Moffat Beach Social Jam Pale Mid

My grandparents used to own a beach house at Caloundra, so all the way through my childhood my family went there for our holidays. My brother and I would wander down to the beach every day (unsupervised - these were simpler days) to swim for hours and then laze around looking over the water.

All this to say I’m very familiar with the exact patch of grass that this label depicts; it’s incredibly thick with nostalgia for me, and feels like a portrait of my childhood holidays. (Well, except for the surfboards. If I’d attempted to surf, I don’t think I would have made it to adulthood.) I didn’t drink beer at the time (obviously), but somehow Social Jam still captures some of those feelings perfectly.

There’s not a lot to say about this beer that isn’t captured in the vibe of the label. A gentle hop aroma lifts from the surface and smooth bready malt character swims alongside the hops in the mouth. Soft bitterness lands on the tongue like sea spray on your skin. It’s exactly as easy drinking as you’d expect, and gives you a deep longing for slow days in the sun.

Mick Wust