Hennepin - Mosaic

Keg at World of Beer Charlottesville. Clear golden, thin creamy white head, good retention. Aroma of dandelion, earth, bready malt, hay. The taste is beady malt, dandelion, wild onion, bready malt. Medium bodied.

Sampled on draft at 3R6P this beer poured a yellow-gold color with a large foamy white head that lingered and left great lacing. The aroma was pine, lemon, cactus and yeasty and dusty undertones. The flavor was tart lemon, cactus and a bit of yeast. Medium length finish. Medium body. Better than I expected as I’m not a mosaic hop fan.

On tap at Red Cow. Pours a clear yellow gold with a near white head that dissipates to the edges. Aroma has a lot of grass and straw with supporting citrus and flora notes. Flavor has notes of tropical fruit, citrus and flora with a backbone of grass and straw.

Draught at the Ginger Man, 8/2/16.
Mostly clear, soft, hay-golden body has more chill-haze than anything. Small, white head atop shows moderate to moderately strong retention.
Mosaic is certainly notable in the nose, but it’s much less intense than in any juicy ipa you’d associate it with. Mostly nectarine/stone fruit, with soft dank notes and light pine. Emerging strongly, especially with warming and breathing, is the crude hennepin yeast full of heavy bubble gum, cotton candy, peach and ummm, well, just a lot of bubble gum mostly. Just like the base version, it smells nothing like a saison and much closer to a belgian golden or even a wit. I suppose the mosaic covers up more of the ester profile, so this one is less bad?? Lightly sugary malts lie behind it, adding saccharine, cracker and dough. No alcohol or flaw.
Same goes for the flavor: at first the mosaic hops seem enjoyable, fruity, softly juicy and such, but quickly they’re outdone by this noxious yeast. As well, the carbonation is not particularly tight, nor does it have enough dryness on the end and seems full of simple table sugar and dough-like notes. Not easy to finish a tulip of the stuff.

Nice mosaic addition to this saison. Light bubblegum and and citrus. Some hint of bretta. Golden pour with decent head and lacing. Light tangy finish. Tap at Whole Foods.

On tap at P&P Charleston. Clear light golden with small white head. Aroma is yeasty & herbal hops, light body, light carbonation, and pretty good small-bubble lacing. Taste is yeasty and herbal hops.

Draft sample at Dominion Wine & Beer. Clear yellow with off-white head. Aromas of citrus, floral notes, yeast. Tastes of citrus fruit and peel, yeast, almost a subtle funky sort of flavor, floral notes. Medium body with a dry finish. Pretty nice.

Draft: Funk, chives, cheddar, lemon zest aroma. Crystal clear golden, thin head, good lacing. Funk, lemon, honey. Medium body, soft carbonation. Great balance and mouthfeel.