Sosus | Toppling Goliath Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Toppling Goliath Brewing Company
Iowa, United States
tgbrews.com
Style: New England IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.00%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
In his most notable mosaic work, Sosus of Pergamon depicts doves sunning atop a golden chalice. The image was said to be so enticing that real birds flew into it while trying to reach their stone companions. This single-hop showcase is inspired by the beauty of divinity of the Sosus mosaics. Just as the doves discovered their golden nectar, discover the irresistible nature of the Mosaic hop.
100+ IBU
Added by nickapalooza86 on 05-05-2013
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 1,636 | Reviews: 213
4.54/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.63/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.15/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance - From the bottle, the beer poureda hazy yellow color with a cracker white head.
Smell - The beer had a pleasant grassy nose nose with nothing strongly fruity about it.
Taste - My first impression is the rich grassy hops. Orange peel, pepper, and apricot notes follow. The beer felt drier and perhaps a little bitter at the end.
Mouthfeel - The viscosity was higher than normal, with noted carbonation.
Overall - I would not have called this a New England IPA, so much as an American IPA. Its just to dry.
525 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance - From the bottle, the beer poureda hazy yellow color with a cracker white head.
Smell - The beer had a pleasant grassy nose nose with nothing strongly fruity about it.
Taste - My first impression is the rich grassy hops. Orange peel, pepper, and apricot notes follow. The beer felt drier and perhaps a little bitter at the end.
Mouthfeel - The viscosity was higher than normal, with noted carbonation.
Overall - I would not have called this a New England IPA, so much as an American IPA. Its just to dry.
525 characters
4.35/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On-tap at The Tip Tap Room, Boston, MA
A: The beer is very hazy yellow in color. It poured with a quarter finger high dense off white head that died down, leaving a thin collar around the edge of the glass and lots of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of tropical fruit hops are present in the nose—papayas seem to stand out in particular.
T: The beer has strong flavors of tropical fruit hops—particularly mangos and papayas. No bitterness is present. There are slight traces of alcohol in the finish.
M: It feels medium-bodied and very juicy on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This IPA is very juicy and exhibits the flavors from the Mosaic hops very well.
Serving type: on-tap
732 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On-tap at The Tip Tap Room, Boston, MA
A: The beer is very hazy yellow in color. It poured with a quarter finger high dense off white head that died down, leaving a thin collar around the edge of the glass and lots of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of tropical fruit hops are present in the nose—papayas seem to stand out in particular.
T: The beer has strong flavors of tropical fruit hops—particularly mangos and papayas. No bitterness is present. There are slight traces of alcohol in the finish.
M: It feels medium-bodied and very juicy on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This IPA is very juicy and exhibits the flavors from the Mosaic hops very well.
Serving type: on-tap
732 characters
4.5/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.63/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.28/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I love the story behind this beer's name and art, and I do enjoy giving Mosaic single-hop DIPAs a shot, even though I have a storied history of finding them to be among the most inconsistent form of pale ale to ever grace my glass, so I felt like I needed to give this one a good shot. Toppling Goliath has generally impressed me with their hoppier beers, which I'm very glad to find in my area after years of only hearing about them! Here goes nothing!
This pours a hazy, nearly-opaque orange color with a creamy bent to its overally hue. The head measures almost four fingers at its highest point, eventually settling down at about a finger-and-a-half. There's some inconsistent, sticky lace show here, and the foamy halo itself has some legs to it, for sure, but the soapiness of the proceedings leaves a bit to be desired. Some shimmering suds appear if I swirl my glass, which does cause some slight remnants of foam in my glass, but I'm still not overly impressed.
The nose is green and dank, with alternating elements of grass, chives/green onion and spicy pine/spruce. This is much less fruity than I thought it'd be, if I'm to be honest. I don't get any of the berry elements that can come from Mosaic, and the tropical element is muted by spice and earthiness. This smells very much like a trip down a forgotten hiking trail in the wilderness. The spruce-like scent really does block out a lot of the more subtle notes that I know this hop can provide. Luckily, I really like the smell of aromatic coniferous trees, or I'd be hating this right off the bat! You probably can't tell, but I'm winking ever-so-slightly as I write this. That's okay if you can't tell... I forgive you!
On the tongue, I finally start to get some nice tropical fruit! Blasting forward on the palate with papaya and mango, this is more along the lines of what I expect from a big ol' Mosaic DIPA! Granted, some of that dankness, pine and grassiness is present toward the mid-palate, but the initial flavor is a really fresh, juicy burst of paradisiacal heaven. A touch grainy, with an almost rye-like spice. If I try, I can even pick up a little bit of ripe raspberry and blueberry jam, kind of falling in line a bit more with how I think of Mosaic hops. Wow, this really comes together better than expected... I was a bit worried with how specific and seemingly one-dimensional the nose was to my senses.
The feel is thick and chewy with a nice complexity and surprisingly fine carbonation for a moderately strong DIPA. Finishes with a detailed, oily hop element and some light ethanol presence. A fine Mosaic IPA, but I think it could be even better with a slightly different hopping schedule.
2,684 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I love the story behind this beer's name and art, and I do enjoy giving Mosaic single-hop DIPAs a shot, even though I have a storied history of finding them to be among the most inconsistent form of pale ale to ever grace my glass, so I felt like I needed to give this one a good shot. Toppling Goliath has generally impressed me with their hoppier beers, which I'm very glad to find in my area after years of only hearing about them! Here goes nothing!
This pours a hazy, nearly-opaque orange color with a creamy bent to its overally hue. The head measures almost four fingers at its highest point, eventually settling down at about a finger-and-a-half. There's some inconsistent, sticky lace show here, and the foamy halo itself has some legs to it, for sure, but the soapiness of the proceedings leaves a bit to be desired. Some shimmering suds appear if I swirl my glass, which does cause some slight remnants of foam in my glass, but I'm still not overly impressed.
The nose is green and dank, with alternating elements of grass, chives/green onion and spicy pine/spruce. This is much less fruity than I thought it'd be, if I'm to be honest. I don't get any of the berry elements that can come from Mosaic, and the tropical element is muted by spice and earthiness. This smells very much like a trip down a forgotten hiking trail in the wilderness. The spruce-like scent really does block out a lot of the more subtle notes that I know this hop can provide. Luckily, I really like the smell of aromatic coniferous trees, or I'd be hating this right off the bat! You probably can't tell, but I'm winking ever-so-slightly as I write this. That's okay if you can't tell... I forgive you!
On the tongue, I finally start to get some nice tropical fruit! Blasting forward on the palate with papaya and mango, this is more along the lines of what I expect from a big ol' Mosaic DIPA! Granted, some of that dankness, pine and grassiness is present toward the mid-palate, but the initial flavor is a really fresh, juicy burst of paradisiacal heaven. A touch grainy, with an almost rye-like spice. If I try, I can even pick up a little bit of ripe raspberry and blueberry jam, kind of falling in line a bit more with how I think of Mosaic hops. Wow, this really comes together better than expected... I was a bit worried with how specific and seemingly one-dimensional the nose was to my senses.
The feel is thick and chewy with a nice complexity and surprisingly fine carbonation for a moderately strong DIPA. Finishes with a detailed, oily hop element and some light ethanol presence. A fine Mosaic IPA, but I think it could be even better with a slightly different hopping schedule.
2,684 characters
4.25/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from 22oz bottle into glass. Bottling date is stamped '08/14/18'.
Murky, pale gold colored body. Two fingers of white head settle down to bubbly cap. Sheets of lacing are left behind.
Orange and mango in the aroma, with a little grapefruit. Citrus hops galore.
Taste is orange citrus, with a more bitter grapefruit entering toward the end.
Medium to full, soft mouth feel. Good carbonation.
Tasty mosaic hop IPA. Mouth filling and soft, but still with a touch of hop bitterness.
486 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from 22oz bottle into glass. Bottling date is stamped '08/14/18'.
Murky, pale gold colored body. Two fingers of white head settle down to bubbly cap. Sheets of lacing are left behind.
Orange and mango in the aroma, with a little grapefruit. Citrus hops galore.
Taste is orange citrus, with a more bitter grapefruit entering toward the end.
Medium to full, soft mouth feel. Good carbonation.
Tasty mosaic hop IPA. Mouth filling and soft, but still with a touch of hop bitterness.
486 characters
4.43/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.47/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.58/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from 22 oz bottle into shaker pint glass. Picked this up at the brewery a couple days ago.
A: Pours a very hazy lemon hue with 2 inch frothy white head with excellent retention.
S: Lovely tropical aromas of mango, passion fruit, key lime, guava, soft orange, and soft sweet grapefruit too. Tremendous.
T: Grapefruit (stronger here than in the aroma), key lime, mango, passion fruit, guava, and a hint of orange.
M: Medium body. Soft and supple feel. Wonderful tropical fruit sweetness with moderately strong bitterness throughout. Lingers nicely on the palate.
D: Refreshing and highly drinkable. The hop profile is stupendous. Well done, TG!
656 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from 22 oz bottle into shaker pint glass. Picked this up at the brewery a couple days ago.
A: Pours a very hazy lemon hue with 2 inch frothy white head with excellent retention.
S: Lovely tropical aromas of mango, passion fruit, key lime, guava, soft orange, and soft sweet grapefruit too. Tremendous.
T: Grapefruit (stronger here than in the aroma), key lime, mango, passion fruit, guava, and a hint of orange.
M: Medium body. Soft and supple feel. Wonderful tropical fruit sweetness with moderately strong bitterness throughout. Lingers nicely on the palate.
D: Refreshing and highly drinkable. The hop profile is stupendous. Well done, TG!
656 characters
4.64/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Toppling Goliath has had an incredible summer IMO. Really did Mosaic justice on this one.
90 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Toppling Goliath has had an incredible summer IMO. Really did Mosaic justice on this one.
90 characters
4.46/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.73/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.14/5 rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.64/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.34/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Sosus from Toppling Goliath Brewing Company
Beer rating:
4.5 out of
5 with
1,636 ratings
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