Padma likes what she sees
A recent trip across the street to Barriques PD netted me a six-pack of New Belgium’s latest offering, Hoptober. As summer wanes and the weather chills with each coming day, a beer that appears to meld hops with a malty Oktoberfest-style seemed right up my alley. As it turns out, Hoptober is somewhat of a misnomer.
Beer: New Belgium Hoptober
Style: Golden Ale
Description: “Five hops and four malts make Hoptober Golden Ale a veritable cornucopia of the earth. Pale and wheat malt are mashed with rye and oats to create a medium-bodied ale with a creamy mouthfeel. Centennial, Cascade, Sterling, Willamette, and Glacier hops form a bonfire of citrus notes, fruity cheers and a bold finale. – newbelgium.com”
Vitals: 40 IBU, 6% ABV
My take: The beer pours into my vintage Schlitz chalice just a one would expect from a golden ale – light golden yellow, crystal clear, and with ample white, foamy head. The nose on this beer is simply phenomenal. Those 5 hops and 4 malts really create a lot of complexity to take in with notes ranging from citrus to honey, vanilla, and apricot. The beer sits full, yet smooth in the mouth with a nice even effervesence. The malts assert themselves on the palate up front with the rye provideing that unique grit that I love. A brisk piney hop flourish cleans the palate in the end.
I really think this beer hits the mark as a great transition between the refreshing hoppy beers of summer and the complex malty beers of fall. A beer that would be an asset to any brewery’s catalog and something I could see in my fridge on a regular basis. Seek this out while it’s on the shelves.
Nice write up. Nice blog. Who’s that on tv?
Duh, read the caption “Padma likes what she sees.” got it.
Thanks for the props. Lets see how long I can keep this up 🙂