverages is going, both in terms of styles and non-alc, Moo Brew may come to be seen as one of the earlier adopters of hop soda / hop water. Theirs comes with a distinctive look far removed from the John Kelly stylings of their beer releases, as well as a damn fine name: Notto Blotto, which sounds like a fancy Italian soft drink yet couldn't be much more Aussie.
In many ways, it's a big fat zero: zero booze, zero carbs, zero calories. But, with no malt there to get in the way, the impact of the hops is far from zero. Appearance-wise it could pass as elderflower lemonade, yet it serves up the familiar tropi-citrus vibe found in many contemporary pale ales with a candied edge on the nose, as well as the feeling you've just dipped your nose into a freshly-opened bag of hop pellets.
There's a little more bitterness and less sweetness at play than in some other examples I've tried, making Notto Blotto both very dry and, arguably, more beer like in the manner it finishes. Except, of course, that this won't get you blotto – not even in the slightest.
James Smith
Published February 28, 2024 2024-02-28 00:00:00
