Yellow Rose IPA - Lone Pint Brewery Review
There is nothing purer in the modern beer world than a SMaSH (Single Malt and Single Hop) IPA, and it is the best way for hopheads or curious homebrewers to try malt and (most importantly) hops in their truest form. I always imagine a brewer trying out a new hop with the simplest malt bill possible and being shocked by the flavor and aroma coming from the pared down recipe.
Well, this week we’re taking a look at a Texas SMaSH named Yellow Rose IPA from Lone Pint Brewery out of Magnolia, Texas. Their malt and hop of choice are Pilsner and Mosaic and with a base like Pilsner, we’re expecting something crisp and clean. The Mosaic hops offer dual-purpose application with a high alpha acid (11-13%) and vibrant aromas and flavors of citrus, sweet fruit, blueberry, and bubblegum. Yellow Rose isn’t shy either with an ABV of 6.8% and 62 IBUs—right where an IPA should be.
This is a complex hop… and one of our favorites… in one of our favorite types of beers. Whew! This IPA is shaping up to be a good one. Let’s see how it checks out in our first impressions.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Straw-colored, cloudy, and topped with a persistent cream-colored head. Certainly looks unfiltered with lots of hop goodness floating around.
On the Nose--Orange (tangerine) citrus and pineapple are most prominent, but I also get that bubblegum aroma often associated with Mosaic hops.
On the Palate--Stronger citrus than the aroma with bitterer notes, as expected from a high alpha acid hop and a decently high IBU beer. The citrus is more like tangerine than anything else with a touch of lime bitterness at the end of the beer. My favorite part of Mosaic, and something I always think sets it apart from other hops, is the addition of sweet berry notes, and Yellow Rose has it. The Pilsner malt is an interesting choice but it creates a crisp and refreshing foundation for the Mosaic to express its complexity, from the high alpha acid bitterness to the complex flavor and tantalizing aroma.
Final Thoughts:
SMaSH beers are really about the hops, and Yellow Rose is no different. While I like the use of Pilsner, and think it is the right choice for this IPA, it adds very little in the way of flavor, but it offers a fresh mouthfeel and a medium body, perfect for this hop to bounce off with a lot of expressive notes from tangerine to lime, to pineapple and berry. Yellow Rose is quite smooth to drink, and it offers a certain level of juiciness while having a classic IPA flavor and a dry finish. This makes it quite a unique beer, and its name is fitting: Yellow Rose of Texas, the unexpected heroine of Texas Independence.
If you don’t know the story of the Yellow Rose of Texas, look it up. And if you get your hands on a Yellow Rose SMaSH IPA, pair it with a brick oven pizza or a pub burger, and feel a bit of your own independence.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew