Hoptober Golden Ale - New Belgium Brewing

rmdunlap85

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Looks very nice, clear, deep golden color with a clean white head. The head stays until the end of the beer, at least it did for me.

S - I loved the nose on this beer. It smelled strongly of citrus and smelled very appealing.

T - The overpowering citrus character of the nose is evident, but not overpowering in the taste. It also has some grassiness and floral notes.

M - It is creamy mouthfeel, not very heavy carbonation

O - I really enjoyed this beer, it is unlike any other fall seasonal that I have had. It is light and crisp with very nice citrusy flavors. I wouldn't necessarily have this on a colder fall day, but it is pleasant when the weather is still warmish.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2010 23:34:15 | More by rmdunlap85

HoosBrews

North Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is very light and highly carbonated; true to it's Golden Ale naming. The nose is sweet with a clear presence of Belgian yeast and just a hint of floral hops. Taste is semi-sweet and moderately hoppy. Slightly dry finish with a fairly complex mouthfeel, a little suprisingly considering the appearance. Highly drinkable and very unique for a fall seasonal!

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2009 21:38:14 | More by HoosBrews

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.18/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice clear amber golden with a decent white head. Aroma is richly hoppy and just slightly fruity. Flavor is seriously hoppy but not too bitter and has both malty and fruity hints. Texture is fizzy and leaves a nice hoppy finish that is only slightly bitter.

Serving type: on-tap

08-30-2009 00:59:42 | More by Cyberkedi

jsh420

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

best by feb 26 2010

pours bright clear golden with a 2 finger head that cakes the glass with lacing

smell floral centennial hops along with some wheat - very nice nose which i would have rated higher but i picked up on that NB must that i get in most of their beers

taste - yep thats the stuff - hands down the best american blonde ale i have ever had - quick citrus then pine hops that lead into those floral hops right along the nice blend of rye and wheat

mouthfeel is a medium body - lots of hop resin - good carbonation creamy finish

drinkability is great i only wish this was not just a seasonal release

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2009 05:10:35 | More by jsh420

BeerSox

Virginia

4.18/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle into pint glass.

Crystal clear straw hue with a thin and sticky pearl white head.

Lots of grapefruit and pineapple in the aroma, with only a little bit of soft bread in the background.

The hops have a strong bite to them, along with plenty of flavor. The malts sit in the background, with the slightest toastiness to them. Relatively full bodied, with a lot of carbonation.

This is sort of like the barley malt of a very hoppy wheat beer. This is the hoppiest American Blonde I've tasted, and it's one of those beers where you can really only taste the hops. If you're into that then this is perfect. A departure from you're typical Blonde Ale, and an enjoyable one. This could probably also be classified as an American Pale Ale, but whatever it is, recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2009 23:38:12 | More by BeerSox

whynot44

Missouri

4.18/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bright, clear golden color with a decent foamy white head that retains fairly well and manages some nice lacing all the way.

The aroma is pine needles and grapefruit with some nice light malt in the background.

The taste is likewise led by the pine and citrus hops and hints of grassiness with a very nice lightly sweet, slightly spicy malt backbone for a very nice balance.

Medium bodied, smooth and very drinkable, a really nice fall beer but I could do this year round with no problem.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2009 04:50:10 | More by whynot44

burnerfinger

Texas

4.18/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

poured from the 12 oz bottle into my new belgium goblet.

A nice show on the pour - produced a good, nice hoppy flavored head of > 2 fingers. pours a crystal clear amber color
SUPER respectable lacing BTW!

S: nice interesting bitter hoppiness (piney?)

T : falls a bit short here but not too much, really good but not up to the nose's promise

M: very nice. velvety smooth. rich body

D: easy to down this by the six pack.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2010 04:01:06 | More by burnerfinger

GabrielM

New Mexico

4.18/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a New Belgium glass.

A - it's damn hot and muggy here right now, and the bright golden body and thick, fluffy white head 'atop this beer looks really damn good.

S - hops, some wheat, but not much else. And not very pronounced.

T - pretty dang good as a matter of fact. Light but bold hop flavors meld nicely with refreshing crispness of the wheat aspects. Light and refreshing yet not lacking flavor.

M - feels good. Nice carbonation, smooth creaminess to it. Crisp.

O - this isn't the best beer I've ever had, and it's definitely not the worst. Going down really nicely on this hot-ass day.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 23:15:42 | More by GabrielM

AEArider

Arizona

4.18/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured crystal gold, with a white head that sparkled.

Where this beer really excelled was its balance- the first wiff makes obvious the flowery and citrus notes rooting from the diversified hop profile, but once this touches your tongue the malt facets become just as obvious.

The mouthfeel was fine, although I expected creamier based on the bottle's label. Very drinkable.

A refreshing balanced beer, perfect for the Libra scales of 'Hoptober' (heh, heh?)

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 05:41:51 | More by AEArider

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.18/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into tulip.
Golden wheaty color with thick white foam. Nice lacing remains as I drink.
Smell of belgian yeast, wheat, hops, and pear.
Taste is of fruity hops with straw undertones.
Easy drink.

Overall a really great brew and full of flavor. There is a lot going on with this...straw notes, slight belgian yeast, hops, and pear aftertaste. I would almost prefer a bit more hops, but overall this is a great brew. Another good one from New Belgian.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 23:40:19 | More by DrinkSlurm

WMEugene

Virginia

4.18/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a clear golden color with a thick bubbly head and good lacing. Excellent appearance for this type of beer.

S - A blend of malts and hops, some sweet citrus and caramel notes.

T - A well-balanced mix of citrus hops and caramel malts. A crisp wheat taste as well. A little sweetness as well.

M - Medium bodied, crisp. Pretty nice hoppy finish.

O - New Belgium's Hoptober was a tasty blonde ale. It's a unique take on a fall seasonal and it's a beer I'll keep an eye open for next Fall.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 00:28:03 | More by WMEugene

patobandito

New Mexico

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

Pours an extremely light golden color, which is expected from a golden ale, but not a fall seasonal. nice fluffy white head. Smells very hoppy, which is always a plus in my opinion, but again, not something you expect from a seasonal this time of year. Great taste, with some hoppy citrus, some various malt flavors, and of course the requisite biscuit flavor that New Belgium is known for.
Its a little thinner than I would like, but easily drinkable. A nice change of pace from sweeter, maltier fall seasonals.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2009 01:35:25 | More by patobandito

EnojysAnyBeer

Colorado

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

A- Filtered-clear dark-golden color with a nice big head that leaves amazing sheets of lace

S- Fresh, bold hops with aromas all over the spectrum from floral and spicy to citric and bitter.

T- Clean and bitter, quite unique. Spicy hops dominate the taste, with flavors of garlic and pine. Slightly earthy

M- Light and crisp with a balanced carbonation

D- It's new to me, and I like it. Clean and simple with hops taking the lead role.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2009 02:33:48 | More by EnojysAnyBeer

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

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

Polished gold with bright yellow highlights and a crown of lemon-tinted ivory colored foam. It's a quality look that any American blonde would be proud to have. An extensive and attractive array of lace seals the deal on a good score.

A hop lineup that includes Centennial, Cascade, Sterling, Willamette and Glacier (and 40 IBUs) suggests that New Belgium named this beer with a purpose. It smells wonderfully citrus zesty and has a mildly spicy undertow as well. Good things are expected.

Hoptober Golden Ale doesn't taste like the typical American blonde ale. The malt has more character and the hoppiness is APA-like in terms of quantity. Given the fact that the 'best by' date is just several weeks from today, it might have been IPA-like immediately after bottling.

The flavor derived from malt is toasted and spicy. According to the label, four different grains are used: barley (pale malt), wheat, rye and oats. Sweetness is easily exceeded by a white grapefruit-lemon zesty and grassy hoppiness. White pepper notes are also noted. Hmmm, I would have guessed Saaz in addition to the C-hops.

The mouthfeel is at least as accomplished as all the rest. It's easily big enough for the ABV and is one of the finest of this style that I've ever experienced. Guess that means that 4.0 is too low.

Hoptober Golden Ale is the real deal and is a fantastic addition to the brewery's seasonal lineup. Along with Mighty Arrow Pale Ale, this is my new favorite New Belgium brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2010 13:52:53 | More by BuckeyeNation

Soonami

Pennsylvania

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

Hoptober Golden Ale is very good for an American Blonde. This doesn't mean that it would necessarily be a great beer compared to more flavorful beers of different styles, but for what it is, it's very good.

This beer is beautiful! It pours a bright, clear lemon color with voluminous white head that billows out and leaves fine lace all over the glass. The beer has very interesting hop aromas, from the unmistakable woody Willamette to the fruity of the Cascade and Centennials. The hops are definitely featured in this 40 IBU beer with the spicy Willamette and citrusy C hops. The mouthfeel and body is full with nice creamy carbonation.

Tasty beer, I would buy more if it were available to me.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2010 19:17:59 | More by Soonami

Chuggs

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is a very good blond. Nice color, nice aroma , and nice flavor. More of a warm weather beer than what you expect for the fall but good to sit back with and watch a game. Best of the New Belgiums, in my opinion. Drinking from the bottle and poured it in a glass. Skimpy on the hops but overall a nice and smooth palate. I have to put this up as one of my favorite; however I am patial to blonds.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2010 23:36:13 | More by Chuggs

JMad

Texas

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

From a bottle to a pint glass...
Pours yellow, has a big white head with good lacing.
Smells of citrusy hops and is sweet, sour and malty.
Taste has hints of rye and wheat, citrus and pine.
Feels medium bodied, it's very smooth (I guess from the oats) has a lingering bitterness and leaves the mouth dry.
This beer is very tasty, I expected a marzen this is more of a pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2010 00:11:38 | More by JMad

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

secondtooth

Indiana

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

Clean and golden, with a thick and frothy head of whitish bubbles. Supremely beautiful and detailed lace.

Nose says citrus-hoppy. It's clean, fresh, and enticing.

Taste is zesty --- hops present up front, with citrus (lemon and orange) coming up prominently. Malts seem to balance well, giving a highly drinkable, session-worthy feel.

Delightful, light, and quite tasty, Hoptober's a winner any way you look at it.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2011 07:33:11 | More by secondtooth

Clydesdale

District of Columbia

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

A: Pours a bright, clear golden color. The frothy, off-white head is fairly tall initially, with medium density. Retention is good, and several nice rings of lacing stick to the glass.

S: Lightly sweet, doughy pale malt aromas up front. Zesty hops provide citric (lemon), floral, and spicy notes. A faintly tart note is also present; I'm not sure if it's from the yeast, or the wheat and rye, but it's interesting.

T: A bit of sweetness, along with some grainy/bready/doughy malt flavor. Faintly toasty. Hop bitterness is firm, and the hop flavors strike an unusual and interesting balance between textbook citric and floral notes (from the American C-hops) and more subtle spicy and zesty notes.

M: Medium bodied. Quite smooth and creamy - extremely well done. Carbonation is slightly soft, and the finish is moderately dry.

D: This may not be a traditional fall style, or a hype-conducive beer, but it is very good. As a hoppy blonde ale, this works really well.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 23:49:00 | More by Clydesdale

slyke

Minnesota

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

Hoptober pours a bright, clear golden color with a pillowy white head that laces nicely. The aroma has faint notes of grains and grasses, perhaps a touch of alcohol. The taste has those grain and grass notes in a much stronger (better, I think) way. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and clean with a crisp finish and pleasant aftertaste. Overall this beer is a good one - try one if you find it.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 20:22:46 | More by slyke

porterwoobie

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz, poured into a standard pint glass.

A: straw yellow color, very clear, slim white head, good lacing

S: hoppy smell initially with a malty aroma following. the hop aroma is citrusy.

T: some biscuit-like character, malt notes, and citrusy hops area detected. the hop flavor is moderate as it has more malt character in the taste, but the bitterness is prominent in the finish.

MF: medium-light bodied, medium carbonation.

Drinkability: very smooth drinking beer. i would drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2009 20:38:57 | More by porterwoobie

koopa

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle received as an extra in a trade with mmtmatrix thanks!

Appearance: Rather golden body with a one finger white crown that shows some lace. The body is perfectly transparent.

Smell: Good amount of hops over a pale german malt. Some tangerine flavor makes itself known. Some floral hops with the smallest amount of herbal bitterness mixed in for good measure. Fairly nice.

Taste: Same as nose.

Mouthfeel: on the lighter side of medium bodied with an interesting carbonation profile. Goes down a bit undercarbonated but shows a good amount of carbonation on the exhale.

Drinkability: Quaffable for sure.
Taste:

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2009 20:21:14 | More by koopa

ommegoose

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Golden Ale seems apt to describe the appearance. Very bright, with a few bubbles of carbonation. Thick but short head. Even lacking around and a moderate cap remaining after a bit.

Piney hop aroma, a bit reminiscent of their pale ale. Warms into more citric notes. Bready yeasty/malty aroma. Could stand to be a little more potent.

Very well balanced beer. As the label states, there's some of everything here, with pale malt, wheat, rye and oats; and five hops on top of that. The hop profile is mostly grassy and herbal, with some piney notes. Fruitiness hides, but some citrus starts to show as it warms, namely with pineapple. The yeast character seems lively too, with some fresh breadiness, complimented nicely by a hint of rye spice. Surprisingly complex. Finishes a little spicy, with lingering citrus sweetness too.

It is about as creamy as the label boasts. Rye and oats work towards this end, even though they are a bit hard to find on the palate. Carbonation is rather low too.

This is nice beer. A good change of pace from Oktoberfests and Harvest Ales. I'm impressed. Probably will pick up some more before it leaves for the year. With Mighty Arrow and this, they have two seasonals I'd probably get every time around. I wouldn't have put it at around 6%. Wears it well.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2009 04:05:19 | More by ommegoose

Florida9

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Bright yellow in color. Pours with about 1/2" of off-white, creamy thick head that eventually reduces down, but never really goes away. Nice lacing.

S: Grapefruit and citrus. Lemon. Heavy aromatic hops.

T: Slightly sweet with very light malts. This one is all about the hops flavor. Orange-lemon citrus mixed with some floral notes. Sweet corn. Virtually no bitterness at all.

M: Light to medium with medium carbonation. Clean and crisp.

D: A very good beer and a good alternative to the typical American adjunct. Lightly malted, a little sweet, and bursting with hop flavor without any hop bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2009 18:42:20 | More by Florida9