Calypso: Mother Of Grapefruits
Mirror Twin Brewing

Compounding the already citrus oriented character of Calypso hops with an absurd amount of grapefruit puree kicks this Mirror Twin pale ale into the fruity stratosphere.

Pale golden and cast in a slight haze, the grapefruit soaked pale ale, Calypso: Mother of Grapefruits might show a restrained use of hops, but its citrus additions are strong to the nose with all things citronella, grassiness and tea. Briskly sweet on the tongue and light and toasted taste of caramel, pecan and faint honey lays a light and bready coat on the tongue.

As the malt sweetness stews gently underneath the hops, an overcast of grapefruit looms. Strong pink grapefruit flavors easily overtake the more nuanced character of lime, apricot, melon or cider for a decidedly citrus tone throughout the session. An aggressive bite takes the pale ale in the "west coast" direction with a tannin and pectin-rich bite on the late palate.

Resinous, spicy and bitter, the medium bodied beer carries a hint of biscuity creaminess nearly as long as the peppery resins of hops leave behind a fruity and tangy taste. In the end the astringent nature of grapefruit will prove too much more modern hop lovers, but for those who crave the dry, bitter and spicy, this session is just what the hop doctor ordered.