Beer Release: Fractured Reality Impresses from Outside-In

OUR ROTATING BEER + ART SERIES, PROJECT X, has become known for its avant-garde approach to labeling, pairing some of the industry’s best Hazy IPAs with impressive works of art from all over the world. Few, though, have been as breathtaking as our newest release, Fractured Reality, which showcases the striking work of Josh Herrington (@circlecirclemath) on the outside, followed by one of the brewery’s finest brews, within.

“When we began the artist selection for the year, we really wanted to put out different looks for each release so that you would be excited to see what the next one had in store. We were so taken with this piece from CircleCircleMath that we saw it as a challenge to create a beer to match – Something equally stunning. I think we did that with Fractured Reality.”

-Chris Baker – Director of Brewing Ops, Mother Earth Brew Co.

THE ARTIST

Originally from Austin, Texas, Herrington creates unique, surrealistic art. The cornerstone of his style is how he often replaces specific features of his models with something extraordinary, that creates a thought-provoking juxtaposition. The result is imagery with great weight, that uses tones and shapes for impact.

For example, the skin of a subject will become a galactic scene, melting off the distorted face of a beautiful woman. Other times he'll warp or invert features to appear grotesque in the midst of a fantasy-like rainbow striation. This clash of opposites - dark vs. light, stoic vs. elated creates a real sense of tension that is oddly satisfying.

THE BEER

Photo courtesy of Northwest Beer Guide

The liquid is a striking juxtaposition to the somber vibe of the art, coming off bright and fruity. The beer holds a beautifully consistent haze and has excellent head retention that props up a bouquet of sweet stone fruit and dank pine. The hop bill features a tropical trifecta of El Dorado, Citra, and Triumph that meld beautifully and really add depth to the mid-palate.

Fractured Reality rolls out throughout the month of July in almost all our major markets in 16oz 4-packs, and on draft. Find it near you by using our interactive Beer Finder at or visit our Nampa and Boise tap rooms.