Also known as Mutual Mash, or aka: Mutural Mashturbation- the collaborative efforts of Lexington’s Country Boy Brewing and Louisville’s Against the Grain Brewery demonstrates the adolescent love affair with Urban Dictionary. But despite their nostalgic trip to 5th grade, the beer itself is a bright, fresh, and citrusy American classic!
The wet-hopped IPA pours much like any other- with a bright blood orange, copper-amber hue that’s captivated by its signature hoppy haze. The beer builds a creamy off white head with proper staying power and sturdy rings of lace. Despite its restrained carbonation, the beer mimics the foam character found in cask ale.
Highly aromatic with freshly picked hops that take the olfactory senses on quite a ride through stops at red grapefruit pulp, freshly zested oranges, pineapple, pine needles, and a grassy scent like a freshly mowed lawn. Backed with a supple sweet scent of caramelish honey, the malts seem to give the fruity hop notes a sense of ripeness and plumpness rather than any attempt to balance.
Flavors follow a similar pattern. The front of the mouth is met with thin caramel and honey, just before the tangy ripeness of ruby red grapefruit juice, tangerine, pine, and tea leaves take full command at mid palate. The the beer turns decisively bitter, grassy, and resinous in finish. The balance certainly favors the fresh taste of hops while the malts support the hoppy display.
Medium bodied to start, the beer’s lower-than-usual carbonation makes the beer feel more like an English IPA than an American one. But even without the acidic carbonic bite, the malts lay weightily on the tongue for full effect and appreciation of taste. But alas, the beer concludes with hop dryness, fleeting malt textures, and mild alcohol warmth. A long clean linger of citrusy bitterness extends well into the next sip.
Mutual Mash is dangerously smooth and highly refreshing. Its dry late palate makes you want to take another drink, one on top of the other. But at 6.5%, that can get you in a lot of trouble in a big ole hurry.
