Mac's Apparation Hazy IPA 5.6%
Left this out of the fridge for about an hour. Wasn't an overly warm day but it is winter.
Well bought a 6 pack of this for around $10 usd. Cheap macro brewed IPA. Expectations were low it was about 1/3rd cheaper than my last non Emerson's purchase.
Reasonably low ABV by IPA standards more like the other cheap IPAs one can buy. Expectations fairly low. Not the biggest IPA fan either as it's a crap shoot.
The one ray of sunshine was the brand. Mac's is owned by Lion Nathan who own Emersons and are the better macro brewery NZ company (owned by Kirin iirc).
As fair as macro beer goes Mac's is quite good. They make a nice hoppy pilsner and most of their range is drinkable to reasonably good.
Anyway first impressions. It looks like a hazy APA/IPA last one wasnt very hazy and tasted a bit meh.
On the nose it did smell like an IPA with hints of fruity/tropical scent. Unusual in the cheap ones at best it's normally fainter.
Had a sip and didn't hate it. In fact pleasantly surprised even tasted nice. Double checked the can. Finished the can and enjoyed it
Not the best beer in the world or even IPA. But for it's price it's an awesome beer as I've had worse at double and triple the price.
Probably a poor IPA if I didn't know in a blind taste test I would probably call it an APA but there's a bit of overlap between them.
8/10 overall, 9/10 in cheap IPA category. Macro beer RPing as something better. Well done Mac's.