Beer Review: Mata Volcano Red IPA

SMOOTH: The Mata Volcano Red IPA's bitter-sweet flavours are perfectly balanced, producing a very smooth and drinkable seasonal brew. PHOTO/MATTHEW MARTIN241014matax1

The Mata Volcano Red IPA has come all the way from Kawerau and is testament to the skills of multiple-award winning brewer Tammy Viitakangas.

Mata has always produced a very clean and tidy range of craft beers, but in the past has shied away from big, bold hoppy flavours.

More recently it has decided to offer something more to craft beer "geeks", producing this IPA along with a pilsner and a pale ale.

This is a wonderfully balanced, seasonal red IPA with toffee and caramel malts.

It's not overly hoppy and very approachable, it's bitterness is offset by a subtle fruity sweetness which belies its 7 per cent alcohol rating.

Enjoyed with CBK's black and tan beer bread and preserved lemon aioli, my drinking buddy and I had to go back for more.

Beware, this is also very easy to drink, one will not do.

I hope the brewer decides to keep this in their permanent range, because this is a very well crafted beer worthy of any fine drinking establishment.

Four and a half pints out of five.

Beer and bread kindly supplied by CBK Craft Bar and Kitchen on Eat Streat Rotorua. Mata Volcano is also available at Pak'nSave, or visit www.mata.net.nz.