Get to Know Your Favorite Hop | Mosaic®

Explore the origin, flavor, and aroma of Mosaic® to understand what gives this hop the star power to shine in single-hop beers.

Not every hop variety is dynamic enough to be featured in a single-hop beer. Some play supporting roles or need contrasting hops to create that additional depth of flavor. Then something like Mosaic® steps into the spotlight, and it sends ripples through the brewing industry. Clearly, some hops just have more than enough star power to successfully go solo.  

Named for the complex array of flavors and aromas it can produce, Mosaic® is distinctly fruity and floral without being overly sweet. Notes of earthy pine ground these characteristics and create an impactful aromatic profile that’s well-rounded and unforgettable.

To understand the powerful influence Mosaic® continues to have on craft brewing, read on and discover more about its origins, flavors, and aromas.

Mosaic® Flavor & Aroma

Sure, its alpha acid content (11.5% - 13.5%) makes this dual-purpose hop a useful bittering agent. However, it would be an awful shame to not feature its exquisite tapestry of flavors and aromas.

Mosaic® has distinct characteristics that artfully combine florals, earthy pine, and a variety of fruits. Imagine delicate roses, the bright citrus of grapefruit, and the grounding quality of resinous, herbal pine. However, if you’ve experienced a Mosaic®-forward brew with even more complex flavors, you’re not alone. 

Even Jason Perrault, the man responsible for the creation of this hop, said in an interview with Punch, “It has a big, fruity punch to it. It’s tropical but has a fruit punch note. There’s a little bit of bubble gum in there, some blueberry, but it also has a really nice earthy quality. It’s definitely distinct.”

It’s the complex harmony of these characteristics that craft brewers have been so inspired by. Understandably, Mosaic® has been used to brew delicious IPAs, but it also lends itself well to sour beers and even stouts. At the 2024 Skunkworks Lounge, both Belching Beaver Brewery and Hop Butcher for the World used our MOS Quantum Hop Extract to craft beers that were positively dripping with juicy goodness.

Mosaic® Beyond Beer

The recent alternative beverage boom is still going strong, and it’s not likely to slow down any time soon. We’re talking about everything from NA beers and ready-to-drink mocktails to cannabis beverages and better-for-you seltzers. While Mosaic® is a hit in beer, its unique characteristics mean it can easily bridge the flavor gap in these beverage categories.

Those unique floral notes could make a sophisticated addition to ready to drink cocktails, while that pine flavor could add a much-needed dynamic earthiness to hop waters. Mosaic®’s bold flavors and aromas are particularly applicable in low-ABV beers and non-alcoholic beers.

Plus, with the ability to “tweak” the flavor profile of Mosaic®, brewers can create their own customized hop extract with the specific flavor notes they’re craving. Want to brew a Mosaic®-forward kombucha with a heavy emphasis on florals? Ready to play mad scientist with a bold resinous tea, or a citrus-heavy sports drink? With customized hop extracts, this is a reality.

Before Mosaic®, It Was HBC 369

It may seem like an IPA staple at this point, but the Hop Breeding Company only released Mosaic® in 2012. Like Citra®, it seems Mosaic® was just destined to be one of those hop varieties that immediately made an impact.

Jason Perrault, the fourth-generation hop farmer and breeder responsible for Citra and Simcoe, began working on Mosaic® in 2001. In an attempt to breed a variety with similar aromatics to Simcoe with higher yields, he crossed a Nugget male with a female Simcoe. His breeding efforts continued over the next ten years until HBC 369 stabilized into the Mosaic® we know and love today.

Brewers almost immediately saw its potential for single-hop beers, but it’s also been successful when paired with other hops like El Dorado, Citra, and Amarillo. Admittedly, you really can’t go wrong with doubling down on this beloved hop. 

In an interview with Ollie, Alvarado Street Brewery owner and brewer J.C. Hill explained that he and his team hand-select their Mosaic hops each year for their intensely tropical, single-hop Mai Tai P.A. The “Aha!” moment for them was when they discovered that Mosaic has an abundance of free thiols. “That’s why it’s my favorite hop.”

If we’re talking about doubling down on Mosaic®, then look no further than Living Häus Beer Co in Portland, Oregon. They recently released their 2nd anniversary IPA collaboration with Brujos Brewing and Highland Park Brewery dubbed Max. This is a West Coast IPA that highlights five different types of Mosaic® hop products. We’re talking whole cone hops, experimental hop oils, and more for those juicy, juicy Mosaic® fruit notes.

Brew with the True Flavor and Aroma of Mosaic®

After all this Mosaic® talk, we’re suddenly thirsty for a juicy, fruit-forward IPA or effervescent hop water with soft floral notes. Sure would be nice if someone brewed something like that already (we’re looking at you!). Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to harness the authentic characteristics of this beloved hop. 

Our Omni Hop Profiles are derived from both hops and botanical sources to create a true living record that can be recreated forever thanks to our analytical 3D metabolite mapping capabilities and botanical formulation expertise. Plus, don’t forget that you can put your own unique spin on this hop with customized profiles.

Want profiles derived solely from hops? Our Quantum Series completely reflects the hops that go into the process in a way no other hop extractions do. Just remember that hop-derived means limited supply, so act fast.