In 1988, Jeff Lebesch was riding his bike through the villages of Belgium, most likely a little wobbly as he visited brewery after brewery in search of inspiration. When he returned to the States, with the help of his marketing-savvy wife, Kim Jordan, Lebesch launched New Belgium Brewing Company in 1991 with a beer whose name you probably already know: the Fat Tire. New Belgium has built a mini-empire on the success of that amber. Fat Tire set the precedent for the line of delicious and mouth-watering beers New Belgium brewed as they evolved from basement experimentation to internationally acclaimed brewing. Five years after opening in Fort Collins, Colorado, former Rodenbach brewer Peter Bouckaert was brought on to launch New Belgium’s sour program. Since then, New Belgium has continued to expand its sour beer production, including the well-loved experimental Lips of Faith series. In conjunction with our Lodge Meeting with New Belgium tonight, Peaks and Pints presents the all-day sampler Craft Beer Crosscut 5.18.17: A Flight of New Belgium.
New Belgium Fat Tire
5.2% ABV, 22 IBU
Fat Tire is amber. It’s the definition of amber. Think tree sap oozing from between the bark. A thick, buttermilk head rises to the top, leaving tight lacing along the edges of the glass. The aroma was appropriately nutty, almost bready, like a walnut loaf fresh out of the oven — an aesthetic that matched the rich warmth of the color. To round out the experience, the nuttiness continued on the tongue, with a smooth and light texture that compliments its malty notes.
New Belgium Anne-Françoise Spiced Dark Ale (Lips of Faith)
9.5% ABV, 25 IBU
Kim Jordan was New Belgium’s first bottler, sales rep, distributor, marketer and financial planner, earning her current title as CEO and making New Belgium what it is today. What started as a door-to-door hustle has clearly paid off, as New Belgium has since been cranking out notable beer and even more notable green awareness practices: the company became the first wind-powered brewery in the United States in 1998 and continues to find ways to be more environmentally efficient. Anne-Francoise Pypaert helped Brewmaster Peter Bouckaert craft the recipe for this special batch. The result: a dark, strong, chocolaty dry beer brewed with spruce tips, French Sprisselspalt, grains of paradise, spicy Liberty and Willamette hops and medium-toasted American oak.
New Belgium Citradelic: Tangerine IPA
6% ABV, 50 IBU
Brewed with tangerine peel, Citradelic pours the color of a glass-blown sunflower or fake-Rolex gold, but with an equally light white head. It smells terrifically juicy, like freshly squeezed tangerines misting into the air. Thankfully, the flavor follows through on the promise of the aroma, revealing an extremely fruity IPA, with juicy flavor dancing across the palate on every sip. Citradelic is nothing short of delicious, a beer you’ll crush in a heartbeat and come back to again and again.
Voodoo Ranger Juicy Mandarina IPA
6.5% ABV, 65 IBU
Juicy is a great description. This New Belgium Juicy Mandarina unfiltered wheat IPA plays jump rope with citrus flavors that to the full array of island hop vibes courtesy of citrusy Mandarina Bavaria, vibrant Calypso, tropical Galaxy, and a bonus experimental hop #522 that rounds out the ensemble with bright, breezy floral notes. Fruity hybrid yeast accentuates the burst of hops, while soft wheat floats the flavors across the tongue with ease. This new Ranger finishes slightly sweet and smooth thanks to a blend of wheat. It’s like New Belgium bottled a sunny day.
New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA
9% ABV, 70 IBU
When it comes to releasing new beers, New Belgium Brewing didn’t hold back. The Fort Collins, Colo.-based brewery released seven new beers earlier this year, including Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA brewed with Bravo, Calypso, Delta and Mosaic hops. This rare blend of hops creates an explosion of fresh-cut pine, citrus flavors, sweet malt, caramel and resinous hop flavor with a medium body and a bitter finish.
