In this most out there of brewing eras, the word hazy brings to mind descriptors such as "opaque" and "juicy". Yet creating such of-the-moment beers doesn’t feel like the Matilda Bay way, especially since the pioneering brand was reborn in the Yarra Vallery via a partnership between original co-founder Phil Sexton and CUB/Asahi.
One imagines the team at the brewpub were thinking more of the unfiltered kellerbiers of Europe than the IPAs of New England when conceiving Hazy Lager. Certainly, the very pale hue and gentle haze within ensure it looks more like a witbier than a contemporary hazy in the glass, while the choice of German and Czech hops keeps things suitably old school. Sure, there’s a little lemony citrus lurking within but overall this lager is more about the floral than the fruity, the gentle than the juicy, with a softness both to the texture and the bitterness as the Australian pilsner malt brings a touch of grainy sweetness.
A beer designed to disappear.
James Smith
If you're reading this before November 22, 2023, we're giving away cases of Hazy Lager in a competition for our Crafty Cabal beer club members. More here.
Published March 20, 2023 2023-03-20 00:00:00
