Hoptober Golden Ale - New Belgium Brewing

Phelps

Arizona

3.43/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Looks: golden and perfectly clear with a foamy half-finger head of pure white that dissolves into a thin top coating that leaves thick webs of lace as I drink.

Smells: hoppy. Lightly floral, with some citrus flavors of limes pineapple and tangerine. In the background there's some honey and light crackers.

Tastes: like a pale ale. Honey-sweet and floral, like honeysuckle. Also orange blossoms and lime juice along with the peels of oranges and grapefruits. I'm also getting some spiciness -- coriander, perhaps? Pine needles as well. All this is rather subdued, but it's not bad.

Feels: lowly carbonated and fizzy with a light body. It's nice and crisp.

Drinks: I like what New Belgium has been doing with hops lately, but I'm not sure this one fits with the fall seasonal theme. It also seems to me a little over-hopped for an American blonde. Still, it's not bad.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2010 19:53:17 | More by Phelps

CaptainIPA

Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served on-tap at Harry's on Oakland. Presented in a frosted pint glass. Bad form, mates.

Pours a bright and polished gold with a frothy, pitted head that exhibits excellent lacing.

Opens big with an infusion of hops, tart citrus accents (primarily lemon) and an uber-crisp mouthfeel. Bitterness moves to the back of the tongue. Malts now come into play with toasty warmth and spice. A pronounced graininess enters into the fray. As Hoptober warms, the balance swings back to hops. More lemon, now with a dash of pepper, surfaces. Finishes with a pleasant note of malt sweetness.

A well-balanced American Blonde seasonal with lots of interesting interplay between hops and malts. Find it while it's still on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2010 15:14:39 | More by CaptainIPA

alleykatking

Indiana

3.28/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap last night....

A- Poured a golden orange color. Half finger white head dies by the time it is actually set in front of me. Couple stringy style lacing on the side of the glass but those fall back into the beer.

S- Malt forward beer. Light citrus hops in the background but the caramel malts overtake everything. A light citrus (orange) tone here and there but really nothing else. Kind of thinking this might not be the freshest keg or the lines haven't been cleaned in awhile.

T- More caramel malts come out on this one in the front. Light hop bite on the back end of the front of the beer but dies into a ceral grainy middle. Light earthy hops on the backend with more caramel malts on the ending.

M- Light mouthfeel. Carbonation was good for the style but I thought high for this beer. Sweet malts left on the palate and long into the aftertaste. Flavors were mostly one sided and lacking any real body to them. Light drying on the palate from the alcohol.

D- This beer was a ok at best. Nothing that I would really want to spend my money on. The lack of alcohol taste in the beer made it super drinkable. Although, this beer might just be a little old so I'll try it again from a place that I know keeps their beer rotated.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2010 22:48:26 | More by alleykatking

nickhiller

Texas

2.48/5  rDev -34.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: urine yellow, a dab of head and pretty decent lacing for the light lager-y color

S: sunblock, soap, really faint smells, I get almost nothing.

T: apricot, potpourri, not all that pleasant, though I'd bet my grandma would like it

M: a little light on the carbonation, more akin to a lager than an ale in body

D: let's just say I won't be having this again. It's way too fruity and flowery, especially for a Fall seasonal. Try Spring boys!

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2010 22:48:04 | More by nickhiller

cnjohn19

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

served on tap in a tulip glass at tyler's in carrboro, nc...

first thing to note is my pregnant wife sitting next to me immediately commented on the smell of this beer when it came to our table...and i have to agree...fruity esters dominate with citrus hops hit you pretty strong...extremely surprised at the hop level in this golden ale which completely dominates any malts/yeast flavor trying to get through...it was just a tad too bitter, but beyond that everything was pretty excellent...i really think this is one of the better brews i've had from new belgium and i'll definitely get a six pack next time i'm out...

in all this is a great beer to share with friends who like hoppy beers and want to try something out of their normal selection...would probably serve as a good cross-over beer...

cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2010 17:41:23 | More by cnjohn19

brewmudgeon

Wisconsin

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

hoptober, on taperino

a 4.5 light golden with a short, peristent head, great lacing. the carbonation looks quite fine--is the keg naturally conditioned?

s 3.5 citrus hops and pale malt. not terribly distinctive, but pleasant.

t 3.5-4 well balanced american hops and some residual sweetness. and there's something subtle going on as well. ahh, the rye and wheat. the finish is fairly crisp and dry enough to urge frequent pulls. interesting enough to keep my attention, but i'm surprised it's 6%--was hoping for the low 5s.

m 4.5 very fine carbonation throughout the smooth medium body.

d 4-4.5 not that i would go to lengths to seek it out, but hoptober is very drinkable in the right situation.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2010 02:07:32 | More by brewmudgeon

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is a fairly clean and crisp beer, and darn good representative of the style, imho. Pours a light golden, clear body with a 1 finger head. The white foam settled down to a respectable collar, although I'd like to see more of it.
Fairly weak aroma. Citrus and slight bubblegum are a nice surprise from a New Belgium beer that are typically malt and yeast driven.

Flavors follow suit. I wouldn't guess this to be a NB product. The malt is light and the yeast provides just enough spice to accentuate the hops. Citrus hops; grapefruit mostly, but subtle.

Clean finish. Good for late summer, sitting on the porch.

Serving type: on-tap

08-26-2010 02:20:08 | More by Mebuzzard

armock

New York

3.63/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Poured a clear golden color with a white head that leaves lacing behind

S - Is mostly of citrus hops on a slight malt backing

T - Follows the nose citrus hops on a bready malt backing

M - This beer has a medium body with medium carbonation to it

D - One of the better NB beers that I see around the hops definitely add some life to this beer making it fairly good to me worth a try sometime

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2010 21:09:31 | More by armock

GRG1313

California

4.33/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice gold color with a decent white head.

Nose is nice yeast nose with a hint of sea water.

Mouthfeel is wonderful with perfect hop/malt balance; big and rich.

Full big hop character and flavors of pine and grapefruit but fully integrated with other flavors.

This is a big brew yet elegant. Finish is short grapefruit with undertones of pine. This could easily be a "go to" daily beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-04-2010 11:03:12 | More by GRG1313

pmccallum86

Minnesota

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

Pours a clear golden color with a two finger bubbly head that leaves lacing down the sides of the glass as it dissipates.

The smell is of lemon zest, grass and biscuity malt.

The taste is similar to the smell, lemon notes, grassy earthy notes, biscuit malt and a variety of hops.

Smooth creamy mouthfeel, medium carbonation.

Good drinkability, goes down smooth and refreshingly.

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2009 23:36:53 | More by pmccallum86

Haybeerman

Colorado

3.95/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Lightly clouded gold/amber color. Poured a 2 finger foamy white head with good retention. Decanted continually. Laced in thick rings.

S: Grapefruit, citrus up front. Sweet malt in the background with some orange.

T: Flavoring hops and malt prominant with plenty of grapefruit and citrus hops. Sharply bitter in the finish for balance.

M: Light-to-medium body. Ample carbonation. Good malt and hop flavoring balanced with bitter.

D: Very easy to drink. Smooth and nicely balanced. Moderate ABV makes it very sessionable.

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2009 05:20:14 | More by Haybeerman

JamesS

Indiana

3.55/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours a nice light yellow/semi-gold color with nice head and a bit of nice lacing. Nice scent, clean and fairly crisp with a nice sweetness and a faint bitter hop aroma. Nice taste, clean and clear with a nice mixture of hops and malts, although nothing really stuck out; balanced but not strong. Goes down quite well, nice and smooth. Would be a much better summer beer, I think, than a fall brew.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2009 18:25:21 | More by JamesS

hardy008

Minnesota

2.58/5  rDev -32.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Clear gold color with a small white head and a decent lace. Smells of floral hops with some malt. Taste is mostly floral hops with bit of a malt backbone. Light bodied, decent carbonation, but overall, nothing very exciting. I won't be buying this again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2009 00:35:05 | More by hardy008

champ103

Texas

3.8/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a clear golden/yellow color. A small white head forms and leaves some light lace.
S: Citrus, grassy, and floral hops. Some grapefruit bitterness. Not much sweetness for balance.
T: Follows the nose. Citrus, grassy, and floral hops again. Some bread and grain. Not much else, but still enjoyable.
M/D: A medium body with crisp carbonation. A little watery. Not hard to drink. Something I can session.

Not bad at all. I can see the appeal for this beer. It just does not do a lot for me. This really is worth a try though.

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2009 03:37:31 | More by champ103

Tone

Missouri

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

Pours a clear, golden color. 1/2 inch head of an off-white color. Good retention and great lacing. Smells of hops, earthy malt, and sweet malt, and some citrus. Fits the style of an American Blonde Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and slightly thick with an average carbonation level. Tastes of hops (not too strong or bitter), earthy malt, sweet malt, citrus (fruit-loops), and some more hops in the finish. Overall, good bodied, smooth, inviting, well-blended blonde ale.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2009 02:07:41 | More by Tone

atsprings

North Carolina

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

On-tap at Flying Saucer served in a standard pint glass a crisp pale yellow with a slightly frothy off-white head. Aroma is a mild blend of sweet malts and citrus hops. The taste is a nice subtle blend of citrus hops and pale malts with a nice subtle lingering sweetness. The beer is on the light side of medium with decent carbonation. This is certainly an interesting beer, one that would also be good in summer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-28-2009 19:09:54 | More by atsprings

Magpie14

Michigan

3.4/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: visually this beer boasts a light yellow hue with a tinge of orange and gold. If anything it leans more towards a fuzzy yellow color. The lace was in good order with a very nice film hugging the upper rim of the glass. As drinking continued the lacing took charge and provided a visual experience (high marks for the lace). Just a thin layer of cream sits on top

S: light smells of toasted malts with earthy hops and not much else. It seems usual in the sense that it boasts toasted malts as so many of NBBC brews do. Otherwise the nose is lacking

T: the flavors are in harmony with the nose. I guess I was thinking of an october fest type of brew. Instead a light hopped, citrus spiced blonde ale is swirling on my palate. A light slap of hop oils hits the tongue. It also maintains a backbone of toasted caramel drizzled malts for an even character

Overall this beer has a faint commanding presence. Nothing really stands out for me

M: the feel is light, crisp, and airy with some noticeable carbonation. Body is average and seems to fit the style

D: a nicely hopped brew and a nice diversion from the usual autumn brews. I still have yet to find my niche with New Belgium. This is a decent brew and easy to put a few down the hatch

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2009 22:55:07 | More by Magpie14

HalfFull

California

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

Pours a relatively clear deep straw in color, perhaps light golden on tap into a pint glass. Offers an inch or so of rather resilient foam which casts off some solid lacing.

Quite hoppy on the nose with pine, earth and a bit of citrus. Slight sweetness emanates but doesn't overwhelm and is in fact masked well by the hops.

Full flavor with some hop spice and a bit of citrus on the finish. Rather full bodied given the color of the beer due to the rye addition I would gather. Somewhat bitter on the conclusion given the robust hop nature as well. A bit filling given the coarse and bready texture of the beer but quite drinkable otherwise, though the bitterness may deter in time.

Surely not what I was expecting yet an interesting beer that seems a bit homeless in the style department. Or perhaps more appropriately it has many homes in that regard.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2009 02:05:34 | More by HalfFull

CHSLBrew

Minnesota

3.38/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured into a large mug at Old Chicago, Roseville, MN.

A-Pale white head, 1.5 cm off the pour, retained pretty decent as a consistent layer. Golden-amber brew, a bit darker than typical blode ales, crystal clear.

S-Herbal hoppiness, slightly grainy.

T-Lots of herbal hoppiness, along with a spicy/floral character, pair with malty semi-sweetness which tastes remniscent of a fest lager, slightly biscuity. Assertive bitterness, slightly herbal, tips the scale twoard the hoppy/bitter category. Finisher herbal, semi-dry.

M-Moderate body. Appropriately moderate carbonation. Lip-puckeringly bitter.

D-Deterred slighly by a balance too much towards the bitterness, which defied my expectations and hindered its drinkability compared to typical Oktoberfest brews. Still, I enjoyed this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2009 20:23:47 | More by CHSLBrew

zeff80

Missouri

4.4/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at the Stable in St. Louis.

A - Poured a clear golden hue with a white, one-finger head of soapy foam. It left a little soapy lace on the glass.

S - Great aroma floral and citrus notes with a hint of sugar cookie. Really unique and really good.

T - It had a sweet caramel backbone (like most blonde ales) but it had a hop presence that was befitting its name. Good bitter citrus hops were delicious.

M - It was crisp and sharp with a slightly dry finish. A medium-bodied ale.

D - Simply put, this is the best "American Blonde Ale" that I've ever had. A great hop presence with a sweet caramel taste that all blonde ales have.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2009 03:06:00 | More by zeff80

Monkeyknife

Missouri

3.95/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Stable.

Poured a bright, clear golden-yellow with a thick and creamy white head. Lots of sticky lacing left behind.

Aroma of floral and citrus hops along with with cracker and freshly- baked cookies.

Tastes of peach and light grapefruit upfront followed by sweet malts, cracker and yeast. Finishes quite smooth.

Lighter bodied, slightly dry, and moderately carbonated.

An enjoyable and solid Blonde ale from New Belgium.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2009 01:35:32 | More by Monkeyknife

glid02

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Taco Mac Metropolis in Atlanta.

Pours a clear golden color with a one-finger white head. The head recedes into a patchy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells great - tropical and citrus hop aromas with very light amounts of pale malt.

Tastes good, although it's not as good as it tastes. Light citrus hop flavors up front segue into a lightly bitter ending. Pale malt flavors lurk in the background. Neither the malt or hop flavors are as intense as the smell lets on.

Mouthfeel is good. It has a nice thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I didn't have a problem finishing my glass and could have another.

Overall this beer smells great but the taste doesn't follow through as much as I'd hoped. Still, it's worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

09-11-2009 21:32:49 | More by glid02

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

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

Hullabaloo2

Nebraska

3.55/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Aroma - Mild citrus hop aroma. Some esters. malty sweetness. The aroma is very soft.

Appearance - Amber color. Crystal clear. White head settled at about one fingerwidth. Quite a bit of visible carbonation.

Taste - At the start I get malt followed closely by slight hop bitterness. Given time in the mouth hop flavor comes through more. Slight hop bitterness on the finish. The bitterness lingers, but not for long. Like the aroma, all of the flavors are quite soft. Pretty well balanced.

Mouth Feel - Thin to medium body. Slight carbonic "bite." Easy finish. No perceived alcohol.

Overall Impression - A fairly solid beer. Just enough hop aroma and flavor to please the palate, but very underwhelming. This would be very refreshing on a hot Summer day. Worth a try, but I probably won't but again.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2009 18:20:13 | More by Hullabaloo2