Wee tend to write friendly reviews on WeeBeers as we go by the adage of “if you’ve got nothing nice to say…”. And we love what Formula Brewing is doing over in Issaquah and we have some great reviews in the next few days of some of their craft beer. They know their way around a mash tun, and usually, their tap list is a playground for hop heads. But sometimes? Sometimes you read a menu description that promises a tropical vacation, and you end up getting rained on during a camping trip.
Formula Brewing’s Cone Shattered Dreams
This is their 8.6% ABV Fresh Hop West Coast Double IPA and based on the 3.96 average cap score on Untappd it’s a big hit.
I really wanted to love this beer as it checks all the boxes of a craft beer I would love. It won a bronze medal at the Washington Fresh Hop Beer Awards. The name is poetic with a nod to the fragility of the hop cone. It’s a Double IPA. However, the fragility of my own palate when confronted with certain ingredients shattered that dream.
Here is the thing, none of us at WeeBeers is a fan of the Mosiac hop and now, my first try of the Luminosa hop has me worried it is in the same class.
I know Mosiac has been the darling of the craft beer world since 2012 and Luminosa is supposed to be the next big thing since it first hit the market in 2022. I know it’s supposed to taste like peach-mango lemonade, candied orange peel, boysenberry, papaya and guava. But my tastebuds reject that narrative. In this beer, which relies heavily on that specific fresh hop profile, I don’t get tropical sunshine.
I get stale blueberry jam mixed with caraway seeds and a weird, waxy taste that won’t let go of the back of my throat.
It’s intense. It’s overwhelming. And unfortunately, it shattered my dreams of a bright, piney, classic West Coast experience. Instead, the heavy dose of Luminosa left a coating on my tongue that tasted vaguely of… well, what I remember those wax teeth at Halloween tasted like.
Wee Verdict on Cone Shattered Dreams
If you love Mosaic or Luminosa hops, you will likely think I am insane. This beer is technically sound, fresh, and aggressively flavored. But if you, like me, find these hops to be a bit… “too much” in the savory department? This one might shatter your dreams, too. My dream is that this is a one-off profile of Luminosa and I don’t have to add it to my “hops to avoid list” like Mosaic.
Clark believes that the best professional relationships are built on shared experiences and a bit of fun. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Clark has been a vocal advocate of the local craft beer scene for years. He enjoys exploring the unique flavors and community-driven atmosphere of Washington’s and Oregon’s many breweries while working through the complex software architecture opportunities presented by social interaction. After a hard day of work, Clark can often be found on the karaoke stage any day of the week belting out 80’s rock and heavy metal tunes while bringing the same passion and energy to his performances as he does to his startups; valuing confidence, engagement, and the power of a good song and a bourbon barrel aged beer to bring people together.
