New Belgium

New Belgium Releases Summer Seasonal

It seems like every time a summer seasonal release is mentioned, there is snow on the ground somewhere. Same goes for now too. New Belgium Brewing has released their summer seasonal, Summer Helles this week.

“Helles is a style we’ve always Continue Reading →

Upland & New Belgium Team Up On Wild Collab

When Upland Brewing and New Belgium Brewing get together, you can be sure something funky will come out of it. Namely – Darksynth.

Darksynth is a blend of some special offerings from each collaborator’s repertoire:

New Belgium’s Oscar, an ale aged in Continue Reading →

New Belgium Adds Second Canadian Province

New Belgium Brewing will pick up a second Canadian province,  Alberta, Canada on February 24, 2014. The brewery entered British Columbia in September of last year.

First offerings will include flagship Fat Tire, plus Ranger IPA. Rampant, Snapshot Wheat, and select Lips Continue Reading →

Now Drink Your New Belgium At 30,000 Feet

New Belgium Brewing (Fort Collins, CO) just made drinking while flying a little tastier.

The brewery’s flagship amber ale, Fat Tire is now available on all Southwest Airlines and AirTran flights. What’s even better that this news? Southwest tells Beer Street Continue Reading →

Posted in Don't Miss This, New Belgium, New Releases

New Belgium Releases Summer Seasonal

It seems like every time a summer seasonal release is mentioned, there is snow on the ground somewhere. Same goes for now too. New Belgium Brewing has released their summer seasonal, Summer Helles this week.

“Helles is a style we’ve always enjoyed playing around with,” said Grady Hull, New Belgium’s Assistant Brewmaster. “People really loved it in the festival setting because the drinkability is hard to beat. It pairs well with spicy and savory foods but you could also chase down a butter rum ice cream cone with equally great results.”

Summer Helles got its start as a beer celebrating the 40th anniversary of Telluride’s famed Bluegrass Festival and Rockygrass Festival. Summer Helles popularity got it upgraded.

New Belgium Summer Helles will be available in 12oz bottles and draft from now until July, 2014.

Style: Helles
Hops: Hallertau, Tettnang
Malts: Pale, Pilsner

Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft

5% ABV, 21 IBUS

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Headlines, New Belgium, Upland Beer

Upland & New Belgium Team Up On Wild Collab

When Upland Brewing and New Belgium Brewing get together, you can be sure something funky will come out of it. Namely – Darksynth.

Darksynth is a blend of some special offerings from each collaborator’s repertoire:

New Belgium’s Oscar, an ale aged in the brewery’s oak foeders (60%)
Upland Dantalion Ale (American Wild Ale, Red Wine Barrels) (40%)
Raspberry Lambic (Oak Aged, Raspberries) (10%)

Upland/New Belgium Darksynth will be released in 750ml bottles, by Upland Brewing Co.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Raspberries. Wine Barrel Aged)
Availability: 750ml Bottles

?? ABV

Read more: Collaborations

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Distribution Expansion, New Belgium

New Belgium Adds Second Canadian Province

New Belgium Brewing will pick up a second Canadian province,  Alberta, Canada on February 24, 2014. The brewery entered British Columbia in September of last year.

First offerings will include flagship Fat Tire, plus Ranger IPA. Rampant, Snapshot Wheat, and select Lips of Faith offerings will arrive around 90 days later.  Horizon Beers will be New Belgium’s distribution partner.

“British Columbia was our first market outside the U.S., and we’ve obviously learned a lot about beer sales in Canada since rolling out there,” said Rich Rush, Regional Sales Director with New Belgium Brewing. “There are some great emerging craft beer markets in Alberta, and we’re excited to be introducing our brews to the craft beer enthusiasts there.

New Belgium will be entering the state of Mississippi. On March 3rd, 2014. That is state #37 on their conquest for all 50.

Kentucky & Hawaii are poised for New Belgium’s lineup this year. Announcements to follow.

Read more: Distribution Expansions

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Headlines, New Belgium

New Belgium Brews Ancient Style in Next Lips of Faith

A long time ago, before hops became widely available in brewing, spices were used to bitter beer. A mixture called fruit, was the bittering agent, a mix of spices such as juniper berries, ginger, aniseed, sweet gale, mugwort, yarrow & more. The use of gruit was mostly phased out by the 16th century.

New Belgium Brewing’s upcoming Lips of Faith release revisits a time where gruit was used to bitter. For Gruit, the brewery used a mixture of bog myrtle, horehound, yarrow, wormwood and elderflowers.

Just to brush you up on the spices, horehound has been used in cough drops for hundreds of years. (Black horehound is a sedative. Let’s assume it’s not in Gruit.) Yarrow and bog myrtle have been been used for both culinary and medicinal uses. Have you ever heard of absinthe? A big flavoring ingredient in that “green fairy” drink is wormwood.

Look for Gruit in 22oz bottles, and draft. Official New Belgium announcement coming soon.

Style: Gruit (w/ Yarrow, Bog Myrtle, Wormwood, Elderfower)
Availability: 22oz Bombers, Draft
Arrival: TBA

6.6% ABV

Read more: Lips of Faith Series

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Cool Stuff, Don't Miss This, New Belgium

Now Drink Your New Belgium At 30,000 Feet

New Belgium Brewing (Fort Collins, CO) just made drinking while flying a little tastier.

The brewery’s flagship amber ale, Fat Tire is now available on all Southwest Airlines and AirTran flights. What’s even better that this news? Southwest tells Beer Street Journal that the cans will retail for just $5. (Credit cards only, folks.)

AirTran, which is based in Atlanta, doesn’t even carry local craft breweries yet. Perhaps that will change once SweetWater’s cans hit shelves in the Spring.

Ed Note. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever had a beer on a plane. (Booze, yes.) Why? Not paying airline prices for the selection offered. This changes things. 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Belgium, New Releases

New Belgium’s Newest Seasonal Arrives

It may not feel like spring, but New Belgium’s Spring Blonde has arrived.

The employee owners of New Belgium get to take a spring trip to Belgium on their five-year work anniversary. The trip is a tribute to a similar trip New Belgium’s co-founder Jeff Lebesch took in the 80’s. That made him want to brew Belgian styles in the United States.

“The Spring Blonde is a tribute, an honor to traditional Belgian ales,” said New Belgium Assistant Brewmaster Grady Hull. “Blondes are also a favorite style among New Belgium employee-owners so this beer definitely has special meaning for us.”

New Belgium Spring Blonde is now available in 12oz bottles and draft.

Style: Belgian-Style Blonde Ale
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Spring Seasonal. First release.

Taste (Per NB): It pours bright copper and holds a strong, white head aloft. Opening with a nose of lemon peel, pepper and a kiss of honey, this ale drinks malty, sweet and wonderful. Nugget hopping pedals towards a dry, lightly bitter finish, perfect for spring or any time

6% ABV 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Headlines, New Belgium

This is New Belgium’s New Year Round Offering

New Belgium Brewing will be debuting a new year round offering, Snapshot, in February 2014.

This new wheat beer offering is actually a blend of two beers. The first is traditionally fermented with an ale yeast. The second is actually fermented with lactobacillus, which gives the beer slightly tart undertone.

Flavor:

…The beer opens with a citrus note from Target hops, coriander and grains of paradise, then gives way to malty smoothness and a refreshing tart snap at the finish.

Snapshot will debut in both 12oz bottles, 12oz cans, and draft. Look for a multi-city beer tour surrounding the launch to be announced soon.

Style: Wheat Ale (w/ Grains of Paradise, Coriander)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, 22oz Bottles, 12oz Cans, Draft
Arrival: February, 2014

 

by Reid Ramsay