Eugene, Ore.’s Ninkasi Brewing Company’s innovative new single-hop series magnifies the nuances of one hop variety at a time against a common light malt background. The educational project is in the same vein as single-origin coffees and single-varietal wines—it’s a study in taste and terroir, a window into regional hop character, and a chance for the hop lover or new initiate to isolate the flavors he or she likes best.
Third in this series, with more to come, is the Mosaic Single Hop Ale. The young (developed 2012) Mosaic hops pour out of the bottle resplendent in citrus-floral glory, clean and refreshing sans the bitterness of many heavy-hitting IPA hops. With a label recalling the mottled white-black composition books we all remember from middle school, Mosaic takes on an even more scientific character. This series is a serious study, and one worth learning from.
