New Belgium Hoptober Golden Ale

Brewed by New Belgium Brewing Company
Style: Golden Ale/Blond Ale
Fort Collins, Colorado USA

Sampled September 2009
A solid pour into my large Tripel Karmeliet tulip produces a three finger this, lightly tanned, off-white colored head that sticks around for some time and produces a fair amount of lacing on the sides of my glass. The beer is red-tinged, rich gold color that shows a brilliantly clear, deep gold color when held up to the light. The aroma is quite hop dominated with notes of pine, a sharp herbal quality, notes of tangerine, essential citrus oil. This has a very slight malt character to it in the nose with just a touch of cracker like malt towards the finish.

A solid, biting bitterness greets my palate as the beer first hits my tongue; the bitterness lingers throughout the flavor profile and the beer is quite dry which accentuates the bitterness. The soft malt mutes the fruity hop notes a bit and instead focuses the flavor on the more herbal and pine like hop notes. That said a sort of herbal citrus character contributes oily notes of bergamot, tangerine zest and lychee. The finish has a nice, dry, biscuit maltiness along with a cracked wheat grain character. The body of this has a touch of viscous heft to it, especially for how dry this tastes, it seems the whole grains are adding some texture to the body here; this is still a beer meant to be quaffed though.

This is a nice, solid beer. I like that New Belgium has started to release a few more hop focused beers. This isn’t nearly as good as fresh Mighty Arrow, but it definitely satisfies my inner need for hops.

Pleasant citrus and floral hops on the nose. A little earthy and a touch biscuity too. Pours golden with a whispy soapy head. The flavor is nice and hoppy. Up front are notes of citrus, floral, and earthy bitterness. Cracker, biscuity malt is evident, as well as a touch of peppery spicy notes. Dry finish. Super quenching. Actually a fine offering that I could drink quite a bit off.

Bottle. Poured a pale yellow color with a decent white head. The beer did leave some lacing on the side of the glass as it went. Aroma was mild hops, some friuty flavors, spruce, pine, and floral. Flavor was mild bitters, and pine. Aftertatse was mild bitter. Medium body. Light carbonation. Good beer.

Bottle. Pours a hazy gold, with medium white head and good lacing. The aroma is of citrus mostly, but you can definitely smell the hops. Taste is very light citrus, very more of the bitterness of the various hops. the light sweetness adds a good undertone. Very easy to drink and a very well done Golden, which is usually one of my least favorite styles

Pours a clear golden color with a very small, thin, filmy, white head. Aroma has a semi-full hop note with lots a modest amount of resin and citrus notes, some light sweet grainy presences, light citrus orange nose and the typical New Belgium yeasty character. Flavor has a solid piney and citrus hops note, some mild caramel sweetness and a smooth citrus orange fruitiness. Beer has a medium body with a very smooth, creamy texture with a very low fine carbonation. Overall a very good hops not with a sweet, yeasty note making it not a bad brew at all.

Clear golden yellow with a frothy white crown and some spotty lacing. Aroma of citrus, resinous floral hops and malt. Taste of diaceytl, malt, and floral and citrus hops. Thin and a touch dry with a bit of alcohol on the finish. I was expecting a hoppy Oktoberfest, but that’s not what this was.

Just about clear golden in color with a small/medium off white head. Aroma of citrus, quite hoppy, light pale malt in the background. Taste has alot of hops, citrus, moderately bitter. Medium body, light biscuit and dough. Hints of light sweetness, medium bodied. Clean, well done.

Bottle. Clear and golden with medium white head. Smells piney with citrus and grass. Nice blend of hops and malt taste with hints of citrus. Bitter but not too much bite. Nice medium body.