New Belgium Brewing rounds out their 2011 Lips of Faith series with these 2 new releases: Fresh Hop India Pale Ale and Prickly Passion Saison. These releases follow the recent and very popular Clutch and Kick Lips Of Faith releases.
Fresh Hop India Pale Ale – IPA, 7% ABV, 70 IBUs. Packs a citrus punch of Amarillo, Centennial and Cascade hops, straight off the vine in Washington State. This brazen and deliciously bitter IPA pours deeply golden with the slight haze of a really hoppy beer. The array of hops gives a sharp blast, but the finish is light and dry.
Prickly Passion Saison – Saison, 8.5% ABV. In a fruit medley of passion fruit and prickly pear, Prickly Passion Saison is New Belgium’s return to farmhouse ales. The fruit juices combine with the tropical esters of an earthy Saison yeast, creating a broad and reaching mango-like character. Deemed “ostentatiously amber,” this Lips selection is guaranteed to provoke the palate.
Hops: Target, Liberty
Malts: Pale, C-80
Fruits: Prickly Pear, Passionfruit
“We opted not to make our fourth quarter Lips selections exceptionally wintery or heavy,” said New Belgium brewer Grady Hull. “Instead, we are hosting a hops harvest party and bringing uncommon fruit selections to the table, both of which sparkle with holiday flavor.”What? No stouts? It’s wintertime!
Availability: 22oz bombers, November-February.
As New Belgium Brewing has recently expanded their tasty empire on the east coast. Do you have NB yet? Try their Libation Locator.
