Musk Of The Minotaur IPA
Hoof Hearted Brewing

16 oz can (US fluid ounces), approximately 47.3 cl - Paid €12 from the fridge at Pub 67° Minuto (I bought 4 cans, as I loved it so much).
Hops used in the 2026 version and indicated on the can: Citra, Mosaic, Nectaron, and Nelson Sauvin.
The can also states: "Packaging date: 07/01/2026".
Intense tropical aromas (mango, papaya, melon), summer fruit (peach), and ripe citrus fruits, which expand upon pouring.
Light head, quite hazy.
Full-bodied but smooth on the palate. Overwhelming flavors of ripe citrus (ripe orange and grapefruit in particular), followed by ample tropical notes of mango and melon. Yellow peach.
A silky smoothness is perceived that "kills" the bitterness, favoring the fruity flavor expansion.
The finish is dry, but not bitter... As if the bitterness were "absorbed" by this silky sensation, which, however, is not a body in itself, but integrates perfectly with the context of the drink, which obviously favors the fruity flavor.
The taste is extremely fragrant and invasive, and even in the absence of significant bitter notes, the beer remains balanced.
The breadth of the fruity flavor is striking (especially ripe oranges, but also peaches and tropical fruits).
It leaves a slight stickiness on the lips.

 

Thick 2 finger head stands atop the straw colored ale. Carbonation rises from the bottom like a bubble lamp on the tree. Prominent lacing as the head recedes.
Beautiful citra aroma: orange citrus and candy aromas. Flavor is thick orange with a dry sweetness at the finish . Smooth as always. Great beer!

 

I got a can of this beer off the single shelf from the beer store located just around the corner from my house. It poured a hazy golden with white head that is leaving a nice lace. The scent has citrus fruit peel notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with bright semi sweet malt base and dank pineapple and mango presence. Teh mouthfeel was medium in body with good carbonation. Overall it is a solid beer.

The color is hazy pale gold. Good two-finger head which settles in a lumpy fashion. It leaves random spots on the glass as it does.

The color belies the smell which is of much darker malts, some darker crystal malt featuring even a bit of chocolate. There's an element of English IPAs with some caramel aromas.

Richer body with ample carbonation. Lightly sweet, but less chocolatey and less caramel than the smell suggests. Instead, there's more paler malt on the tongue. The finish becomes balanced with the bittering hop showing up, but it's light for an IPA. Overall, this is a great tasting and complex IPA but it isn't what one would expect from the typical NE IPA.

Well, almost perfect! Light on carbonation. A perfect balance of malt and hops. It is so balanced that it is a mild NEPIA, without too much dank or ripe fruit. A 7.2% alcohol is nearly unnoticed, barely detectable, this is a phenomenal NEPIA. One wonders about the science that landed such an exact product. You wouldn't know it wasn't produced in Maine or Massachusetts.

Slightly less than two fingers worth of late developing crisp bone white froth... Excellent retention... Gobs of lacing cling to the sides of the glass... Color is a pale hazed lemony yellow... Still with no discernible carbonation... Subtle nose of tropical fruits and candied sugars... Palate is a mirror image of the nose but the intensity is dialed up a notch... A solid bready malt base lingers beneath the surface... Full bodied and ultra lush... Goes down easily sip after sip.... Very nice and well executed...

 

Pours a cloudy golden straw with a finger of foamy head that slowly dissipates to a thin ring with some lacing. Aroma of pineapple and citrus. Taste follows nose.

 

A solid recommendation by someone I respect a lot for his beer knowledge and tastes. He knows what I like and mentioned this one. VERY nice choice. Smooth and I am glad I bought a four pack. Hit or miss on this beer as it isn’t easy to get in SW a harbor, Maine. PS. Love the art work on the can! Outstanding.

 

 

From a pint can (canned on 3-29-22), the body pours a hazy light yelllow. A small fluffy head appeared on pouring and medium lacing throughout the tasting.

A light fruity nose of melon and citrus upon opening the can. Very appealing.

Taste is a ligher version of the nose. Hops add a light bitterness up front; mid-to-finish features the fruit. As above but perhaps with some guava-melon sweeteness. Really nice. No noticeable ABV.

Mouthfeel is nice, assisted by good but not overdone carbination. Light feel with a drying finish. Satisfying.

Well, we have another bizarre Hoof Hearted can. Oh, I meant the brew, not the label. But those labels are worth peeling off and sticking on shit. I have a couple pool chemical barrels that I covered over the original printing with labels like these. I like to cover up the precautions if I'm using the container for something safe. These look fabulous.

Oh, the brew review. Yeah, it has the hazy IPA look down pat. Paler than most. Nice. The aroma is more sophisticated than many of this style, but it still is stanky. It has a nice dry taste, without a lot of malt showing through. Very unique but still this seems a lot simpler and easier drinking than the Pure Snow Key Bump I had earlier. Overall, less satisfying, but it's a great IPA one none the less.

Highly recommended. Hoof Hearted triumphs!