I’m going to make a prediction. Although some are forecasting the eminent demise of craft beer, I’ll go out on a limb and say that won’t happen. You see, we heard the same thing in the 90s, and it never happened. Oh sure, there was a shakeout, and a lot of smaller brewers (many near and dear to my heart) didn’t make it. Still, craft beer survived and is now stronger than ever.

I will say though that in a few years, I think the “session IPA” fad will be over. I think a lot of brewers will still make them, and people will still drink them. But they won’t sell as they do today, and brewers will move on to something else. To me, they’re just too one-dimensional to be sustainable.

And one dimensional is just how I feel about Blue Point Mosaic Session IPA, another beer in this vein. I had it at Taco Mac the other night, and while it was fine and dandy with my wings, it just didn’t have enough malt to suit my taste. Of course, I will say that it did have a little more malt than other examples of the style I have tried, and I like to think of it as a hoppy American Pale Ale, which is what it really is. Call it that and I’m all over it.

Blue Point says this about their Mosaic Session IPA:

Our Mosaic Session IPA ……features Mosaic, Simcoe, and Centennial hops that lend strong tropical fruit characteristics to a light body and dry finish. You won’t be able to drink just one – and with less than 5% ABV, you don’t have to.

Mosaic Session IPA is an homage to Blue Point Brewing Company’s storied history, a tale that is preserved on the original Tasting Room bar top that dates to 1997. It’s also one of the most personal beers we’ve crafted in a long time. Like the brewery itself, it’s been a work in progress. Our history is very much a mosaic – made up of a lot of talented people with a passion for brewing, and we think this latest brew is where our past meets our future.

Mosaic Session IPA has an alcohol content of 4.8% by volume, actually. It was reasonably priced at $5.75 for 20 ounces, and being beer of the month and given I was drinking it on pint glass night, I got a free logo glass with it.

My mug of Blue Point Mosaic Session IPA arrived a beautiful orange amber color with a moderate fluffy head and a very appetizing grapefruit and resin nose. Taking a sip, I got the expected thin malt palate, at least so for an IPA. For a pale ale, though, this is a little closer to the mark, and the faintest bit of caramel does poke through. It’s all about the hops though, and as the beer meanders into the finish, you’ll get a lot of grapefruit and more resin and then a long dry bitterness.

This one grew on me as I drank it, even though I got more resin and grapefruit notes than the tropical fruits Blue Point was talking about. It’s not a session IPA. You can’t be session and IPA. But it was a tasty American Pale Ale I think, and yes, a beer I would certainly drink again.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

(G)=Growler

 



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