Single hops are a fun and simple way to experience the full aroma and flavor of a single hop variety. And nobody knows their hops like Sierra Nevada.
In this single hop pack, SN decided to showcase 4 different hops that are really big in craft beer right now. The hops are (my eternal favorite) mosaic, citra, amarillo, and the up and coming El Dorado.
While each beer has its own unique flavor profile, they all have characteristics that remind me of summer. Which made this pack a godsend in this never-ending Wisconsin winter and inspired me to write a drunken poem about my yearning for summer.
Single Hop Amarillo IPA – 6.7%
Amazing. The amarillo hopes have great tropical fruit notes, pineapple, graepfruit, and some resiny herbal bitters. The fresh fruit flavors are blanketed by a creamy, toasted malt background. For some reason, I can’t get the idea of pineapple upside down cake out of my head. Which to be honest, I don’t know if I’ve ever had. But with the notes of pineapple and biscuity sweet malt from this beer, that is what I would imagine.
Citra Pale Lager – 5.5%
The citra hops give it a lemon/lime like tartness, with very little bitterness. There are hints of mango, passion fruit juiciness, along with a grainy, pilsner like malt finish. It’s super refreshing because of the limeade tartness and light to medium body. It just begs for a backyard summer BBQ.
El Dorado Session – 4.5%
The session is also on the lighter end and is pretty refreshing. It’s balanced between a floral lemon grassy hop flavor and light biscuit malts. The light body and low bitterness make this one go down so quick, and that lemon zest really makes it another refreshing beer in this bunch. This takes the lawnmower beer style and gives it a little extra class.
Mosaic DIPA – 8.0%
It has that mosaic magic. That iconic starburst of tropical mango, melon and river of juicy fruit nectar. But it also has strong note of pine, and sticky syrupy resin flavor. It’s lighter than most doubles, but the malt background is pretty heavy, surrounding the hops with a dominant caramel sweet malt flavor. I don’t know if I’m a fan of having the mosaic hop in something so heavy. It’s like drinking some flowery, syrupy jungle water sap. I somewhat prefer it in a lighter IPA. Which makes me wonder if there will ever be a mosaic brut?
Summertime Songs of Soul, Picnics, and the State Fair
‘He used to make that drive from the city through grassy sea
Following his soul as it played out on the radio to a
small town hidden in river bends
out there the summer air felt different
out there the air they shared the same
She was born free among the wildflowers and prairie
moved and mimicked butterflies, an angel in her own right among the
small town among the river bends
They shared beers in the grass held hands
Lips stained with cotton candy sugar, made the kisses so much the sweeter
in the summer fair among the carnival lights, families and their picnics, and burgeoning star lights
they breathed in that air
out there the summer air
made their souls feel different,
out there the air
they shared them two souls the same.’