The Holiday spirit. It can mean many things. Friendship, gift giving, great times, over-indulgence that you’ll regret later, and tasty beer. Ok, so maybe that last one isn’t true for everyone, but it is important none the less. And now, thanks to Colorado brewery New Belgium, Ohians have some new beers to add to their growing list of tastiness. Come December 16th, they will grace the shelves as examples of true and tasty beer. And though there is still a week before the proverbial curtains are lifted, I happen to have some bottles of their brewlixirs to prepare all of my friends (you, of course) for the upcoming liquid awesomeness.
We’ll start out with Accumulation, a white IPA wrapped up in a seasonal sweater. As an IPA, the aroma standards are all present. Luscious, potent pine and tropical fruit freshness combine to create a bloom of hoptitude the instant you take your first breath. A secondary layer of sweet peaches and tart pineapples and lemons add a brightness of fruit juice and tropical tang. It’s a prickly aroma – with the notes of pine creating a sizable dose of bitterness that rides the coattails of the floral hop explosion. So far, the aroma has done a great job harnessing the power of bright hops to fight back the frigid darkness of winter. Pine Tree Powers, activate!
And activate, they do. Initial flavors of pine show up the instant this beer washes over your tongue. Fruity notes of pineapple and grapefruit trickle in immediately after, offering a bright hint of tropical sweetness before switching to a bitter tang that floods across every inch of the mouth. The fruit vibes morph into tropical fruit peels – specifically lemon and grapefruit zest – adding a big burst of glowing freshness as well as a healthy dose of bitterness. All of these flavors combine to create a mouth-dominating experience, allowing hops to take over your tongue with ease. Despite this intensity, the flavors only last long enough to become acquainted with you before fading into a super-mellow linger of bitter freshness at the back of the tongue. If you love big hops, immense IBUs, and fruity citrus bitterness, Accumulation will be right up your alley – at least while there is snow on the ground and a chill in the air.
In contrast to the pure, dominating hoppy brightness of Accumulation, Fat Tire offers up a generous helping of warm bread and biscuit maltiness in addition to a hop zest. Each breath of Fat Tire reveals a different side of the aroma. One moment, piney hops are showcased – bright and fresh. The next moment, a hearty cloud of malts envelops your nose – bringing notes of toasted bread crust as well as hints of plums and cherries, with an underlying layer of slightly caramelized brown sugar. Finally, though this isn’t a seasonal winter ale, faint traces of cinnamon seem to tie a bow around the bouquet. All together, the aroma is wonderfully layered and delectably rich.
If I had to describe the taste of this beer in one word, I’d say “Never! It can not be done!” – but if pushed, I’d probably say delicious, or wonderful, or break out the double thumbs up and say “dy-no-mite” if I happened to be feeling flashy. The malts maintain the upper hand as a flow of toasted bread and crackers wash over your tongue. Immediately following, hops show up as burst of piney freshness at the back of the tongue, adding a gentle florality that hovers over the richness of the malts. Faint notes of plums and apples splash in from the sides, providing a bit of sweet, fruity freshness. Underneath everything, the same brown sugar toastiness adds some sticky sweetness that acts like the Peaches to the malt’s Herb. Actually, this beer is all about harmony. The malts and the hops are both noticeable and delicious, but neither tries to overpower the other. They create the yin-yang of beers, except instead of light and dark, it’s malt deliciousness and hop tastiness. You heard it here, friends. This beer is so Zen, one bottle will help you reach enlightenment, and who could possibly say no to that?
Though these first two samplings of New Belgium’s brew-fortitude offer only a glimpse at the oncoming tide of deliciousness, a few sips are more than enough to reveal just how damn tasty these beers are. From the seasonal hop explosion of Accumulation, to the universal One-ness and karma-balanced flavors of Fat Tire, New Belgium is sure to find an eager audience in Columbus. Also coming to the area from New Belgium are Ranger IPA and New Belgium’s Tripel, which we’ll review next week, plus three offerings from the Lips of Faith series: Cigar City Collaboration Ale, Paardebloem Ale and Heavenly Feijoa Tripel. So pack your cold weather survival gear, head out to your favorite craft beer store front, and set up camp. A week is never too early to wait for great beer.
