New Belgium

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Truly a dank IPA? New Belgium The Hemperor ships in April, brewed with hemp

New Belgium The Hemperor

New Belgium The Hemperor, an India pale ale brewed with hemp, debuts in April.

India pale ales have always been hot in craft beer, but lately, their popularity has skyrocketed. You can thank new strains of dank hops, the New England IPA trend, even cheaper ways for small breweries to can their lineup. New Belgium is always experimenting with the green hop-star, but this time the green is a little different.

New Belgium got started in Colorado, known for scenic mountains, breweries and most recently – legal weed. That legal green has given New Belgium the inspiration for what they believe is a new style of IPA, brewed with hemp.

The brewery has developed a way to recreate the terpene flavors in hemp seeds. Terpenes are hydrocarbons derived from the essential oils of the hemp plants. They are major components of resin. Terpenes give plants their aroma, taste and even color. Those potent hemp seed flavors, plus hand-selected hop varieties, promise a truly new and unique “HPA” (hemp IPA).

You’ve probably heard weed referred to as “dank”. You most certainly have heard that term used to describe hops. New Belgium is fusing the two flavors and aromas into one “dank” beer.  It is important to note, hemp seeds and other products are not legally allowed to contain the cannabinoid known as THC (Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol) in them. Any trace of this would be so small it would take an exorbitant amount of consumption to even remotely show up on drug tests, etc. The Hemperor uses the terpenes or essence of hemp, not the cannabinoid THC.

…we found a unique way to recreate hemp terpene flavors in a beer, which complement the inclusion of hop flavors and hemp hearts (seeds) in a brand new, delicious way—not to mention this beer is extremely dank! The flavors and aromas are so unique that it’s a style unto itself, hence HPA®.

New Belgium The Hemperor will start shipping in April, in 12-ounce bottles and draft.

Style: IPA (w/ Hemp)
Hops: Nugget, Cascade, HBC 522, Simcoe
Malts: Pale, White Wheat, Midnight Wheat
Yeast: Ale

Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: April 2018

7% ABV

Posted in New Belgium, New Releases

New Belgium Tartastic Raspberry Lime Ale expands “Tart” series

New Belgium Tartastic Raspberry Lime Ale

New Belgium Tartastic Raspberry Lime Ale leads off a new kettle soured series of ales in 2018. 

Some of this beer name should already be familiar to you – “Tartastic”. A year ago, New Belgium debuted Tartastic Lemon Ginger Sour. The brewery found success with this release among their fanbase, prompting the brewery to turn Tartastic into a full-on series. New Belgium Tartastic Raspberry Lime Ale takes the lead in the series this year, brewed with raspberry and lime purees.

Don’t let the beautiful color fool you, this beer isn’t heavy on the fruit. Each sip has a touch of tartness up front, that gives way to malty finish with just a drizzle of fresh raspberry. Intentionally restrained, Raspberry Lime Ale is better described as possessing “the essence” of the berries and citrus, instead of a face plant directly into a sweet pie.

Expect more “Tartastic” fruit-based releases in 2018.

New Belgium Tartastic Raspberry Lime Ale is a 12-ounce bottle and draft seasonal release.

Style: Kettle Sour Ale (w/ Raspberries. Lime Puree.)
Hops: Nugget
Malts: Pale, White Wheat

Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: February 2018

4.2% ABV

PIC: Beer Street Journal

Posted in New Belgium

New Belgium Pilsener

New Belgium Pilsener bottle

New Belgium Pilsener

 

Image: Beer Street Journal

Posted in New Belgium, Don't Miss This

New Belgium Juicy Haze IPA debuts, an “Unfiltered Wave of Hoppiness”

New Belgium Juicy Hazy IPA Bottle

New Belgium Juicy Haze IPA is joining the brewery’s Voodoo Ranger Series to start 2018.

Let’s face it, the demand for hazy, juicy India pale ales is high, and not going away anytime soon. The brewing team at New Belgium knows this, so it’s time for a hazy Voodoo Ranger release.

Juicy Haze IPA has all the important flavor descriptors – tropical, citrusy, unfiltered. Everything hazy beers boast, but you won’t have to stand in a line to get it. The brewery combines Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe, and Nugget hops with Hefeweizen yeast.

With more than 10 years brewing unfiltered beers and the ongoing success of our hoppy portfolio, Juicy Haze continues our tradition of pushing boundaries while making creative and innovative beers.” – Cody Reif, New Belgium Brewer

New Belgium Juicy Hazy IPA is a 12-ounce bottle, 16oz can and draft release.

Style: IPA
Hops: Citra, Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe, Nugget
Malts: Pale, Wheat, C-80, Oats

Availability: 12oz Bottles, 16oz Cans. Draft.
Debut: January 2018

7.5% ABV

Image: Beer Street Journal

Posted in New Belgium, Headlines

Future Special Release: New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Guava Spruce DIPA

New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Guava Spruce DIPA

New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Guava Spruce DIPA is a future potential in the brewery’s Voodoo Ranger Series.

In late 2016, New Belgium announced the addition of the Voodoo Ranger Series. IPA, Imperial IPA, 8 Hop joined the series year-round. Earlier this year, Voodoo Ranger added a few “Special Releases” in 22-ounce bottles – Passionfruit Imperial IPA, Red IPA, and Juicy Mandarina IPA.

It looks like New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Guava Spruce DIPA is on the way soon. The India pale ale is brewed with guava and spruce.

This forthcoming release is slated for 16-ounce cans and draft. The brewery has not yet announced this release.

Style: IPA (w/ Guava. Spruce.)
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: TBA

7.6% ABV

Posted in New Belgium, Headlines

One of the world’s most exclusive coffee beans, a wood cellar, & New Belgium Geisha

New Belgium Geisha

Billed as the “loftiest sour” they’ve ever crafted, New Belgium Geisha debuts.

There are a lot of elements at play in this La Folie Grand Reserve release. First, the name “Geisha”. It comes from the highly sought after Geisha coffee bean that hails from Ethiopia. It found international fame after the bean was imported to Panama and produced by Hacienda La Esmerelda. The family-run coffee grower submitted the bean to the Best of Panama Auction in 2004, winning first place. The Geisha bean continued to win five more times from 2005 to 2010. Basically, it’s a badass.

New Belgium Wood Cellar Director Lauren Woods Limbach’s vision was to blend the Geisha bean’s delicate aromatics with the brewery’s sour beer Oscar. Incidentally, Oscar is the base beer that is blended into famed La Folie Sour Brown Ale. In order to do so, the brewery needed another “threaded” beer to make Geisha work.

Local Fort Collins-based Troubadour Maltings provided a few special malt varieties for a special beer to thread into Geisha. New Belgium calls is a “smuggler” beer, bringing in the oils needed for beer head retention, bridging the gap between Oscar, and the Geisha bean.

“There’s this apprehension to do right by Geisha. I’ve thought more about this beer than any beer I’ve made in my life. Not just because of the expense of the coffee, but because we’re attempting to put something that doesn’t have the classic coffee aroma—floral, tea, notes of citrus and stone fruit—into a coffee beer. – Lauren Woods Limbach

One of the world’s most exclusive coffee beans, an award-winning wild ale program, and an expert blender come together for what New Belgium hops is a truly unique and bold American wild ale.

New Belgium Geisha is available in 750-milliliter bottles in select markets, and both of the brewery’s taprooms starting November 3rd. There’s a price tag for this kind of sensory experience. A bottle’s retail price is around $48 dollars.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Coffee. Oak Aged.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles, Corked & Caged.
Debut: November 2017

7.9% ABV

Posted in New Belgium, Headlines

New Belgium acquires Magnolia Brewing, with famed lambic producer

New Belgium Brewing Company has entered into an agreement to purchase the assets of San Francisco’s Magnolia Brewing Company, as a part of a bankruptcy proceeding. The majority stake will be owned by New Belgium, with minority stakes owned by Elysian Brewing founder Dick Cantwell and Belgian lambic producer Oud Beersel.

Magnolia Brewing will continue to operate at both locations, with all beer brands and staff intact. Cantwell will assume the role of head of brewing operations, working alongside Magnolia founder Dave McLean.

Cantwell left Elysian Brewing in April of 2015, shortly after the brewery sold to Anheuser-Busch InBev. The role at Magnolia Brewing is his first in the beer industry since leaving Elysian.

“I’m tremendously excited to be back in the beer business and looking forward to working with the team at Magnolia to develop new beers and new ideas. This project is the natural evolution of a longstanding strategy of collaboration between myself, New Belgium and Oud Beersel.” – Dick Cantwell

“Brewing with friends” is how New Belgium characterizes this new partnership. The goal is to bring fresh brewing experience into the fold at Magnolia and advance the brand, not turn these locations into New Belgium pubs. In time, new beers will grace Magnolia’s lineup.

“We’ve been looking for ways to diversify our assets and expand our community. These two tap rooms are right in the heart of historic San Francisco neighborhoods, a place Dick (Cantwell) and I call home. Magnolia makes excellent beer and plays an important role in the community. We’re excited about the possibilities and look forward to continuing our journey while honoring Magnolia’s history and presence.” – New Belgium co-founder and Executive Chair, Kim Jordan

Oud Beersel’s role will be interesting. Eventually, the famed lambic producer will ship containers of their spontaneously fermented beer to San Francisco to blend with Magnolia’s beers. Oud Beersel has already worked with New Belgium and Brouwerij Boon on Transatlantique Kriek, available from New Belgium. Expect New Belgium to involved in blending collaborations in San Francisco as well.

A coolship, along with new wood vessels (foudres, puncheons, etc) are already in planning for Magnolia in the near future.

To be called lambic the beer must be produced in Belgium, and by shipping lambic to San Francisco, the world’s first dedicated lambic blendery outside of Belgium will be established.

Magnolia Brewing was established by McLean in 1997. The brewery’s financial difficulties surfaced in 2015 after construction delays in the construction of Smokestack, a barbecue restaurant they opened attached to the 30-barrel brewery. Magnolia filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2015.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal is expected to close in September 2017.