From the Beer Writer: When comparing brewing to cooking, hops are akin to spices, adding earthiness, herbaceous qualities and peppery notes. I have two varietals that I count as favorites for completely different reasons: Mosaic and Nelson Sauvin. The former are so layered that they’re like an all-purpose spice blend; the only thing you need to achieve well-rounded success. The latter are more like saffron…hard to procure, expensive and exhibiting a unique flavor that can’t be replicated. While I wouldn’t blend Old Bay and saffron in a dish, I love the occasions when Mosaic and Nelson find their way into the same beer. The most recent example of their synergy that I’ve come across is Dymaxion, a hazy IPA from Modern Times Beer Co. that has a great deal going for it and going on within it. Aromas of mango, papaya and orange precede a lush, slightly creamy Northeast-style IPA presenting flavors of Meyer lemon, pineapple, tangerine and guava. A sensory panel could likely come up with two-dozen adjectives for this beer if given the time…or you could give it a shot, which would be a lot more fun, and quite a tasty undertaking.
From the Brewer: “Dymaxion is one of our favorite seasonal hoppy beers. It was first brewed in 2017 to showcase our favorite New Zealand hop varietals. It’s a very simple beer: two-row, wheat malt and little touch of golden naked oats, generously hopped with Nelson, Motueka, Rakau and Mosaic. The Nelson, Motueka and Rakau are all New Zealand, 2018-crop hops. For this crop year we were the first U.S. brewery to select our New Zealand lots. Selecting New Zealand hops is a huge opportunity that has immediately made our beers more aromatic, consistent and bad-ass. These hops are seriously choice.”—Andrew Schwartz, Commissioner of Flavor, Modern Times Beer Co.