Hoptober Golden Ale - New Belgium Brewing

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a nice yellow/gold, small head, mild lace.

The smell has some bubblegum up front with some very nice floral and citrus hop notes. Keeps me interested.

Pale malts and earth start the taste. Floral hops and a hint of caramel sweetness follow. Citrus and a slight hint of minerals make up the finish. A little heavy in the mouth for a blonde.

Good seasonal brew from NB. I grew up on (and outgrew) Fat Tire, and love to check in on one of my homestate OG's. I grabbed a sixer and will probably wait until next year to grab another.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2011 00:52:40 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne

jefe2

Texas

3.45/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at trudy's 8/21/2011
6%
a slightly hazy yellow w orange tinge, white med size head
S faint smell, little bit of eatery fruit, faint citrus hops
T- citrus hops, mild diluted eatery fruit juice, tiny bit of
tangy malts.
M light, good crisp carbonation
D very easy to drink, eatery refreshing sweetness, light citrus hops with a bit of bitterness in finish, thirst quenching

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2011 22:17:07 | More by jefe2

Chaney

District of Columbia

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Welcome to DC New Belgium.... earthquake and all....

NB is new to the DC area and everyone's excited.... including me. Not only is it in the craft beer gourmet markets, but I bought this one over at Safeway!

Presently #3 in the Blonde Ale category huh? Hell, I thought Victory Summer Lover was much better.

A: Golden ale for sure! Crystal clear, with a slight foamy head that died down within seconds.

S: Not much.... maybe some slight puffs of malt.

T: Hmmm... Slides down the throat VERY well. Blonde Ale huh? I can see that. Mild hop profile, but overall, this was very lager-like.

M: First of all, the lacing was ridiculous! After that, the carbonation was great for the style, and the brew had a very clean finish, but nothing special.

O: I think the other reviews on BA are totally in line with my experience overall. Good, but not great. Someone would have to twist my arm to order this one in a bar....

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 05:32:16 | More by Chaney

drabmuh

Maryland

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

At the time of this review, this is #3 American Blonde Ale on beeradvocate.com best of styles lists. Served in a New Belgium goblet because I am one sick bastard and this sort of thing gets me off.

Beer is amber to blonde....clear with a thin white head of small bubbles, some lacing moderate carbonation.

Aroma is mildly sweet and a little grainy, eh...

Beer is light in body with a grainy finish but not offputting. It is an interesting and decent beer, I drank the whole bomber of it out of my awesomeness tulip and I'd have more. It is mildly hoppy even on the midpalate, minimal yeast contribution.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 04:31:20 | More by drabmuh

smakawhat

Maryland

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass.

A very shocking large white head with some fairly good retention and foamy, sits on a crystal clear lager like straw gold body.

Sweet grain and almost corn like, but goes more to honey on the nose. Faint hint of grass like hop, but sweetly dominant smelling.

Taste is a hop and grass mix of crispness. Sweet grain in the mid palate and doesn't bring a hind of adjunct suggested from the nose. Small lingering hop bitter on the finish with some citrus zest in the aftertaste. Texture is a nice mix of smooth and crisp.

Overall pretty enjoyable, and highly drinkable as well.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 03:41:17 | More by smakawhat

jgreenearrow

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours a translucent light tan color with golden hues around the edges of the glass. A fluffy white head appeared at the top of the pour with lacing present on the sides of the glass.

S: Citrus and honey combine with malts and some earthiness in the nose. Some biscuit and light pine notes are present as well.

T: Sweet malts and some citrus flavors hit the tongue at the outset of the sip. The flavor transitions through sweetness of honey to earthiness of malt and slight smoke in the middle. The honey follows into the end of the sip with a slightly dry, bitter finish.

M: This is a pretty light bodied beer with good prickly carbonation on the tongue and in the throat.

Overall, this is a good beer. It's an interesting Fall seasonal in that it is pretty light in color and light in body. However the balanced flavors provide a refreshing beer that is perfect for the warmth of late Summer and early Fall days.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 02:28:48 | More by jgreenearrow

tlazaroff

Virginia

3.85/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Golden in color and perfectly clear topped by a bubbly (big bubbles) head which laces to the glass in nice patterns.

S: Interesting, it's not too hoppy, but thats the first thing I get. Citrus all the way, it's like walking through an orange grove with a few lemon trees sprinkled in. The maltiness peeks into the smell as well in the form of a mild sweetness.

T: I get a tad more lemon in the taste than what presents itself in the smell. The beer has a somewhat bready note as well, accentuated by fresh citrus. The rye and wheat malt give it a unique herbal/spicy background flavor. Nothing new here, but it is quite tasty.

M: It's creamy and smooth, you can thank the oats for this. Carbonation is on the moderate side, along with the body. I really like how this beer drinks.

D: Drinkability is in the moderate range. It is quite easy to drink, though I don't quaff the ones above 5% like I used to. Personal preference.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 02:28:39 | More by tlazaroff

endincolorado

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours clear and gold with a pretty white head, good head retention, nice lacing.

Light, cereally pale malt balanced with pleasant, floral hops.

The flavor is incredibly well balanced, with a nice honey-sweetness alongside just the right amount of hop-bitterness. Light-medium mouthfeel is satisfying and leaves a nice clean aftertaste.

Overall, this is one hell of a session beer. Well-balanced, subtle flavors come together very well.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 00:31:06 | More by endincolorado

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bomber purchased at a VA grocery store! missed the kickoff party so im having my own tonight.

A: bright clear, brilliant gold. white head isnt the biggest or has the best retention, but some lacing is on the glass.

S: a spicy floral hop component. hop character is closer to that of an APA than an american blonde. chalky earth tones as well. after the hop blast, rye tries to make a point, but this is definitely more on the american hop end.

T: bitterness mixed with a creamy body. tones of vanilla in the middle. the sweetness grows as the beer warms. fruitiness from the hops accentuate the malt to make this a very unique blonde. finish is slightly bitter and mostly dry.

M: pretty moderate to heavy carbonation on a light body that is very close to pushing medium.

D: definitely more "extreme" considering the style, but well welcomed.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 00:02:01 | More by Jimmys

oline73

Maryland

3.6/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a clear golden/light amber color with a finger of thick white head. Good head retention with some nice lacing.

Smell: Citrus hops with a bready malt background. Mildly sweet.

Taste: A nice hop bitterness up front, citrus and mild herbal hop bitterness. As the hops fade, there is a bready biscuit like malt that shows up. The finish is a bit bitter and slightly underwhelming.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with very smooth carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: I enjoyed this beer. I would have liked the finish to be a bit more dramatic, but the taste was very nice and easy to drink. I would have another.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2011 23:35:54 | More by oline73

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From the bottle at Rustico Alexandria yesterday during the New Belgium kickoff. Served in a goblet.

Pour brings a light yellow liquid with a good white head and a bit of foam on top. Nice lacing as it goes down.

Nose brings forward some light floral hops and a touch of citrus. Light malt base. Flavor is slightly hoppy with some light bread to back things up. Just a touch of sweetness.

Light body with crisp carbonation. I guess the hops are the biggest component, though they're not all that strong.

Pretty good for a blonde. A nice summer brew that could serve well as an introduction to craft.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2011 21:58:33 | More by Thorpe429

doughanson78

Washington

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a tulip.

A: Light golden color. Super clear. Slim and trim, half finger, off white head, that quickly disappears. Leaves a halfway decent lacing.

S: Lots of honey. Caramel malts. Very sweet. Citrusy hops take a back seat although they are present. Orange and lemon. Slight pine. Some light floral notes. Very slight toasted aroma with a hint of spice.

T: Sweet upfront with honey and caramel. Floral hops come through in the middle with the sweetness continuing to linger on the tip of the tongue. Very bready finish with the light spice coming through.

M: Light bodied. Very crisp and refreshing. Medium to high carbonation. With a decent creaminess. Nice lingering mixture of sweetness and floral hops.

O: New Belgium never fails to hit me with a good beer. None are Exceptional but all are worth buying and drinking. Great go-to brewery. This is a super drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2011 01:33:04 | More by doughanson78

obrike

Texas

3.78/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bought a sixer at Round Rock HEB for 7 and change.

Golden color. One inch white head. Lacing was much more pronounced than I anticipated. Nice.

Definitely get the dank hops...orange, lemon, flowers...quite fresh.

Unfortunately, taste does't quite follow nose. Lemony bitter hops, maybe some honey. Much lighter flavor than I was expecting. Medium carbonation, has a bite to it though. I found this one to be pretty drinkable, but not a beer I'd seek out.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2011 23:44:10 | More by obrike

depechemode1983

Texas

3.65/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pour a dark golden color with a slight haze. Nice off-white head to go with it. The head is lasting and leaves nice amounts of lacing around the glass.

S - Very aromatic nose. Sweet and floral. Picking up apricots, citric hops, bread, green apple. Lots of pleasant earth tones. Very nice.

T - Taste is bittersweet. Bitter hops are dominant with a sweet, malty, bread like background. Again there is a nice earth feel to this. Still picking up an apricot flavor but with more bitterness.

M - Damn good mouth feel. Smooth, crisp, and clean. Very refreshing. Well done.

O - Ive seen this one before but never picked it up. I'm glad I did this time around. I should have known better. New Belgium is pretty solid when it comes down to it.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 23:12:35 | More by depechemode1983

Seanibus

California

3.6/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tasty and study with a much stronger hop zing than one has any right to expect.

Pours a pale straw yellow with a fluffy head that falls away fairly quickly. The aroma leaps from the glass, with a sweet, fruity graininess, almost grapelike, with a distinct lemony hops. The flavor veers almost toward a wine, like an overripe Sauvignon Blanc, with a sprightly lemony hop and a grainy, toasty malt bite. The mouthfeel is prickly and smooth.

Tasty and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 04:05:45 | More by Seanibus

kojevergas

California

2.63/5  rDev -31%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

33cl brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a hard rock cafe hefeweissbier glass in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Bottle was obtained as part of a New Belgium variety pack. Served alone, unpaired with food.

A: Pours a four finger head of light cream, fair thickness, and good retention. Colour is a slightly cloudy lemon yellow.

Sm: Aroma is light in strength: all me broken nose can pick up is a vague citrus ester. All apologies, lads.

T: Sloppy indistinct citrus esters mixed with clean bland barley. It's poorly built and balanced. Very simple as well.

Mf: Too smooth and too wet. Classic fallacy. Doesn't really suit the flavours. It's almost watery.

Dr: Not very drinkable on account of the limited quality. Decently priced as part of a variety pack, but still not worth a go for any serious beer fanatic. (or advocate, as it were...)

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 01:43:39 | More by kojevergas

harrymel

Washington

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Best by 11DEC11

A: Pours a golden ale with a single finger head that goes down to a sheet of the same. Excellent clarity. Rings of lace.

S: Citrusy and pleasant. Really great nose here, distinctly orange and lemon. Nice.

T: Sharp hops and sweet malts. Great flavor is just as citrus laden as the nose.

M: Medium bodied with moderate carb. Semi dry finish.

O: Good beer. Easy to drink. Reminds me of fresh Bitter American. Very sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 10:48:59 | More by harrymel

mattkoon

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I spotted this hoptober fest from new belgium and I hadnever seen it so I grabbed a sixer. I am so happy that the autum beers are startin to show up in the stores.
this beer pours a nice golden straw color with slight lacey head. The smell is almost ipa-ish with sweet accents. The taste is a sweet hoppy citrus. I like the balance of piney citrus and sweet maltiness. New belgium makes some quality beers.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2011 21:45:43 | More by mattkoon

centbeerfest

Missouri

4.15/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pilsner glass from a newly tapped keg.

Nice frothy white head that held out for a good time. Not a lot of carbonation. Crystal clear appropriately gold color.

Gives a bit of citrus to begin with a nice depth of character. Excellent blend of hops and a very good refreshing balance.

A hint of butterscotch at the very finish. A very good beer that was a nice surprise from an excellent brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2011 22:53:28 | More by centbeerfest

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.1/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served in a Walter Payton shaker pint glass.

Another random gift bottle from my brother. Sometimes family can pay off, amiright? Anyway, this stuff pours a clear golden straw topped by a finger of white foam. The nose is a very simple and straightforward blast (okay, blast is a strong word...more like a light breeze) of lemon zest. I'm gettin' nuthin' else in my 'strils, baby. The taste is similarly simple, with the aforementioned lemon being wrapped in a soft blanket of mild pine and grapefruit rind. It's exceedingly light, and the flavors don't even try to linger on the tongue. The body is pretty light, with a light moderate carbonation and a crisp finish. Overall, an okay beer at best, something akin to a lemon-flavored macro (that was originally handled decently well, admittedly).

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2011 05:48:35 | More by TMoney2591

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a golden color with a one finger white head and decent lacing. The aroma is of citrus hops and floral hops. The aroma for a blond is great. The taste has a sweet malt backbone and then a nice ctirus hop bite along with a piney hop bite. The taste is crisp and refreshing. The mouthfeel is moderately carbonated. Overall for a blond this is a very solid beer. One of the best blondes I have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 20:51:32 | More by goblue3509

MrDonQuixote

Colorado

3.83/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served at the Tap Room of New Belgium

A- Golden color, almost no head

S- Hoppy smell, but not super intense

T- Nice and light with a nice hoppy finish, citric intensity

M- nice carbonation. slightly strong aftertaste

O- Great smooth nice summery beer although its a fall seasonal.

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2011 04:46:51 | More by MrDonQuixote

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a light yellow with a one inch head. It had absolutely amazing lacing, some of the best I've seen. Smelled of hops like the name suggests. Very piney with the malt smell nearly absent.

The taste, for an American Blonde Ale was out of this world. The piney hops came through perfectly, with a malty backbone. The only knock is the malts kind of a had a sour taste that I can attribute to adjunct grains. If it wasnt for this flavor, the taste would be perfect. The aftertaste's only problem is that off flavor tends to linger, but the piney hops stick around just as long as you want them too.

I would drink this beer any day, even if it were an APA. Solid brew all-around.

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2011 03:02:42 | More by VncentLIFE

TenHornsProud

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a light orange that is brilliant, clear, with a nice white head that laces.

Smells of floral and citrus hops with some malt character coming through. Not completely complex, but a nice, strong floral hop nose.

Tastes of grapefruit, pear, slight tropical fruit, a hint of pine. It's all hops in the taste with the malt balancing and coming in just in the back.

Mouthfeel is good, medium bodied...easy to drink. Maybe a bit more body would be nice. Smooth finish.

This beer really showcases its floral, fruity hops and has enough malt sweetness to keep it almost perfectly balanced. It's easy to drink yet slightly complex, but more than anything, the flavor is just fantastic. If only there was some of the oily-ness of Pliney, this would be to the next level. I look forward to this one every year.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 01:46:40 | More by TenHornsProud

djeucalyptus

Oregon

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pours a rich golden straw hue with a decent creamy head that has decent retention, depositing waves of lace. impressive.

aroma is pleasantly crisp with sweet honey notes with some subtle piney notes, a bit of grapefruit, hints of raisin and some floral spice.

taste follows suit nicely, with a delicious and surprisingly rich vibrant flavor profile. plenty of citrusy hops with some pine and juniper, backed by a pleasant malt sweetness and a bit of floral rye spice. it works nicely.

mouth is moderate for the style, with a good peppery kick in the finish, subtle lingering bitterness that's pleasantly drying.

all in all, impressive. On tap, this is a completely different beast than I remember from the bottle... delicious!

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2011 01:51:02 | More by djeucalyptus