Mac's Rockaway Pacific Pale Ale

Overall I've been fairly unimpressed with Mac's since they were taken over by Lion (once upon a time when I was just a visitor in New Zealand I thought their beer was amazing). But I'm always keen to try something I haven't had before so I gave this a crack.

Also a quick Google about what exactly a Pacific Pale Ale is was interesting. There doesn't seem to be a specific definition of it, but I came across a lawsuit from Stone & Wood who were the first to call a beer "Pacific Ale" and unsuccessfully tried to claim Thunder Road Pacific Ale was a breech of intellectual property or something to that extent. It was found that at the time several breweries were making "Pacific" ales (specifically referencing Garage Project Hapi Daze and Yeastie Boys Stairdancer) and that referred to beers with Aussie and/or Kiwi hops.

Oddly enough the first thing that came to mind when I tasted this beer was Carlton Draught. There's a distinctively Aussie beer flavour in this beer reminiscent of Cooper's Pale Ale, Foster's, Carlton Draught ("pot of draught mate"), Crown Lager (Crownies), VB and XXXX. I'm fairly sure that's Pride of Ringwood hops (once upon a time the highest Alpha [bitterning] hop in the world, and apparently at one time more than 90% of the hop used in Aussie beer) and if it's not it must be one of the closely related Aussie hops (like Super Pride). Described as spicy and earthy by others, I have to say that the dominant flavour of that hop for me is kind of like copper or metallic with a hint of earthy grassy British hop note. 

There are definitely some much nicer hops in this beer too and while I get a whiff of classic Aussie draught beer I also get some nice craft beer notes, although fairly subtle. The malting is quite nice feeling very light in body without being light in flavour. I think it would be quite a nice beer on a hot Summer day (maybe at a BBQ in Brisbane). Unfortunately I'm drinking it on a cold winter's morning in Palmerston North (morning after a night shift).

And it definitely gave me something good to rant about.

macs.co.nz

ABV: 4.7%

Brewery: Mac's

Region: Auckland

Style: Pacific Pale Ale

Wife Check: Coming Soon

Drinking Song: Down Under by Men at Work