New Belgium

New Belgium’s Super Cru & Abbey Grand Cru Arriving Together

New Belgium Brewing celebrates 20 years of brewing in 2011.   Their biggest beer – Fat Tire Amber, is getting a makeover for the occasion – to Super Cru.  Super Cru is a “double” version of Fat Tire, with double the hops & double the malts.  Not stopping there, NB added pear juice and a saison yeast.   It weighs in at 10%, and will be available in 22 oz bombers.

In addition to Super Cru, Abbey Grand Cru will be returning as well.   Abbey is brewed after every 1,000 batches.  It’s New Belgium’s Abbey Ale with increased hops, malts & fermentation.  Of course the finishing touch is a Belgian yeast addition, and some more bottle fermentation.   Cellars well.  9% ABV.

Read on for the full press release

Arrival: May-June 2011

Fort Collins Super Collaboration 2011

American Craft Beer Week is May 16-22nd, 2011.  Special events are going on from coast to coast.  Something interesting coming out of Ft. Collins, Colorado – a collaboration.  Nine breweries local to the Ft. Collins area are coming together to create a “super” collaboration in honor of the week.

C.B. Potts, Coopersmith’s, Crooked Stave, Equinox, Fort Collins Brewing, Funkwerks, New Belgium, Odell Brewing, Pateros Creek are involved with the recipe creation.

“American Craft Beer Week (ACBW) is all about recognizing and celebrating craft brewers and craft beer culture,” said Doug Odell, founder of Odell Brewing Company. “This collaboration lets us do that and have fun making something special for the craft beer drinkers in our hometown community.”

There will be 2 simultaneous brews on April 22nd at Coopersmith & Equinox.  The beers will be blended together, and be poured at the breweries and throughout the city.

Fat Tire’s Joy Ride

In honor of New Belgium Brewing’s 20th Anniversary, Fat Tire is going on a joy ride.  Through Labor Day 2011, Fat Tire headlines a Joyride Campaign focusing on stories about the beer’s history; both in enjoyment and in brewing process.  The Joyride campaign leads up to a big surprise in June – and the release of New Belgium’s Fat Tire inspired release of Super Cru.  New labels will accompany the promotion – the infamous tire slowing leaving the Fat Tire labels, only to return loaded up from the Joy Ride.  (Or for the Joyride?)

Check out the promotion site —> Joy Ride 2011

New Belgium La Folie 2011

La Folie is the brainchild of New Belgium brewmaster Peter Bouckaert.  Bouckaert previously brewed for Rodenbach Brewery, home of sour beers in West Flanders, Belgium.  New Belgium’s La Folie is a very popular U.S. born and brewed Flanders Ale.

Commercial Description: Continue Reading →

Allagash Vrienden Brewery Only Release

[UPDATE: Bottles only at Allagash. Draft available around the U.S. through Allagash distribution channels.]

On April 5th, Allagash Brewing will release their half of the collaboration with New Belgium, “Vrienden.”

What you need to know:

Vrienden, or Continue Reading →

New Belgium Super Cru Due In June

New Belgium Brewing turns 20 in June.  The celebration of 2o years of brewing focuses on the most popular beer NB makes – Fat Tire.

While the celebrations are still developing/in progress New Belgium has announced that they will mark the Continue Reading →

New Belgium Expanding Distribution

New Belgium Brewing is expanding their distribution to Virgina, Maryland, & Washington D.C.   With this expansion, that brewings New Belgium’s territory to 29 states.  One of the largest, if not THE largest by a craft brewer in America.

The last Continue Reading →

Posted in Beer News, New Belgium, New Releases

New Belgium’s Super Cru & Abbey Grand Cru Arriving Together

New Belgium Brewing celebrates 20 years of brewing in 2011.   Their biggest beer – Fat Tire Amber, is getting a makeover for the occasion – to Super Cru.  Super Cru is a “double” version of Fat Tire, with double the hops & double the malts.  Not stopping there, NB added pear juice and a saison yeast.   It weighs in at 10%, and will be available in 22 oz bombers.

In addition to Super Cru, Abbey Grand Cru will be returning as well.   Abbey is brewed after every 1,000 batches.  It’s New Belgium’s Abbey Ale with increased hops, malts & fermentation.  Of course the finishing touch is a Belgian yeast addition, and some more bottle fermentation.   Cellars well.  9% ABV.

Read on for the full press release

Arrival: May-June 2011

Full Press Release

As Part of the Lips of Faith Series, Super Cru is Released with Abbey Grand Cru

Ft. Collins, CO, April 28, 2011 — In honor of New Belgium’s 20th anniversary celebration, the brewery’s flagship Fat Tire Amber Ale is getting a makeover. The result is New Belgium Super Cru, which is part of New Belgium’s esteemed Lips of Faith Series. This special creation, along with Abbey Grand Cru, make up the second rollout of Lips of Faith beers this year. The quarterly program taps the creativity of New Belgium’s brewers and delivers unique, short-run batches.

Super Cru is a big, beautiful double version of Fat Tire Amber Ale, doubling the malt bill and hop profile of the traditional version. To accentuate the fresh apple ester of Fat Tire, New Belgium added Asian pear juice and tweaked it further with a saison yeast. Super Cru opens with a big bready nose, rolls from floral hop to earthy malt and finishes with a touch of clove.

Super Cru is 10% ABV and is available in 22-ounce bombers and draft.

Abbey Grand Cru is not new, but is making a long-awaited comeback. Abbey Grand Cru is a New Belgium ritual, where it is traditionally brewed after every 1,000 batches. Abbey Grand Cru honors the award-winning Abbey Ale, taking that celebrated recipe and increasing the hops, malts and fermentation time. It is fermented with an authentic Belgian yeast strain and is refermented in the bottle to produce natural carbonation.

Abbey Grand Cru continues to improve and age deliciously. Optimal storage is a cool (40-55°), dark place where the bottles can remain undisturbed. It is best served at cellar temperature in a New Belgium globe.

Abbey Grand Cru is 9.5% ABV and is available in 22-ounce bombers and draft.

For more information about the Lips of Faith series, New Belgium or the 20th anniversary,  http://www.newbelgium.com

About New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces seven year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Mothership Wit and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases. In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship. For more information, visit  http://www.newbelgium.com

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in American Craft Beer Week, Beer News, C.B. & Potts, CooperSmith's Pub & Brewing, Crooked Stave, Equinox Brewing Co, Fort Collins Brewing, Funkwerks, New Belgium, Odell Brewing, Pateros Creek

Fort Collins Super Collaboration 2011

American Craft Beer Week is May 16-22nd, 2011.  Special events are going on from coast to coast.  Something interesting coming out of Ft. Collins, Colorado – a collaboration.  Nine breweries local to the Ft. Collins area are coming together to create a “super” collaboration in honor of the week.

C.B. Potts, Coopersmith’s, Crooked Stave, Equinox, Fort Collins Brewing, Funkwerks, New Belgium, Odell Brewing, Pateros Creek are involved with the recipe creation.

“American Craft Beer Week (ACBW) is all about recognizing and celebrating craft brewers and craft beer culture,” said Doug Odell, founder of Odell Brewing Company. “This collaboration lets us do that and have fun making something special for the craft beer drinkers in our hometown community.”

There will be 2 simultaneous brews on April 22nd at Coopersmith & Equinox.  The beers will be blended together, and be poured at the breweries and throughout the city.

Full Press Release

Fort Collins Craft Brewers Unite
Local Breweries Collaborate for American Craft Beer Week

Fort Collins, CO — On April 22, 2011, the craft brewers of Fort Collins will join forces to brew a collaboration beer for the mother of all beer weeks. Nine local breweries (C.B. & Potts, Coopersmith’s, Crooked Stave, Equinox, Fort Collins Brewery, Funkwerks, New Belgium, Odell Brewing, and Pateros Creek) will work together to craft the unique brew in honor of American Craft Beer Week.

“American Craft Beer Week (ACBW) is all about recognizing and celebrating craft brewers and craft beer culture,” said Doug Odell, founder of Odell Brewing Company. “This collaboration lets us do that and have fun making something special for the craft beer drinkers in our hometown community.”

Brewers from each local brewery worked together to create the beer recipe and will participate in two simultaneous brews at Coopersmith’s and Equinox on Friday, April 22nd.  The finished blend will be poured at each brewery’s location, throughout the city, during American Craft Beer Week (May 16-22, 2011).

For more information on American Craft Beer Week, please visit www.craftbeer.com.


by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, Cool Stuff, New Belgium

Fat Tire’s Joy Ride

In honor of New Belgium Brewing’s 20th Anniversary, Fat Tire is going on a joy ride.  Through Labor Day 2011, Fat Tire headlines a Joyride Campaign focusing on stories about the beer’s history; both in enjoyment and in brewing process.  The Joyride campaign leads up to a big surprise in June – and the release of New Belgium’s Fat Tire inspired release of Super Cru.  New labels will accompany the promotion – the infamous tire slowing leaving the Fat Tire labels, only to return loaded up from the Joy Ride.  (Or for the Joyride?)

Check out the promotion site —> Joy Ride 2011

Full Press Release:

FT. COLLINS, CO — New Belgium Brewing announced today that the Fort Collins brewer of Fat Tire will take a Joy Ride through Labor Day 2011 in celebration of their 20th anniversary.

A folding Mad Magazine style print campaign kicks off the first half of the celebration, followed by interactive Fat Tire story sharing with fans and the release of a New Belgium Super Cru in June. The initial print campaign focuses on the inherent tension of creating the famously well-balanced Fat Tire.

“It’s the hardest beer for us to make,” laments New Belgium Brewmaster, Peter Bouckaert. “The hop/malt balance required makes me pull out what little hair I have left… [but] the Belgian inspiration, the elegance — it’s worth every ounce of frustration.”

In the same two-page spread (the first ever from New Belgium), CEO and co-founder Kim Jordan reflects on Fat Tire’s early success.

“We began by taking mixed cases of homebrew to parties,” Jordan recalls. “Fat Tire was the go-to beer even then.”

The first half of the Joy Ride campaign focuses on New Belgium co-worker Fat Tire stories, including a series of mail-able postmaster cards and online video content. In June, New Belgium plans a surprise showstopper — stay tuned! ­— and fans will be encouraged to submit their stories for a chance to win a 20th anniversary Fat Tire cruiser bike.

One of the most tangible manifestations of the celebration will be the June release of New Belgium Super Cru — a riff on the classic Fat Tire that is still in development.

“Getting to reimagine Fat Tire is an exciting opportunity,” Bouckaert mused. “Do we go big and hoppy? Maybe sour? Add fruit? I do not know yet. It will be something memorable and probably it will make us crazy getting there.”

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Belgium, Seasonal Return

New Belgium La Folie 2011

La Folie is the brainchild of New Belgium brewmaster Peter Bouckaert.  Bouckaert previously brewed for Rodenbach Brewery, home of sour beers in West Flanders, Belgium.  New Belgium’s La Folie is a very popular U.S. born and brewed Flanders Ale.

Commercial Description:
La Folie Wood-Aged Biere, is our original wood-conditioned beer, resting in French Oak barrels between one and three years before being bottled. Peter Bouckaert, came to us from Rodenbach home of the fabled sour red. Our La Folie emulates the spontaneous fermentation beers of Peter s beloved Flanders with sour apple notes, a dry effervescence, and earthy undertones.

Style: Flanders Red Ale
Hops: Target
Malts: Pale, Munich, Carapils, C-80, Chocolate

Taste Expectations: Tart, sour. Dark fruits. Cherries, oak.

Availability: 22oz bombers. Draft. Brewed once a year.

6% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Allagash Brewing, Coming Soon, New Belgium

Allagash Vrienden Brewery Only Release

[UPDATE: Bottles only at Allagash. Draft available around the U.S. through Allagash distribution channels.]

On April 5th, Allagash Brewing will release their half of the collaboration with New Belgium, “Vrienden.”

What you need to know:

Vrienden, or “Friends” is a collaboration between New Belgium and Allagash.  One was brewed in Colorado, and one in Maine.  New Belgium’s edition joined the Lips Of Faith bomber & draft series by NB.  NB’s edition – a wild ale, with hibiscus & endive.  Allagash’s version- dandelion greens and elderberries.  2 yeast strains, Allagash brett, and New Belgium Lactobacillus.

Allagash’s edition will be released on April 5th, 2011 at the brewery in Portland, Me, 9 AM.  750Ml, corked & caged.  Sales of the bottles benefit CascoBay.org.  Limit is 2 bottles a person, $10 a bottle.

Allagash Brewing
50 Industrial Way
Portland, ME 04103

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coming Soon, New Belgium

New Belgium Super Cru Due In June

New Belgium Brewing turns 20 in June.  The celebration of 2o years of brewing focuses on the most popular beer NB makes – Fat Tire.

While the celebrations are still developing/in progress New Belgium has announced that they will mark the occasion with a new beer – “Super Cru”.  Super Cru will be based off Fat Tire, with twist.

From the label:
Our 20th Anniversary! Let’s roll a bunch of a New Belgium together and put it in a bottle, start with the backbone of Fat Tire, but double the malt and hops: add in Asian pear juice, a very Belgian thing to do: and bring it to live with a saison yeast.  It’s a New Belgium Super Cru from us to you!

This beer will be part of the Lips Of Faith series, in bombers & draft.

Arrival: May-June 2011

10% ABV

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Distribution Expansion, New Belgium

New Belgium Expanding Distribution

New Belgium Brewing is expanding their distribution to Virgina, Maryland, & Washington D.C.   With this expansion, that brewings New Belgium’s territory to 29 states.  One of the largest, if not THE largest by a craft brewer in America.

The last large expansion by NB was in 2009 when 5 more states were added.  New Belgium has stated that they wanted to be very careful when they expand, as they want the brewery’s supply to keep up with demand.

Estimated Target Date: Fall (September) 2011

 

by Reid Ramsay