MateVeza Yerba Mate Ale

Naturally Caffeinated, Organic Black Lager Brewed with Yerba Mate Now Available

SAN FRANCISCO, Jun. 10 — In a world of fizzy, flavorless, mass-marketed yellow lagers, MateVeza’s new Organic Black Lager is a light in the dark. Roasted malt combined with yerba mate, the South American caffeinated herbal tea, delivers rich, chocolaty flavors. The use of lager yeast (characteristic of Pilsners and American Light Lagers) as opposed to ale yeast (characteristic of Porters and Stouts) provides a crisp, refreshing finish. MateVeza’s newest offering comes on the heels of its recent expansion to Colorado and Nevada from its existing distribution in California, Oregon, and Washington.

The MateVeza line of organic craft beers is brewed with yerba mate, contributing both a unique flavor and a natural source of caffeine. The yerba mate in MateVeza’s new organic Black Lager provides an amount of caffeine equivalent to one half cup of coffee per twelve-ounce serving.

Yerba mate is cultivated in South America, where a yerba mate infusion is as ubiquitous as a cup of coffee in the United States. However, many prefer the gentle stimulating effects of yerba mate to those of coffee. In addition, yerba mate is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The yerba mate ritual has been an integral part of South American culture for hundreds of years, bringing family and friends together.

MateVeza was conceived in 2004 by homebrewer Jim Woods after he fortuitously followed a sip of freshly brewed yerba mate with a hoppy pale ale in his San Francisco apartment. No stranger to creating his own beer recipes, sparks flew for Jim, as the contrasting flavors of yerba mate, hops and malt came together to create a delicious and truly unique beer drinking experience. Woods had first learned about yerba mate from his cousin and later experienced the yerba mate culture firsthand when he himself had the privilege of traveling to Argentina.

Woods developed a yerba mate ale recipe and brought MateVeza to market in November of 2006, making it the first beer brewed with yerba mate in the world. The San Francisco Chronicle called MateVeza a “buzz-worthy new beer” and Draft Magazine cited it as “proof that beer can go well beyond its four main ingredients.”

Mate + Cerveza = MateVeza… Together at last!

MateVeza Organic Black Lager is now available in bottles throughout California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Colorado, with limited supply of draft beer in select markets. MateVeza Black Lager will retail for approximately $4.00 - $5.50 per 22-ounce bottle. Visit http://www.mateveza.com for details on availability.

About MateVeza:
MateVeza (Mate + Cerveza) markets and sells organic, naturally caffeinated beers brewed with yerba mate, the South American herbal tea. MateVeza’s award-winning beers, including Yerba Mate Gold, Yerba Mate IPA, and new Black Lager, are brewed and bottled in Ukiah, California by Mendocino Brewing Company. MateVeza is USDA certified organic by CCOF. More information about MateVeza is available at  http://www.mateveza.com

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High resolution photo of new Black Lager: http://mateveza.com/Black_22oz.jpg
High resolution photos of all MateVeza products: http://mateveza.com/MateVeza_Graphics.zip
MateVeza Sales Sheet: http://mateveza.com/MateVeza_Sales_Sheet.pdf/

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MateVeza Organic Yerba Mate IPA

About.com Rating 4.5 Star Rating

By Lindsey Goodwin, About.com Guide

MateVeza Organic Yerba Mate Black Lager is a 5.2%-alcohol, 25-IBU Schwarzbier brewed with yerba mate. Each 12-ounce serving contains about 60 mg of caffeine, which is roughly equivalent to a 3/4-cup of coffee (depending on the coffee).

This black lager has a has a roasty, rich, coffee-like flavor that’s dark enough for winter, but a light body that makes this just about the darkest beer I’d ever love to crack open in summertime.

Appearance

MateVeza (short for “Mate Cerveza”) bottles all sport an image of a gaucho holding a yerba mate bombilla (drinking straw) and gourd. It’s partially based on MateVeza’s owner, Jim Woods, and partially based on a classic painting of a South American cowboy. Even people who get confused by the image and think it portrays a pirate seem to think it’s pretty cool, and I have to agree. It gives the brand personality and makes it stand out in the cooler and on the shelves.

Poured, MateVeza Organic Yerba Mate Black Lager is nearly black (hence the name “Black Lager”) with a minimal beige head.

Aroma, Flavor, Aftertaste & Body Effect

MateVeza Organic Black lager has a mild, lightly bittersweet and very malty aroma.

Its flavor is less like the green yerba mate notes of MateVeza Organic Yerba mate IPA and more like the full flavor of roasted yerba mate. Notes of rich malts, bittersweet chocolate and Turkish coffee give it a dark, robust flavor, yet, strangely, the body is quite light.

The finish is long and heavy on the yerba mate, and the aftertaste is reminiscent of espresso. Yum!

Like the flavor, the body effect is pleasantly balanced. It’s uplifting, but rather than the jarring feeling of drinking an energy drink shot, it’s actually relaxing and energizing at once.

Recommendations

This versatile beer is great for drinking year round. Its flavor is likely to appeal to yerba mate drinkers and fans of dark beers. Given its Turkish coffee and espresso notes, I also recommend it to coffee drinkers.

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MateVeza Organic Yerba Mate IPA

About.com Rating 4.5 Star Rating

By Lindsey Goodwin, About.com Guide

MateVeza Organic Yerba Mate IPA is a 7.0%-alcohol, 60-IBU India Pale Ale brewed with yerba mate. Each serving contains about 60 mg of caffeine, which is roughly equivalent to a 3/4-cup of coffee (depending on the coffee). However, if you’re looking for the next Red Bull and Vodka, this is not it — MateVeza Organic Yerba Mate IPA has a complex, bittersweet flavor that’s suitable more for beer and yerba mate aficionados than it is for caffeine junkies.

Appearance

MateVeza (short for “Mate Cerveza”) bottles all sport an image of a gaucho holding a yerba mate bombilla (drinking straw) and gourd. It’s partially based on MateVeza’s owner, Jim Woods, and partially based on a classic painting of a South American cowboy. Even people who get confused by the image and think it portrays a pirate seem to think it’s pretty cool, and I have to agree. It gives the brand personality and makes it stand out in the cooler and on the shelves.

Poured, MateVeza Organic Yerba Mate IPA is pumpkin orange with a medium-small head.

Aroma, Flavor, Aftertaste & Body Effect

Just as you’d expect from a skilled combination of yerba mate and IPA, this yerba mate beer has a hoppy, bittersweet aroma with a hint of yerba mate earthiness.

One taste of MateVeza IPA and things start to get interesting. The flavor is complex yet playful. It’s bittersweet yet summery and balanced. Full flavors of tropical fruit give it a mild sweetness just before the yerba mate kicks in for a long, dry finish. The characteristic hoppiness of a good IPA is there, but some of it is replaced with the bitter notes of yerba mate.

Like the flavor, the body effect is pleasantly balanced. It’s uplifting, but rather than the jarring feeling of drinking an energy drink shot, it’s actually relaxing and energizing at once.

Recommendations

If a tasting amongst friends is any indication of wider preferences, it seems that people who like either IPA or yerba mate (and not necessarily both) truly enjoy this beer. I highly recommend this beer to fans of either yerba mate or IPA, and I especially recommend it to those who are fans of both.

Given the summery flavors of this IPA, I also recommend it for summertime events, such as barbecues, picnics and sports outings.

One last recommendation: If you want to learn more about this beer, check out the About Beer MateVeza IPA Review, too!

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