Galactic Haze IPA - Hop & Sting Brewing Co. Review

I mean, what a perfect beer to review for the last month of our Space Hops series. It called to us from across the galaxy and we answered. And why not? This beer, after all, is a Belgian-style White IPA with 7.2% ABV, 45 IBUs, and it is filled with Mosaic, Ekuanot, and Calypso hops. These may not be some of the hops we searched for over the past months, but they are intriguing nonetheless – and what’s even more intriguing about this beer is Hop and Sting’s brewing process.

Often times, the only thing that makes a beer Belgian-style is the yeast, and Hop and Sting did something interesting with their fermenting process in that they fermented at a higher temperature to increase the ester (fruity flavors) production to complement the juicy, hazy, and fruity characteristics of the hops. This can be quite a risk considering other flavors that may arise, especially in an unfiltered beer.

So, with that in mind, let’s see how this beer stacked up in our firsts.

First Impressions:

• On the Eyes--Certainly unfiltered--it left a beautiful galactic swirl with the last pour of unfiltered goodness. Hazy golden color. It forms a nice head that dimishes quickly.

• On the Nose--Papaya comes forth the strongest. It is very tropical and fruity, likely from the hop selection and the fermentation process, which produces an almost overripe fruit aroma.

• On the Eyes--It does have the smooth, medium body of a wheat beer, which also makes it easy to drink. It is tropical with some additions of berry (from the Mosaic hops) and grapefruit. Papaya is the most forward to me with the berry following close behind. It is low in bitterness and high on haze. It is also worth noting that it does have some banana and pear flavors, which are pretty light to me, and the slightest hint of vanilla.

Verdict

This beer is unique. It’s not often you see banana, papaya, berries, pine, and vanilla all crowded together in a can. But what’s the point in doing a Belgian-style White IPA if you can’t play with some unique profiles? Hop and Sting pulled no punches in this beer and it is evident. If you’re feeling adventurous, or want to try a beer that’s out of this world, give the Galactic Haze IPA a try.

Cheers!

Mr. Brew