Mysticore (Hazy Imperial IPA) Review

Into the mystic…

Mysticore kicks off our new line of rotating Hazy Imperial IPAs! Slightly cloudy and golden-hued, this hazed-out hop bomb is a cryptic combination of pine and citrus aromas and bold tropical fruit notes with a big, pillowy mouthfeel. Mysticore is a limited release, available in cans and on draft.

Malts: Pilsner, White Wheat, Dextrin, Flaked Oats, Acidulated
Hops: Citra, Nelson Sauvin, Galaxy, Nectaron

Mysticore is a new release, and is our first release in a new series of Hazy Imperial IPAs. As our previous Imperial Series releases drew on giant prehistoric megafauna, these imperial hazies draw on cryptids and mythological creatures to capture the spirit of the big, bold and mysterious profiles. Give us a little background on Mysticore.

With Truth Bomb’s release as a year-round Imperial West Coast IPA, we decided that the rotating DIPAs could use a little mixing up. We spent much of 2024 testing out different Imperial Hazy recipes in our innovation brewery. If you’ve visited within the last year, you may have noticed some beers with “V2” or something similar in the name- this means “Version 2,” and denotes iterations of a recipe that our research and development team is testing and tweaking. From these hazy, hopped-up experiments, Mysticore was born.

This is a big, hazy Imperial IPA. What are the notable features of this style, and what does Mysticore bring to the table?

Breaking down the style by word, we’ll start with “hazy.” Traditionally dry hopped IPAs are made by allowing fermentation to finish before adding a dose of hops. By adding hops during fermentation, the time that yeast is actively converting sugars extracted from malt into alcohol, physical changes to hop oils by yeast create intensely fruity flavors. Hops are also used sparingly in the boil or whirlpool, meaning the beer has little residual bitterness. Additions of other grains, like wheat and oats, create a smooth, full-bodied mouthfeel. Add all these factors together and you’re left with a low bitterness, incredibly fruity, juice-like IPA, with haze as a by-product. By not passing these beers through a filter, that haze is preserved. The term “Imperial” means that a brew has an elevated alcohol by volume (abv) compared to what is typical of the style, born from English brewers in the 18th century who created high ABV beers meant to survive being shipped to the Russian Imperial Court without spoiling. At 9% abv and loaded with hoppy haze, Mysticore fits this recently created style perfectly.

What are some other favorite Hazy Imperial IPAs?

Instead of specific beers, I’ll list a few breweries that make exceptional hazies- Other Half, Tree House, Trillium, and Hill Farmstead.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Bright gold with heavy haze and thick, white foam.
Aroma: Fresh-squeezed orange juice, ripe pineapple, and resinous pine.
Taste: Mild bitterness and hints of malt sweetness allow massive, juice-like fruit flavors to dominate.
Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and pillowy, enhancing the juice-like character.
Overall: Bright gold with heavy haze, Mysticore leads with massive, hop-derived notes of fresh orange juice and pineapple. Mild bitterness and just enough balancing sweetness allow the fruit flavors to linger, amplified by a soft, pillowy body.

What foods would pair well with Mysticore?

Mysticore would go great with some unicorn steak, or a bowl of ambrosia.

Ideal glassware for Mysticore?

If you don’t have a crystal chalice on hand, a traditional snifter will work perfectly.