Firestone Walker Brewing produces two new releases to their Mind Haze series in Brain Melter and Cosmic Crusher.

Press Release

Paso Robles, CA - Firestone Walker today rolled out its latest lineup from Mind Haze, its widely celebrated and bestselling family of IPAs including a fresh new look for the original Mind Haze Hazy Tropical IPA. New additions to the lineup include Mind Haze Brain Melter, an Imperial Hazy IPA clocking in at 8.5% ABV; and Mind Haze Cosmic Crusher, a Juicy Imperial IPA at 9.5% ABV.  

 “The Haze craze is here to stay,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “Mind Haze is one of our most celebrated beers and has become a playground where we explore our wildest ideas on where IPAs can go, allowing us to deliver world-class beers that meet the diverse taste buds of today’s drinkers.”

Mind Haze Brain Melter, a Hazy Imperial IPA (8.5% ABV), and Mind Haze Cosmic Crusher, a Juicy Imperial IPA (9.5% ABV), are rolling out to all Firestone Walker markets in canned (12-oz) six packs and 19.2-oz single serve cans as year-round offerings. Both will also be included in a 12-oz twelve can variety pack alongside the original Mind Haze Hazy Tropical IPA, which is also available on draft.

Mind Haze Hazy Tropical IPA

Mind Haze IPA, which first landed in 2018 as “a hazy IPA done the Firestone way,” ranks as a top 5 national hazy IPA and the #2 hazy IPA in California. Mind Haze is celebrated for its explosive tropical hop flavors of pineapple, guava and stonefruit that leave the palate in awe. 

Today, Mind Haze ranks as Firestone Walker’s most popular beer brand behind 805, the #1 craft beer of California and Nevada. Mind Haze continues to spawn a growing family of variants including the new Brain Melter and Cosmic Crusher extensions. 

Brain Melter Hazy Imperial IPA

“Brain Melter is a beer that doubles down on everything we love about Mind Haze–mouthwatering tropical flavors with a bit more octane to give it an extra punch,” Brynildson said. 

The secret to Brain Melter is its blend of hops focused on Vic Secret, Strata and Citra. “We did a lot of trials and everyone on the brewing team picked this hop combination,” Brynildson said. “It was ultra-tropical and expressive with a pleasing roundness. There’s a seamless connection between the smooth, malt-derived texture and the juicy hop character.”

Brain Melter is dry hopped twice, with double the normal amount of hops, to create a unique experience of mind-melding textures and flavors. The result is a flavor-fueled odyssey that unleashes a torrent of tropical sensations.

Cosmic Crusher Juicy Imperial IPA

“Cosmic Crusher is our crazy adventure into the realm of imperial juicy IPAs,” Brynildson said. “It’s wild how the alcohol hides in this beer—it’s spooky, it’s a wolf in fuzzy sheep’s clothing for sure.”

Cosmic Crusher is built around two ultra-tropical hops—Galaxy and Strata. “We amplify these hops with our juicy yeast strain, which becomes even more expressive at higher ABVs,” Brynildson said. “The yeast does a lot of heavy lifting in this beer, bringing all this flavor and aroma to the forefront while keeping the beer in balance.”

The result is a level of flavor, aroma and mouthfeel that can only materialize at high strength, crossing the line into a whole new cosmos of punchy mango and pineapple character. 

Let Your Mind Wander

Using bright, bold colors, the updated Mind Haze packaging pops off the shelf with a supporting campaign that guarantees to send the mind wandering.

“The esthetic evolution of Mind Haze personifies what craft beer is all about–fearless creativity in and out of the can,” said Firestone Brand Director Hannah Barnett.

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Founded in 1996 by brothers-in-law Adam Firestone and David Walker, Firestone Walker is a second-generation, family-led brewery based on California’s Central Coast. Helmed by highly decorated Brewmaster Matt Brynildson, Firestone Walker's main brewery in Paso Robles produces a diverse portfolio including 805, California's #1 craft beer brand; Mind Haze, a top 5 national hazy IPA; and Cali Squeeze, one of the nation's fastest-growing beer brands. The Firestone brand family also includes iconic beers such as DBA, Union Jack, and Pivo Pils, as well as the storied Vintage Series of barrel-aged strong ales led by Parabola. As a California beer company, Firestone Walker also has two additional locations: the Barrelworks wild ale cellar in Santa Barbara County and the Propagator R&D brewhouse in Venice. Firestone Walker was recently named “Best American Brewery of the Decade” by Paste Magazine. More at 805beer.com and FirestoneWalker.com