Mosaic IPA

Karl Strauss Brewing Company — San Diego, CA

11 Sep 2026 · Stephen

Session IPA Karl Strauss Brewing Company

5.5% ABV

45 IBU

Golden yellow Color

Contributing Factors

Presentation ✓

Character ✓

Experience –

Return –

2 / 4 A solid effort

Tasting Notes

Appearance Golden, clear with a white head. Classic Karl Strauss West Coast IPA presentation — bright, light body, clean and inviting before the hop character takes over.

Aroma Vibrant grapefruit leads — Mosaic at its most recognizable. Tropical fruit and passionfruit build behind it, the variety's layered complexity delivered by Karl Strauss's signature dry-hopping technique. Well present, pleasant, and tropical from the first sniff. A hint of pine underneath keeping the whole nose honest.

Palate Light body, ultra drinkable. The Mosaic citrus and tropical fruit carry through the middle cleanly, 45 IBU bitterness arriving with moderate hop intensity on the back half. Somewhat dank — Mosaic doing what Mosaic does when properly dry-hopped. Well tropical throughout.

Finish Dry, bitter, and medium length. The tropical fruit fades into a sustained hop-bitter close — present, clean, and firmly refreshing. Makes the next sip as automatic as the brewery's own invitation: sit back, have a few, enjoy your sessio

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The Verdict

Karl Strauss got to HBC 369 before it was Mosaic, built a dry-hopping technique around it, and produced a session IPA that's been earning loyalty for years. Vibrant grapefruit, tropical fruit, 45 IBU, ultra drinkable. From a small test batch. Still going.

— Stephen · Contributing Factor Brewing · 11 Sep 2026