Unlike most of New Zealand who went straight to the drinks cabinet to toast New Zealand’s rugby win, your dedicated Moa team headed down to the shop floor to brew up a celebratory batch they’re calling the ‘Four More Years’ beer.

The Four More Years beer is brewed like a Moa Imperial Stout, infused with Guatemala coffee beans, then added to French barriques for extended maturation.

Moa founder Josh Scott says the beer was not only inspired by the All Blacks’ triumph over the French but also looks ahead to future ABs’ wins at the 2015 World Cup.

“Because the next World Cup is in the UK, we thought a stout was fitting. Plus, it’s big and black like our team – and at 10.11% ABV, it packs a punch equivalent to Jerome Kaino in a crash tackle.

“Given we had France over a barrel, the French barriques are appropriate, and the coffee is a nod to the fact Kiwis will all be getting up early or staying up late to watch the next Cup in 2015.”

Josh says Moa selected the coffee beans after a cupping (tasting) session with boutique Marlborough roasting company CPR Coffee.

“As with beer, there’s a huge difference between good and bad coffee beans. Our cupping session not only helped turn us into proper coffee snobs but, more importantly, it ensured we got the finest quality beans that best fitted our beer.

“The Guatemala beans were chosen because of their low bitterness levels, high aromatics, chocolate aromas and low oil content.”

The Four More Years beer will be lovingly stored in the Moa cellar until 2015, when it will be bottled in 500 750ml bottles, as well as 1.5 litre Magnums, 3 litre Jeroboams and – to ensure there’s plenty to go around at the victory party – 6 litre Methusalahs.

Moa plans to design and unveil the label in 2015, with each bottle numbered and signed by Josh Scott and Moa master brewer David Nicholls.

Fans will have to wait until at least 2013 to place their order… although bribes will be accepted in advance for a place on the waiting list.

MOA ‘FOUR MORE YEARS’ NOTES

Style: French oak aged and Guatemala coffee infused imperial stout.

Tasting notes: Big robust beer. Like a gutsy red wine. Rich dark roasted malt and leather characters, all infused with a delicate coffee aroma that exudes a typical freshly roasted coffee and handmade chocolate flavour.

10.11% Alc.

Moa brewery has stolen the show at a prestigious international beer competition winning a record 12 awards.

More medals were awarded to Moa than any other brewery across its beer and cider range at the Asia Beer Awards held in Singapore this month.

Moa won big for its range of beer variants, beating out more than 450 entries from 47 countries to take home six Golds, two Silvers and two Bronze medals.

Then Moa also snaffled  Gold in the Cider category (World) for its Weka Pear Cider as judged by 15 international experts, and Weka Apple Cider was awarded the Silver medal in the same category.

Moa sales agent Scott Williams attended the Singapore event and says the response from the attendees and international media has been incredible.

“This year is the first time Moa has entered this competition, so we were thrilled to get such a record haul. While we’re proud of all our awards, we’re particularly chuffed with our Gold and Silver for Weka Cider.

“Cider is one of the fastest-growing categories in New Zealand, with a lot of brands vying for attention, so it’s great to be at the top of this game.”

“As well as the medal haul, it was fantastic to see first-hand how well-respected the Moa brand is internationally,” Williams says.

“I was treated like a celebrity on the awards floor – shaking hands, signing autographs, posing for photos and even giving one enthusiastic supporter the shirt off my back. It seems in Asia, Moa really is the rock star of beers.”

MOA’S GOLD MEDALS:
Moa Methode (Seasonal Ale – Asia)
Moa St Josephs (Belgium Golden Ale – Asia)
Moa Imperial Stout (Stout – Asia)
Moa Blanc Evolution (Wheat/Wit/Weiss – Asia)
Moa Pale Ale (Pale Ale/Amber Ale – World)
Moa Pale Ale (Pale Ale/Amber Ale – Asia)
Weka Pear Cider (Cider – World)

MOA’S SILVER MEDALS:
Moa Breakfast Beer (Flavoured / Fruit Beer – Asia)
Moa St Josephs (Belgium Golden Ale – World)
Weka Apple Cider (Cider – World)

MOA’S BRONZE MEDALS:
Moa Original (Lager – Asia)
Moa Imperial Stout (Stout – World)

Moa Beer has romped home with seven medals at the Australian International Beer Awards, more than any other New Zealand beer.

We won gold for our Moa Five Hop Ale in the British Style Ale (Packaged) category, as well as two silvers for Moa Original (European style lager) and Moa Five Hop (Wood-aged beer). It also took out four bronzes for Moa Methode (European style lager), Moa Pale Ale (American-style pale ale), Moa St Josephs (Abbey-style, Dubbel & Triple ales) and Moa Imperial Stout (Hybrid beer).

Moa founder Josh Scott says the awards are not only a terrific result for Moa but also a great reflection on New Zealand craft beer generally.

“It’s always awesome when we beat the Aussies on their home turf and we take great pleasure in sticking it to them in this case as well.

“We’re extremely happy with the results, which all count towards our quest for super-premium beer world domination.

“And in addition to Moa’s wins, we’re equally chuffed to see our Marlborough neighbours Renaissance scoring big with their Craftsman Oatmeal which took home the Champion Stout trophy as well as four other medals.

“Likewise the other Kiwi craft beers making the medal table – the likes of Yeastie Boys, Stoke, Croucher, Founders and Invercargill Brewery. Nice one guys.”

Josh also congratulates New Zealand brands Tui Blonde and Mac’s Gold, which both received bronze awards in the Australian-style lager category: “I guess picking up an Aussie-style award is some sort of compliment.”

We brought home some shiny metal this weekend. Picking up Bronze at the prestigious Brewing Industry International Awards in Britain. Now our paperwork will be forever unmolested by errant breezes with this impressive paperweight, which features the silhouette of a man leaning on a brewing vat for support.

Dubbed the brewing Oscars, 86 medals were awarded at the 2011 competition in Burton-upon-Trent, with Moa the only New Zealand beer to pick up a gong. Its Five Hop Barrel Reserve won Bronze in the Special Feature Beer category. “This is a terrific result for Moa,” says brewer Josh Scott.  “Since they began in London in 1886, these awards have been recognised as the premier brewing competition in the world.

“More than 750 beers were submitted for this year’s awards across nine categories and we’re delighted to be the only Kiwi brewery to pick up a medal. Unlike wine awards where more than one wine can win a ‘bronze standard’, medals are awarded to individual beers only.“It’s a real honour as all the judges are practising brewers with years of expertise in the tasting and commercial evaluation of beers,” says Scott. “Another unique feature of this competition is the judging categories are separated into classes defined primarily by alcoholic strength, which encourages diversity and innovation in beer styles.”

News articles:
Marlborough Express
Fresh in the Kitchen
Brewers Guild of New Zealand