12/8: Humble Sea's Willy Wonka and the Foggy Factory

Appearance: Just what you’d guess. Dark yellow, hazy/opaque. Quickly dissipating white head, subtle lacing.

Aroma: Citra and Mosaic give what you think they will: citrus, tropical, pine. The newbie here for me is Moutere, a New Zealand hop named for the Maori word for island: tropical fruit, citrus, pine. Given that flavor profile, I’m surprised I haven’t seen it more in NEIPAs, even though it’s been around since only 2015. Sabro is even newer (2018) , but we see it more often. (Googling its origin date, I also found this flavor profile on Yakima Valley Hops site: “It imparts distinct tangerine, coconut, tropical fruit, and stone fruit aromas, with hints of cedar, mint, and cream.” My palate, for one, is not so refined as all that.)

Taste: Moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Almost feels like there’s lactose in here. Quite coating.

Why is this beer named after one of my favorite books Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? A question worth investigating, which I will do tomorrow.