There's little doubt Mountain Goat want to grab your attention with this twin Rare Breed release. They're both triple IPAs for a start, and even in this age of excess the characters on the cans are likely to stand out in a busy bottleshop fridge. But what of the character of the beers inside?
First up, it's worth clarifying that, while both weigh in at 9.5 percent ABV, 60 IBUs of bitterness, and were dry-hopped at a rate of 17 grams per litre (not extreme by contemporary standards but high nevertheless), they're not exact variations on a theme. Citra also comes with a dose of fresh Valencia OJ to enhance the hops' citrus-bringing vibes. That said, I found it the less extravagantly fruity – the toffee like malts lead the way with orange citrus aromas as accompaniment rather than bossing the show. It makes for a beer that's fatter and creamier on the palate than its partner-in-crime.
That partner is Strata, which puts one of the hype hops of the past two years to work. Pouring a lightly hazy copper, it emits heaps of sweet, fresh bud and ripe tropical aromas, while the flavours remind me of the yellow-wrapped pineapple lollies in Toffos (which will mean little to most readers without Google). Nicely balanced with only a faint flicker of heat (something you'll find in Citra too) and a dank finish, I'd back it to come out on top in a battle of the Rare Breeds.
James Smith
Published May 3, 2021 2021-05-03 00:00:00
