Firestone Walker Brewing Company is a pioneering California craft brewery founded in 1996 by brothers-in-law Adam Firestone and David Walker.
Celebrating its’ 30th anniversary this year, Firestone Walker has grown from a small operation using converted winemaking equipment into one of the more recognized domestic brewery’s in the world.
The brewery operates three facilities in California, each with its own focus:
- Paso Robles (Main Campus): The primary production location and HQ.
- Buellton (Barrelworks): Dedicated to wild and sour ales inspired by Belgian traditions.
- Venice (The Propagator): An R&D pilot brewhouse focused on experimental beers and local one-offs. Mind Haze began as an experiment at this location.
Some of their top-rated beers are Double Barrel Ale, the brewery’s flagship and first-ever beer, 805 a popular blonde ale that now accounts for 50% of the brewery’s total production, Union Jack, a West Coast-style IPA, and the Mind Haze series that has become the brewery’s second best-selling beer.
About Mind Haze Cosmic Crusher
- Style: Hazy Imperial IPA
- ABV: 9.5%
- IBU: 20-26
- Appearance: A typical cloudy and opaque appearance with minimal head retention.
- Flavor Profile: Strong pineapple, mango, and citrus with cantaloupe and guava thrown in for good measure.
- Aroma: Intense pineapple and mango inclusions.
- Hops: A combo of Galaxy, Strata, Callista, Melon, and Simcoe.
- Mouthfeel: Remarkably smooth considering it’s a 9.5% ABV with a long-lasting sweet tropical finish.
- Overall Impression: We all are of the opinion that Mind Haze Cosmic Crusher is one of the top-rated beers (all styles included) that we have reviewed to-date. Great flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel that is generally not found is high ABV beers.
Hopinionated Rating 4.70/5
Sip or Skip – Sip
Community Reviews and Comments
- nblake5199: For a 9.5% ABV Double IPA, the texture is remarkably smooth. The integration of the high alcohol content into such a silky mouthfeel is an impressive technical achievement.
- blueshawk69: …Certainly smooth for a 9.5%er with a warming backend but all the pineappley/apricot/mango/fruity/tropical flavors seem synthetic and off-putting?
- CoasterRider: The aroma is fruity juice, and the taste is the same with an orange, lemon, grapefruit juice blend and a little hop bitterness. Haven’t tasted anything quite like it. Interesting flavor.
- MonDak_Joe1953: Taste has an intense sweetness of overripe fruit, with flavors of mango, pineapple, cherry. Fusel candy touches. Woody and herbal flavors arrive in the aftertaste. Kudos to the brewer for the audacious effort.
- SpeedyR647: Would put it up against other hazy DIPAs that are rated highly (Tree House) IMHO.
- Beer Talk with Matt Brynildson: Deep and insightful review
- The Beer PaTroll YouTube Review
Explore Similar Beers to Firestone Mind Haze Cosmic Crusher
- New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Juice Force: A 9.5% ABV fruit-forward Hazy Imperial IPA that reviewers often compare directly to Cosmic Crusher for its high drinkability and intense fruit aromas.
- Sierra Nevada Cosmic Little Thing: Another 8.0% ABV “cosmic” themed Hazy Imperial IPA that leans into similar tropical fruit notes and is widely accessible.
- Deschutes Haze Tron Imperial IPA: An 8.0% ABV Imperial Hazy noted for big pineapple juice and lemon flavors, matching the tropical profile of Cosmic Crusher.
- Victory Brewing Juicy Monkey: A 9.5% ABV Hazy Imperial IPA known for being a “sweet, convenience store available” option with high gravity and low bitterness.
- Elysian Full Contact: (8.9% ABV): An Imperial Hazy IPA with citrus and cream soda notes.
- District 96: (12%–14% ABV): Known for producing very high-ABV NEIPAs.
Have you tried Firestone Mind Haze Cosmic Crusher? If so, let us know what you think about it and we’ll include your comment in our Community Reviews and Comments section.
Send us an email at justabeerblogger@gmail.com.
Cheers!
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