Tin-canned reddish golden ale throws sugar atop toasted barleymalts and citric hops. But cracked wheat spine weakens to cardboard-y indifference.
All posts by John Fortunato
(NEW CENTURY) MOONSHOT ’69 LAGER
Easygoing light lager contract brewed by Matt Brewery (makers of Saranac) christened after ’69 lunar landing to coincide with amount of caffeine used (69 grams) – same as a cup of coffee. Glutinous sour candied lemon drop opening overrides meagerly toasted cardboard-like barley-oats bottom, dry cocoa tease, and sweet corn smidgen.
(NEW CENTURY) EDISON LIGHT PILSNER
Supposedly the original ‘light beer,’ this soft-bodied pale pils isn’t processed, chemically altered ‘lite’ fare a la Miller or Butt Lite. However, sudsy washed-out fizz undermines garbled barley-hop presence. Mild bittersweet grain palate too passe to challenge dedicated drinkers.
NEWCASTLE BROWN ALE
Buttery barley-roasted caramel malting saddles delicate yeast sinew and mild tea backdrop. Ticklish spice hop fizz simmers to almond wine seduction. On tap, silken nut-spiced subtleties combine better for more relaxed elegance and near perfect rating.
NEW BELGIUM 2 BELOW ALE
Sweet-grained ‘tawny roasted’ malts broaden orange-pineapple tang of harvest gold seasonal. But nary one dry-hopped spice comes forth despite wintry appellation.
NEW BELGIUM TRANSATLANTIQUE KRIEK ALE
Blending Frank Boon’s imported oak-aged Belgian cherries with raspy American hops, this enticing pinkish amber lambic-fermented creation rivals finest dessert beer from New Glarus. Tart medicinal cherry frontage given muted quince-grape seduction and ester-y grapefruit tang anticipated dry-spiced stone-fruited finish maintains.
NEW BELGIUM SUNSHINE WHEAT
Sweet wheat overtones, husked barley aromatics and hard-candied citric malts caress fizzy hop crackle, but negligible coriander spicing and incidental orange-tangerine souring fade too fast to become effective. Softer and less involving than most German weiss beers, finishing bland and predictable.
NEW BELGIUM MOTHERSHIP WIT
Lilting light-bodied straw-hazed Belgian-styled witbier retains delicate sweet-sour banana-coriander frontage, resilient orange peel bittering and fluttered sourdough backdrop. Softly peppered floral hops spice up Granny Smith apple, lemon meringue and curacao orange fruiting plus scurried chamomile, heather and lavender illusions.
NEW BELGIUM FRAMBOZEN RASPBERRY BROWN ALE
Appealing garnet-hued, pinkish-headed raspberry bombe dessert ale gains cherry kirsch tartness over chocolate liqueur punctuation and creamy vanilla malt soothe to dry wheat drift. Serve as a raspberry-pureed fruit desert. Perfect digestif treat for experienced lambic ale lovers or as crossover to lighter tastes.
NEW BELGIUM 1554 BRUSSELS STYLE BLACK ALE
Busy Belgian-styled dark ale places smoked mocha malt serenade above woody grain bottom as pithy cocoa-buttered grape-nut theme builds to port-like thickness until honeyed chocolate undertone enriches lingered aftertaste.
NEW BELGIUM FAT TIRE AMBER ALE
Seductive soft-toned winner allows luscious cherry overtones to sway sweet nuttiness above gentle hop sass. Its chewy caramel center picks up a mild fruited warmth, caressing minimal bittering by honey-glazed malt finish of well-established, yellow-headed, golden red-clouded Rocky Mountain mainstay. Quite possibly Colorado and Arizona’s best selling microbrew.
NEW BELGIUM BLUE PADDLE PILSNER
Tepid German-styled pilsner picks up sour yeast astringency, lemony tartness, and scattered herbal nuance to quiet dry-hopped finish, allowing slight acidity to cloak grassy mouthfeel and earthy sourdough stridency.