Firestone Walker Brewing launched its “Mind Wanderers Society” campaign earlier this year to promote it’s Mind Haze lineup of hazy IPAs, with a theme that seems to go full psychedelic guru-led illuminati with the white-clad, white-haired character known as “The Mind Wanderer” front and center. As a marketing campaign goes, it’s… kind of a strange choice, in my opinion, though certainly not as strange (or as bad) as others.
Fortunately it’s the beers themselves that do the heavy lifting here, and I’ve had time to drink them and think through my reviews since the company sent me a sample pack to try. Without further ado, let’s get into the reviews.
Mind Haze IPA
The original Mind Haze launched in late 2018, and it was Firestone Walker’s first hazy IPA. Since then, it’s become a top-selling hazy, and the “Mind Haze” brand has been applied to the company’s “Turbo Radler” products as well.
Here’s the web page’s one-line Mind Wanderer-esque description:
Plunge into a tempest of electrifying tropical flavor with a luxuriously velvety mouthfeel that will send you into a state of hazy euphoria.
It’s 6.7% alcohol by volume with 30 IBUs, and features Azacca, El Dorado, and Hüll Melon hops. The FW blog has a good article about Mind Haze and its origins here.
Appearance: Golden yellow, opaquely hazy, with a good white head.
Smell: Redolent with tropical fruit notes, primarily mango and papaya, with pineapple upside down cake. I still get a bit of allium (garlic greens), with peppery notes. A hint of creamy wheat at the back.
Taste: Peppery-spicy allium greens which give a grassy, herbal bitterness, which I’m finding fairly pronounced. There’s a bit of a stewed fruit flavor, kind of muddy and indistinct, and then it lightens up at the back of the palate. The bitterness softens as it warms.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, almost medium-full with a pillowy texture in the protein/haze. Still a lingering bitterness into the finish with coats the mouth.
Overall: Aroma is great, and it’s a well brewed hazy despite my notes on the bitterness.
Mind Haze Brain Melter Hazy Imperial IPA
Both Brain Melter and Cosmic Crusher were released in 2024, direct extensions of the original while also branching in their own directions, development- and recipe-wise. Brain Melter is brewed with Mosaic, Citra, and Vic Secret hops, and you can read a bit more about it in the blog here.
Unleashing a torrent of tropical sensation, immerse yourself in a juicy symphony of explosive hop aroma & lusciously smooth texture.
It’s 8.5% ABV with 35 IBUs.
Appearance: Golden color with a tinge of copper with a pretty solid haze. Off white head.
Smell: Fruit character here that goes sweet orange, citrus and citrus oil. Juicy and sweet with an orange cream impression.
Taste: Some lightly spicy orange peel with more of that orange cream sweetness and a soft, slightly spicy bitterness that’s nicely balanced. That spicy hop flavor grows as you sip, asserting itself as the imperial character it should be, without stripping the tongue and then it gives a hint of alcohol heat. Citrusy pith throughout.
Mouthfeel: Medium-full body, slightly creamy, relatively soft texture, and a long gentle bitter and alcohol finish.
Overall: It’s a really good beer in this style, enjoyable to drink.
Mind Haze Cosmic Crusher Juicy Imperial IPA
Cosmic Crusher is the strongest of the trio, and aims for more of a juicy profile than hazy (although there is still a haze factor). It also has the lowest IBU rating of them, an intentional choice detailed in the blog.
A celestial explosion of juicy flavors that will leave your taste buds starry-eyed. Packed with bold flavors of pineapple and mango at a lofty 9.5% ABV.
It’s 9.5% ABV with 20 IBUs, and features Galaxy, Simcoe, and Mandarina hops.
Appearance: Yellow golden color still has a bit of a haze, but rather bright. Decent white head.
Smell: Starts with grapefruit and then I get melon which persists. That melon character is more honeydew than watermelon, and there’s a touch of cotton candy sweetness behind it. I may get a bit of stone fruit, like peach as well. Hits the juicy marks.
Taste: Melon rind in the flavor, with a lightly herbal bitter green underlying a (rock) candy sweetness. Just enough bitter to balance the sweet, but it’s surprisingly mellow for an imperial. Melon, green tea, a hint of floral alcohol, toasted barley cereal, hints of POG juice.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, some alcohol at the back, clean with a light bitter aftertaste.
Overall: I would not guess nearly 10%, it’s got good aromas and flavors that are a nice drink.
If I had to sum up all three with a single word descriptor, I would say Mind Haze (the original) is pineapple, Brain Melter is orange, and Cosmic Crusher is melon.
