Holgate Mt Macedon DDH Pale Ale

TASTING NOTES

As the name goes, Double Decade Double-Hopped Mt Macedon Pale Ale doesn’t exactly a roll off the tongue, but does it travel better the other way? It’s the fourth in the series of releases brewed by Holgate to mark their first 20 years in operation following beefed up versions of their ESB, Stout and White Ale, and the one-time to be released as the double decade ticks over. It’s not double the size, weighing in at a strong pale ale-esque 5.8 percent ABV, and doesn’t pack double the punch either. Instead, it appears to be more a case of enhancing the beer’s flavour and aroma without impacting its sessionability and that, for the most part, means delivering more hoppiness. From within the faintly hazy copper liquid, you’ll likely pick up light, sherbety citrus, red berry and melon aromas, and even some Wrigley’s Juicy Fruits gum character atop the gentle malt sweetness, too. Bitterness is restrained and it’s pretty lightfooted and easy-drinking. So, yes, it does travel over your tongue better than it rolls off it.

BREWERY SNAPSHOT

Since it’s start up in 1999 in Paul and Natasha Holgate’s backyard, Holgate Brewhouse brewing company has been producing genuine craft beer from the village of Woodend in Victoria. Brewed, bottled and kegged right there, their beers come straight to you from their family-owned brewery, which they’re stoked to have installed in the awesome 19th century red brick Hotel in Woodend.

DID YOU KNOW?

Owners Paul and Natasha met at Uni when they were 19, fell in love, got married, travelled the world and were inspired. Both have science and chemistry backgrounds and worked for multinational corporate companies before giving it all up to start their own family business.