New Belgium Biere De Mars

Brewed by New Belgium Brewing Company
Style: Bière de Garde
Fort Collins, Colorado USA

Amber with a 1 finger off white head. Nose is fruit with yeast and a light sourness. Nice on the palate with a fruity, caramel flavor that finishes slightly spicy with a hint of tartness.

12oz bottle, best by October 2006, consumed in May 2009. Courtesy FlacoAlto. Pours a hazy, glowing, orange-amber color. Despite a careful pour, a massive column of spongy, off-white foam erupts, settling at a swift pace to a lasting 2mm blanket. A sudsy wash of broken lace retreats back into the body almost entirely. The nose shows softly sweet biscuit and cookie dough notes, with a big, soothing infusion of flakes oats. Traces of vanilla add a dessert-like overtone. Dry, dusty brett yeast notes offer some farmhouse character, and hints of lemongrass contribute some freshness. The flavors are similarly structured, malty and biscuity up front, transitioning to some aged floral hop bitterness and dry, lightly dusty brett funk. The lemon comes through again, adding a bright citrusy note. The finish is somewhat herbal and green, yet remains semi-sweet from all the biscuity malt. Oats make a re-appearance on the palate, lending smooth substance to an already ample body. Carbonation is fine and lively, intensifying the peppery, bretty finish. A very fine brew, even if it is 2.5 years beyond it’s prescribed expiration. It just goes to show you the wonders that brettanomyces can work.

On draught at Mangia Italiano in St. Louis (under Lips of Faith line). The beer is a cloudy golden-orange color with a medium off-white head that diminishes steadily. Thin rings of lacing. Aroma of fruits and yeast plus some earthy malt. Medium body with flavors of funky fruit, malt and yeast. The finish is fruity and has a bready and earthy malt aftertaste. Above average overall.

On tap. Pours a cloudy orange color. with a good sized creamy off white head. Notes of blades of grass, banana creme, and earth dominate this beer, with a sweet citrus like finish. Mouthfeel is towards the thicker side but feels quaffable and refreshing. Well done.

Draught. Poured a cloudy orange with a decent off-white head. Aroma of spice, yeast, and sweet fruit. Flavor starts sweet and spicy then finishes with a very slight hoppy bitterness. Evidently I’m not into the Belgian beer thing because none of these New Belgium beers are doing it for me.

Tap at Gingerman (is this place ever busy?) Ft Worth. Dark gold, hazy with a thick white head. Nose is spicy, a bit funky with some musty yeast notes. Taste is saison at first, musty, dirty, funky with light spices that fade a bit on the end.. Just a touch of alcohol on the end. Very easy to drink and I welcome this in my frig when I see the bottles.

Hazy orange, fair head. Floral aroma, mixed with sweet notes, spice and hops. Lots of sweet flavors. Chalky mouthfeel. Almost a soapy finish. Not offensive, but different. Incredibly smooth though.

4oz. sample at Brixie’s in Brookfield, IL. A fairly clear golden hue, with a white bubbly head that settled down to a light layer and small ring of lacing. The nose was a hint of yeast and bread, spice, and some banana peanuts. The flavor was light malt, woody, grassy and somewhat dry. Okay and sessionable.