We brought you and early peek at both of these Highland Brewing beers (here and here), so my anticipation to taste them has been building for months. The good news for me is I get to try them tonight (finally!). The good news for you is you get to hear the tasting details and you’ll soon get to try them for yourself.
Tonight we get an early sampling of Highland Brewing Lost Cove Kolsch and Mosaic Rye IPL…so off we go.
Lost Cove Kolsch is the third NEW seasonal release coming from Highland in 2016 and it follows the January release of Saw-Whet Saison and the April release of Early’s Hoppy Wheat. Named for the “legendary ghost town in the Nolichucky River Gorge,” Lost Cove Kolsch is a German-style Kolsch with a hoppy twist. The beer is brewed with Pilsner & wheat malt as well as Mt. Hood hops and at 4.5%-AbV, it is perfect for summer enjoyment. Lost Cove begins with subtle bready & floral aromas and the flavors follow with delicate malt flavors and a surprising floral/herbal hop presence. The beer is really refreshing, well balanced and it finishes crisp and slightly dry. The Mt. Hood hops linger nicely for me and I really thought this beer felt surprisingly hoppy (35 IBU). 
We followed Lost Cove with Mosaic Rye India Pale Lager. As you may have figured out already, this beer uses 3-pounds of Mosaic hops per barrel as well as Australian Ella hops. If you guessed this beer uses Rye malt you’d be right as the malt bill includes 2-row, C-40 and Riverbend Rye. The nose on this beer is wonderfully citrusy with a few spicy notes at the end. Mosaic Rye IPL begins and ends with citrus and orange-y hop flavors with lots of complexity in between. I also tasted a spicy almost peppery flavor and the beer finishes with some really nice resinous flavors (and feel). Mosaic Rye IPL hits 8%-AbV and 75 IBU and we really thought this beer felt and drank a lot like an imperial IPA (in a good way).
We were really pleased with both of these beer, and we agreed that the flavors were really well balanced; and yes both beers ended up being really drinkable. Be sure to get out and try Highland Brewing Lost Cove Kolsch and Mosaic Rye IPL (available in 12oz bottles). As always, when you do try them, be sure to let us know what YOU think.
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