Barth Haas IPA - Mosaic / Citra
FrauGruber Brewing

Pours a hazy, dark orange, amber coloration with a small fluffy head. Smells of biscuity malt and faint tropical/citrus notes of mango, papaya and grapefruit. Taste follows the nose, with a good balance of biscuity malt and fruity, slightly resinous hops, with tropical and citrus notes of mango, papaya and grapefruit. Finishes with a very light bitterness and some mango and grapefruit lingering in the aftertaste. Soft mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.

I would have been really looking forward to this if I didn't have my suspicions. The original Barth Haas IPA from 2020 was absolutely phenomenal, one of the best German New England IPAs that I've ever had. Unfortunately, this is a pale imitation of that brew which is solely lacking those incredibly vibrant and expressive hop aromatics, which feel rather musty and washed out here despite this being under a month old. It's still a decent NEIPA, just nothing special like the original was. A bit too sweet and malty for my personal taste, while almost completely lacking any kind of perceiveable bitterness or more interesting hop aromatics apart from the fruit punch notes. Mouthfeel is rather average as well.