Mosaic IPA
Ethereal Brewing

 

 

Alluring, curious and somewhat polarizing, love it or hate it, the taste of Mosaic is as pungent as it is fruit. It's as herbal as it is spicy. It's as woodsy as it is perfumy. And the brewers at Ethereal exploit each and ever nugget of complexity when devising this dank, dry and delicious IPA.

Mosaic IPA unleashes its highly varying perfume on the nose. The overwhelming scent of citrus and tart tropical fruit roll into an herbal, grassy scent along with that of shaven woods and teas. All that wafts over a light golden base of hazy ale and a cottony white froth. Light caramel and honeysuckle wash the tongue with malt goodness to balance the onslaught of hop flavor to come.

As the sweetness strives for a dry and cracker-like middle palate, the fruit, herb and spice come piling on. Lemon, lime, tangy under ripened orange and pink grapefruit take on grassy, tea-like flavors along with those curious drifts of cannabis. Trending bitter and spicy, its the beer's sassafras brightness and cedar bitterness that contributes to the beer's hop forward balance as much as anything.

Medium light on the palate, the pep of carbonation gives the malt one final lift and ushers in a dry texture. Honey dissolves on the finish while the hops apply a long herbal aftertaste with citrus peel, muddled tea and a peppery bitterness.