Psychic Warfare
Mason's Brewing Company

 

 

This is my first experience with Mason's, I believe... somehow? I've heard some good things about their beers before but seem to have summarily passed them up for other offerings whenever I've seen them around. Yes, I've even missed ticking Hipster Apocalypse. Not sure how. They don't date their cans, so maybe it has something to do with that? I'm pretty sure this is fairly fresh, however, and it drinks like it is anyway, so let's get on with the show!

Pours a completely opaque and hazed-over light-orange color with a pale complexion to it. Thin head that never really builds up to more than a finger in my glass, but the legs generated here are pretty excellent, and the lace is sticky and consistent for what it's worth (though there's not much of anywhere for it to recede from considering the meh buildup of foam, as it were). I'm comfortable saying this looks pretty good, honestly. Maybe would wish for a bit more volume on the head, but it looks the NEIPA part pretty well despite being more of a NEAPA.

The nose is sticky and dank despite the low ABV, with requisite sugared grapefruit and tropical papaya-like, pineapple and passion fruit suggestions brought in by El Dorado. There really is a decent amount of complexity in this one, as Mosaic is known to bring that element to the table. Red berries, grassy earthiness and pine sap blend in well with the unique tropical and orchard-fruit-like El Dorado aspects. I'm into this, quite a bit actually...

Similar on the tongue, with a dose of grapefruit flesh and pulpy orange upfront... a hit of oat-like maltiness and a slight sweetness, perhaps from the Vienna malt they claim is part of the grist. It's just a balancing aspect, though, as the finish actually has a nice, punchy bitter bite with a strong dank component yet again. Notes of guava and papaya with parting flavors of tangerine rind and more grapefruit. Tangy and multifaceted... this is a much better beer than I expected it to be!

Mouthfeel is lighter-bodied, but it's also a sub-6% beer (something I have to remind myself a few times while drinking because the complex hops really seem to make it punch above its weight class), so that makes sense. There's some chewiness from the oats/wheat, plus a bit of B-vitamin-forward yeastiness that never really drags down the proceedings. Adequate and supple carbonation that coats the palate... moderate dry finish with some light oily slickness from the hop load. This is a great drink. I was wrong to ever doubt Mason's... maybe? Still don't like that lack of can date, but I'll give 'em a pass for the time being.

 

16oz undated can.

Pours opaque and murky gold with a massive, uproaring head of white. Overly carbonated and possibly infected. Grassy citrus in the nose with hints of orange, peach, and grapefruit. Medium bodied with a crisp, billowing mouthfeel. Tropical citrus on the palate with zero malt and a minimal bitterness. Finishes dry with lingering citrus.

Nice beer but the hops are a bit light all around.

Look: Can is amazing. Love the artwork. Beer in the glass is a nice thick syrupy orange. Opaque and filter-less.

Smell: A blend of mango and pineapple up front, slight bready notes. Almost like a bit of Ritz crackers as well. I like it.

Taste: Pineapple, slight hops. Super smooth and sesssionable. Zero lingering taste.

Feel: Silky smooth mouthfeel. Just glides down the throat with no resistance.

Overall: Good sessionable beer. Pleasantly surprised with the lack of bitterness which seems to set it apart. Some hop lovers might call this one bland. It's really good though. If I see this again I will be picking a few up.

I hate to give straight 4s but that’s what it is.

Look- cloudy golden yellow with a decent head that fades away quickly and leaves nice lacing.

Smell- grapefruit, citrus orange peel, lil bit of bready cracker.

Taste- grapefruit, orange peel, papaya, nice malty finish.

Feel- very juicy, soft silky, hoppy finish.

Overall this is an excellent neipa. Great job again Masons!

Pint can "meet the Norsemen" 2 of 5
Unfiltered double dry-hopped ale with Mosiac and El Dorado hops, brewed with Blue Ox Vienna Malts.

Hazy and unfiltered look, orange hued golden color, lots of life. Substantial white foamy levels out pretty quick but leaving a good amount of foam cover.

The nose is just packed with juicy hop atomatics, such as: orange rind, papaya, mango puree, peppery tropical, pine sap and wet grass. Very bold. The Vienna make gives off a layer of soft grains, wheat and oats, touch if cream or vanilla sweetness and dried hay. A very complex aroma.

The mouthfeel is also pretty complex, as it hits you very crisp at first, bursting with carbonation that feels very lively. The texture soon mutates as the heady but clean make becomes smooth and silky. This APA feels like it was brewed with oats and lactose because if the silky smooth body. I suppose it's just the "Blue OX" malt making a huge statement. Quality!! Finishes rather light and easy.

I feel like a good APA strikes a fine balance between the hops and malt, not allowing one to totally take over...well, this one certainly maintains a fine balance. The juicy hops are a blast, Mosiac bringing in a few layers of tropical and citrus tones, El Dorado seems to add pine and sour-ish earthy based flavor's to the fold. Gentle mango, pineapple and starfruit come to mind. Low level bitterness, this is NOT your old-school west coast Sierra Nevada style pale ale, this is East coast... complete with juicy hops, superhazy, practically no bitterness. The golden, light toned malt effects in both look and flavor is what excites me most. A seriously tasty Vienna style malt brings the x factor! Light, grainy, earthy notes from the Blue Ox. Gentle golden wheat, oats, hay, maybe even some New England sweet corn is detected within the light, yet complex malt taste and effect.

As a straight APA, this comes across as much easier and much more relaxed than most hoppy dominated style Pale's. Complexity is high but in subtle ways. Take your time and enjoy the heady nuince.