Back-to-back hop bombs

Good things come in pairs, as they say. Mother Earth Brew Co. is helping hop heads beat the summer heat with a pair of back-to-back releases this month, in a rare confluence of programming that begins with a clean Imperial IPA collaboration, followed immediately by a hazy IPA as part of their rotating Project X Series. The former also belonging to a series called Four Seasons.

The collab hits shelves first, featuring tropical vibes from experimental hops. Brewed with Bale Breaker Brewing, Washington State’s hop-growing vets-turned-craft brewers joined Mother Earth to brew a clean, 8.5% alcohol-by-volume double IPA (DIPA) that is sneaky-balanced but still explodes with the kind of hop influence you’d expect from heavy-hitters like Galaxy, Citra and HBC586, an experimental hop known for a medley of fruit flavors and peppery finish.

Following Four Seasons by exactly one week, New Horizons follows the familiar Mother Earth formula of hoppy yet approachable New England-style IPAs (NEIPAs), while also boasting hop-varietal royalty such as Mosaic and Strata. Without the use of lactose, as can be typical for NEIPAs, New Horizons comes through full-bodied, with a tangy wheatiness that sets up citrus and floral hop characteristics.

“New Horizons and Four Seasons Summer are such different beers,” says Director of Brewing Operations Chris Baker. “While New Horizons leans on a pillowy body and a soft, drinkable impression, the collab DIPA is much more intense, with an additional 45 IBUs (international bittering units) to go along with a more robust hop profile that’s led by notes of sweet fruit and grapefruit pith. It’s fun to have them out at the same time to give folks a choice on what kind of experience they want to have.”

New Horizons and Four Seasons Summer will roll out through June and July in 16-ounce cans and on draft at independent craft beer retailers. Customers are urged to search Mother Earth’s beer finder to locate Four both beers near them.