REVIEW: Momentum Brewery Pale / IPA
Momentum Brewery (Brooklyn, NY) Hazy IPA / Golden Pale Ale NA Brews
Where’d We Find It: Samples provided by Atlanta’s Soberish.
ABV: < 0.5%
Hometown: Brewed in Bay Shore, NY (by Great South Bay Brewery), with the brand based in Brooklyn, NY.
Our N/ATION Review:
Momentum Brewery is brought to you by the founders of one of the N/A scene’s go-to ecommerce outlets, ProofNoMore. Launched in the final days of 2023, their initial lineup features a hazy-style IPA, as well as a golden pale ale. One of the first things you’ll notice about this brand are the cans themselves. The IPA features in a slim, sleek looking amber-brown can that resembles the liquid inside (which we’ll get to in a moment), while the Golden is sold in a bright but typical round-body container.
The distinction is conspicuous, and aside from the logo you might not associate these beers as being of the same brand ilk, however, there appears to be a method to the madness. The IPA is touted as a near beer to “flip the mood switch,” suggesting this is the brew to sip on at the end of a night drinking alcohol at a party, or as your ride-or-die if you’re sober drinking from start to finish. The Golden is your “perfect rewarding sip after a workout,” which suggests a more versatile consumption event that could include being a lunch companion, or perhaps a shower beer after a hard run. We'll drink to both of that, please.
Momentum Golden Pale Ale Style
We’ll start with the Golden because we suspect we’d be drinking it first, perhaps at one of those three-beer work lunches that usually end with a nap under your desk, only this time you can return to work mode uninterrupted. On the pour it’s a nice golden haze, and definitely looks the part. It’s got an impressive mouthfeel, and like many Pale Ales it also has a nice combo of flavors with some bitterness, without the latter being overpowering.
Momentum Hazy IPA Style
Our first impressions were of the amber color that seemed to closely match the sleek and alluring packaging. Is it a beer? A pre-mixed cocktail or mocktail? The slim, dark can leaves you guessing. We’re pleased to say this one lived up to the mysterious hype. First off, this N/A just smells like an IPA, raising the bar from the start. Brewed with American Mosaic, Amarillo and Simcoe hops, this is certainly a hop-forward brew. The best compliment we can pay to this Hazy is it’s one of those near beers you could mistake for the real thing. Definitely our favorite of the two.
As to where you can find either or both of the pair, they are readily available for shipping through ProofNoMore, and can also be found in various bars and restaurants, particularly in the NY/NJ/CT areas currently.