Get your taste buds ready, the brewers at Samuel Adams have something special in store for them ~ the 2013 Latitude 48 list of ingredients will feature Mosaic hops from the Yakima, Wash., growing region. It imparts a floral and tropical fruit character and a fresh, unique flavor to the already complex brew.

This previously experimental hop variety was first encountered by Samuel Adams founder and brewer, Jim Koch, on a hop selection trip a few years back. Koch learned about the new variety (then only known as “#369”) grown for its amped-up floral notes. He snagged 30 pounds of what would be come to be known as Mosaic and first used it to create SAVOR Flowers, a limited-edition beer, brewed (as faithful PulseBrew readers will know) in collaboration with Dogfish Head for the SAVOR festival in Washington, D.C., in June, 2011.

Now, after spending the last year experimenting with Mosaic, the brewers have transformed the Latitude 48 IPA recipe, adding a new dimension to the hop lineup with this flavorful varietal. Samuel Adams Latitude 48 IPA gets its name from its most important ingredients: a select blend of hops from top German, English and American growing regions, all located near ~ you guessed it ~ the 48th latitude along the “hop belt” of the Northern Hemisphere.

Tasting Notes: Samuel Adams Latitude 48 IPA has a distinctive, yet not overpowering, hop character. The 2013 batch is inspired by the new Mosaic hop variety. which imparts a floral and tropical flavor.