Mosaic ISA
West Sixth Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crisp, clean and surprisingly full of flavor, this "India Session Ale" puts the full gamut of IPA taste into the highly quaffable 3.5% abv. On top of that, the ale dangerously employs only one single hop source- a technique that often renders IPAs quite underwhelming.

As the beer arrives to the bar, its bright gold appearance shows only a hint of haze. Modestly copper, the beer's body streams with carbonation to fuel its light and fluffy white cap. Firmly attached the ales head easily endures the session and laces with well-defined collars along the way.

Its generously bright aromas the the most out of its single hop source. Grapefruit and pine lead the way but also bring about curious tones of blackcurrant, earthy tea, sassafras, and a somewhat minty and grassy note as it warms. Backed with the most timid though of caramel, there's really only enough of a malt presence to gives the hop influence a bed of graham cracker.

Its taste is of dry malt with the slim caramel, honey and toasted grain. But any semblance of malt is soon overshadowed by Mosaic hops. And that one single variety carries the palate across citrusy grapefruit, lemon and juniper. MIldly peppery, and dark berry character is of currants. Herbal with lemon tea and a fresh cut grass bitterness leads its finish in a dry, crisp and clean taste.

Very light in body, the beer never falls into thinness. There's must enough malt structure to retain its carbonation and keeps it from watery or emptiness. Instead, the beer finishes similar to any other 7+ percent IPA in that it is malty-dry and with a slight minerally tone.

Its easy to expect a light bodied IPA and a single-hopped one at that to cause the beer to be somewhat one-dimensional. But Mosaic ISA does not. Its varying hop choice and supple textures allow it to compare favorably to many other standard American IPAs