Marlborough craft brewery Moa has launched its latest beer – but it’s urging people not to drink it.

Well, for the next decade at least.

The “collector’s edition” Moa Ten Year Beer is a barrel-aged cherry lambic made in a unique traditional Belgium style.

Just 180 specially labelled bottles have been produced, and Moa founder Josh Scott says those lucky enough to get their hands on a bottle should put it into a cellar, pronto.

“Our Ten Year Beer already tastes great, but the complex nature of the brew means that it’s designed to taste best after a decade of cellar aging.

“Traditionally Belgian lambics have been cellared for a few years – however some of these old-style lambics can also be quite sour. We’ve crafted our Ten Year Beer to be a little easier on the palate, albeit without substituting on the quality or heritage… but good things take time.”

Scott adds, “Most drinkers probably aren’t used to thinking of beer as something to be cellared. Just treat it like a fine Central Otago Pinot Noir and you’ll be alright.”

The Ten Year Beer has been fermented as a triple ale, then poured into French oak puncheons with Marlborough cherries stuffed in the barrel. Wild yeast is added and it is left to slowly ferment and age over 10 months.

The end product pours strawberry golden and has powerful aromas of cherries and dried herbs. The oak and cherries integrate over time and the base characters of banana and butterscotch are evident at the end of the palate.

The collectable 750ml bottles of the Moa Ten Year Beer (RRP $30) are available from New World Blenheim, Fresh Choice Richmond and Fresh Choice Merivale.

Moa Beer is fastidiously handcrafted in the traditional method and rounded off through the use of winemaking techniques, including barrel ageing and bottle fermentation and conditioning.