MateVeza Yerba Mate Ale

MateVeza reviewed on GQ.com in Eating & Drinking:

The Draft: MateVeza Solves the Caffeine-And-Hooch Conundrum

On July 01, 2010 at 4:35 PM

Uppers and downers are the yin and yang of civilized drinking, and for centuries drinkers have sought that elusive holy grail—a palatable blend of caffeine and hooch.

Brewers have tried and failed. Miller bought tongue-staining Sparks, but removed the caffeine after a lawsuit. Moonshot bills itself as the first beer to contain caffeine—it’s been around since 2004—but it still hasn’t caught on. Even so, Budweiser knocked it off with B(e) (that’s “B-to-the-E”). It failed, too. (Mixing beer and coffee has been slightly more successful. Coffee stouts contain negligible caffeine, but a cafe in Grand Rapids, Mich., mixes very good espresso-IPA cocktail.)

In MateVeza we may have finally found the answer. This isn’t the vodka-and-Red-Bull of beers—unlike some souped-up Stoli, MateVeza is flavored with a natural yerba mate (that Argentine tea you slurp from a gourd) which goes surprisingly well with beer. Mate is naturally bitter. But so are hops, thought Jim Woods, who created MateVeza in 2007. Woods mixes in mate with the malted grain to make MateVeza, because adding it at the boiling stage, as you would with hops, would make the mate would too astringent, like over-steeped tea. And it works. Their IPA and black lager (made with toasted mate as well as regular, air-dried tea) are both pleasantly bitter up front, and have a dark, leafy, slightly grainy finish. It’s a little too prominent in the lager, but in the case of the IPA, the mate mellows what would otherwise be a very angular, hop-forward beer. There’s no taurine or guarana here, and while the caffeine is noticeable (I’m writing this at 3 A.M.), it’s not overpowering (my hands aren’t shaking). So, enjoy this like a beer—after all, it tastes like one—and save the Sparks for the morning after.

For more beer reviews, and news of my cross-country brewery tour, follow @beercraftbook.

— William Bostwick

Read More http://www.gq.com/blogs/the-q/2010/07/the-draft-mateveza.html#ixzz0sU2JEH8J

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

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!

Read the rest of this entry »

MateVeza review on leafygreen.info:

The fusion of Organic Yerba Mate and Cerveza results in a very drinkable pale ale called MateVeza. The naturally caffeinated pale ale is a unique style in the craft beer market. First off, this beer is caffeinated because Yerba Mate provides natural energy from the plant. I’m not sure of the actual brewing process but the beer tastes slightly like Mate but definitely resembles a straight-forward pale ale.

Mate is normally woodsy and heavy unlike most teas. The mellow hops and citrus flavor counter balance the ale nicely.

MateVeza is a very drinkable Pale Ale so if you’re on the west coast, go ahead and buy some of it in the local stores, if you’re anywhere else, check out the site for information and a locator.

Read the rest of this entry »

MateVeza reviewed on ecofabulous:

Cure for the Summertime Blues

At first sip, MateVeza tastes… interesting. But by the third sip, our little after work impromptu office party couldn’t get enough. The yerba mate infused cerveza has an unexpected kick that sets it far apart from other beers. It has a decidedly herbal finish and a natural stimulant, making it both unique and compelling. Now we’re not saying swap your morning cup of joe for a bottle of this earthy brew, but the next time you have some friends over for a BBQ and don’t want to take a 3pm nap, pop open a MateVeza and make your event a hopping success.

Read the rest of this entry »

Check out an interview with MateVeza founder Jim Woods on whitscott.com.

Read the rest of this entry »

MateVeza made its first television appearance on Your Green Life on Channel 13, the WB in San Francisco.

Read the rest of this entry »

So the judges applauded MateVeza but ruled it out of bounds as an “Experimental Beer”. Looks like next year we’ll be entered in the “Herb and Spice Beer” category.

Judge 17 found the flavor balanced and appropriate “if it is your cup of tea”. Here at MateVeza, we greatly appreciate clever witticisms and just might end up putting this gem to use ourselves - touché!

Read the rest of this entry »

MateVeza chosen as a winner of VegNews’ 2007 Veggie Awards.

Read the rest of this entry »

MateVeza was rated one of the top 25 beers of 2007 by Draft Magazine.

Read the rest of this entry »