Hoptober Golden Ale - New Belgium Brewing

ArrogantB

Colorado

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

12oz bottle, first time I've seen this stuff. Golden-amber color with a good head and decent lacing on the pint glass. Smells just slightly grassy, cool. The flavor is more grassy, green hops but almost none of the citrus promised on the label. This is quite easy to drink however and I put away the whole six-pack with absolutely no shame.

update 09/2011 super peachy flavor

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2009 03:19:26 | More by ArrogantB

oberon

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This usually isnt a style for a fall seasonal so a nice change of pace.Poured into a standard pint glass a light to medium golden with a thinner quick to fade white head that left some broken lace behind.Big citric hop aromas along with some sweetish caramel.Hmm the hops dont seem to hit home as much on the palate as the nose,pretty citric in its hop profile,a big caramel/biscuit malt layer stands up to the hops making it pretty balanced.Not bad but to me its not as hoppy as others have suggested,still a nice change of pace for fall.

As I drank more the more I noticed the creamy,lush mouthfeel the oats imparted so I gave the mouthfeel a higher score.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2009 20:53:17 | More by oberon

GClarkage

California

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

09/21/09- Purcahsed at Safeway in San Mateo, CA.

Presentation- 12oz bottle, did not look for a freshness code. Poured into a standard pint glass.

Appearance- Nice medium golden colored pour with a sparkiling white 1/2 inch head and some minor lace streaks and spots remaining.

Smell- Some slight grassy aromas, a bit of toasted malt and a decent cascade hoppy aroma.

Taste- Not as hoppy as expected. Fairly light in flavor with a split between a lightly toasted malt and some lighter grapefruit spiked hops. Maybe a touch herbal.

Mouthfeel- Medium carbonation level with a light bitter aftertaste.

Drinkability- Thinking more of a lighter APA rather than a Blonde Ale, but still drinkable and better than average.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2009 20:21:51 | More by GClarkage

Zorro

California

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

Clear golden colored beer with a small white colored head.

Smell is all Northwestern style hops. Strong grapefruit and other citrus aromas, this isn't very piney to me. Little bit of menthol and wood in this one with a minimal amount of malt scent.

Starts out dry and malty with a woody flavor. Slightly warming in the chest some of that is from a menthol and mint sensation from the hops. Slightly sour taste from the hops this is almost all citrus. Bottle says only 40 IBUs.

Mouthfeel is medium.

Flavorful and quite easy to drink. Smells stronger than it tastes, basically what we have here is a hoppy pale ale. Tasty beer I can recommend.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2009 03:38:45 | More by Zorro

Beaver13

Colorado

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

12 oz bottle, best by 2/26/10. Pours a clear yellow gold with a smallish creamy white head that quickly goes to a thin film that leaves some lacing.

The aroma is bready grainy malts and fruity resiny hops.

The flavor is sweet bready malts with citrus fruits leading to a medium fruity hop bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with smooth carbonation.

Overall, a solid NBB brew. Pretty hoppy for a golden ale. I really like the hop flavors and think this would rate as a solid well balanced pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2009 05:17:58 | More by Beaver13

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

Of the few classifications that this beer can fall under, the Blonde Ale wasn't one that I thought.

The color falls between straw and golden making me think that it was done with a lower kilned Brittish pale malt rather than pilsner. Especially since I don't get any of the grainy, vegital, or sulfury notes that come along with pilsner malts.

Malts aside, this beer is all about those precious Cascade hops. At the proportion of a strong Pale Ale, this beer definately takes on Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale aromas and flavor because of those signature hops.

Higher abv gives a solid dryness and crispness further emphasize the lighter body and low levels of sweetness. I just wish this beer was a Summer seasonal to quench my thirst for easy drinking hoppy beers.

Although this beer uses different hops, it reminds me a lot of Goose Island IPA with it's light color, crisp and clean flavors, and dry hoppy finish. Though Goose Island's is more full and stronger, they are in a similar class.

Thanks dpodratsky!

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2009 02:35:50 | More by BEERchitect

Spineypanda

Texas

4.08/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Hoptober reminds me of a less harsh Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Although its IBU's are 3 points higher at 40 than Sierra Nevada's, it seems a bit more palatable.

It has a nice hoppy flavor, but with a bit of a citrus or orange flavor.

The color is nice and golden... makes sense considering it is a golden ale.

This is now one of my more favorite Oktoberfest brews, although it has Magic Hat's to compete against.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2009 02:12:24 | More by Spineypanda

SurlyDuff

Oregon

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Yum, a new brew from NB and a nice crisp blonde at that. This reminds me a lot like Mighty Arrow.

Light gold with a pretty little head. A nice leafy aroma with some proprietary NB yeast and a good dose of floral and spicy hops. This is a light brew, nothing over the top.

Some dry rye flavors in here, mixed with some powdery yeast and a good dose of sweet malt. It's very well balanced and downright drinkable.

I expected more of an oktoberfest style martzen, overlooking the golden ale part. It didn't dissapoint though. The wife and I tore though a 12pack of this in just two days, so yeah. It's good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2009 00:47:49 | More by SurlyDuff

SpecialK088

Missouri

3.95/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured into a Sam Adams pint glass

Pours a light gold very little good color to it with a light head that leaves a film over the top

Hops dominate the smell, very fragrent grassy hops that can be smelled from the moment you pop it open. Notes of some spices and sweet malt are also noteable.

Very much the same as the smell, the hops are completely dominate if you drink this right out of the fridge with citrus such as sour orange or grapefruit, but as you let it warm even just a little you can pull out alot more spices and malt. Also a fruity note in the finish

Its a little overcarbonated, kinda makes a fizzy feeling in your mouth and down your throat. Body is actually pretty thin.

Very easy to drink this one overall, for the hopheads this one will be right up your ally everyone else I say give it a shot and let it warm up a little before you judge it

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2009 23:09:09 | More by SpecialK088

homebrewhawk

Kansas

3.8/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle served in a shaker pint. Pours a brilliant pale gold with a bit more than a finger of white head. Nice citrus hop aroma, but not overpowering. Also some bready malt in the aroma. Light to medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation. Not as much going on in the flavor. Some spicy flavors in the finish. Restrained hop bitterness. Nice and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2009 00:42:47 | More by homebrewhawk

Bookseeb

Washington

4.53/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is a golden yellow with a thin head, but fair lace. Smell has a big aroma of hops, malt and citrus. Taste has a very nice balance of malt and hop bringing out the citrus, but not overdoing it with the bitter aftertaste. Mouthfeel is medium that has a slickness with just the right amount of carbonation to go down smooth. Considering the hops involved, it was a rather clean finish that made it very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2009 23:21:58 | More by Bookseeb

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

Genghis22

California

3.58/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Best Before 2/26/10 on bottle.

A - Pours a bright golden yellow. Nice creamy white head. Very clear. Nice lacing.

S - Good hop presence on the first smell. The sweet malty notes come through on the seconf whiff. Bitter citrus smells, grapefruit rind, with some piney floral hops as well.

T - Very mellow actually. A bit bisuity, and slightly tangy, like a mild belgian yeast strain was used. The hops that are in the nose do not come through on the taste at all. The malts over power this beer, which is unfortuante given the name of the beer. There is a slight hint of the hops in the aftertaste, a nice bitter drying effect takes place.

M - Very smooth. Medium to light body with moderate carbonation. Very crisp and refreshing beer.

D - Great session beer. Doesn't live up to the name IMHO. This is a good BBQ beer that might help BMC people get into craft. I wouldn't turn this one down, but I won't seek it out again. The best thing about this beer was the smell.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2009 00:27:16 | More by Genghis22

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.8/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours straw colored with 2 fingers of sand colored head. Very good head retention & good lacing

S: Grassy, citrussy & leafy hops

T: Grassy & leafy hops up front, pretty much follows the nose, plus biscuitty malts & dryness, much like most NB offerings. Grapefruitty & leafy hops as this warms. Finishes crisp & dry with kiss of grapefruit

MF: Medium body, light carbonation & good balance

Drinks really easy, nothing too exciting here, but a decent session ale, none the less

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2009 23:43:00 | More by russpowell

MrHungryMonkey

Texas

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

Nose is highly hoppy - American citrus floral with some pine and spicy herb. Smells good, quite good.

Pours clear pale gold, moderate head. Looks good.

Medium body - clean malt with toasty edge and some caramel. Much softer hops than the nose advertised, but to the same variety. Moderately sweet - a caramel malty sweetness. Restrained bitterness for the hop level suggests either the use of hop extract or limited bittering hops. Nice tight balance. Finishes slightly dry and hoppy. Tastes good. Feels pretty good - I would like it better with a grounding bitterness. Good drinkability.

A hoppy golden ale to be enjoyed in the fall

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2009 23:21:32 | More by MrHungryMonkey

barnzy78

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

12oz. Poured a golden yellow with a fluffy white head that held good retention and left sticky lacing all the way down the glass. Aromas were pleasant floral hops coupled with freshly squeezed citrus - mainly lemon with a hint of orange. Tastes were complex and very well balanced, consisting of biscuity malt - slightly bready, fresh crisp hop providing some lemon and grapefruit zest and some herbal qualities. Slight caramel mixed in with a peppery finish from the rye. Bitterness is present, but plays so well with the other flavors. Mouth-feel is light-to-medium bodied with moderate carbonation, and ever so mildly oily allowing the hop resins to cover the palate. Nice golden ale background with an awesome hop bite. The hop and malt medley is greatly balanced providing remarkable drinkability - this was much better than I anticipated. I also like the way the hop flavor is so pronounced without the huge bitterness - nice change of pace. This is the reason I love American craft brewers - they can take a classic style and completely change the way it is brewed, add different ingredients and come up with something that actually is reminiscent of an Oktoberfest Märzen with a definite American flare. Great idea and a fantastic outcome!

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2009 22:29:15 | More by barnzy78

minnunderground

Wisconsin

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

Bought a single bottle of this stuff. Pours a golden clear color. Smells hoppy with citrus. Tastes pretty good hits you with some hops off the bat then ends on some citrus and malts making it easy to drink. Mouth feel is pretty light all and all pretty drinkable. In the end it is a pretty good brew, Not sure if I would buy any more though.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2009 21:53:45 | More by minnunderground

katan

Colorado

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

12 oz into a pint

A - Pours a light golden color. Extremely clear, filtered, Almost lagerlike. Head formation is light white, well retained.

S - Incredibly meaty hop profile, edgy, earthy. Simcoe I would guess. Orangish notes hang around in the background.

T - Starts off with only enough malt to introduce the grassy hop profile. Bitterness is pronounced in the mid-stream. The sweetness really shows in the final finish, where then it continues to sit on the tongue.

M - Moderate thickness, light creaminess, no carbonation bite. Smooth going down. Leaves a sugary cling on the tongue.

D - Very smooth, easy drinking. Abv is potent, but well hidden. Not very filling.

Maybe I was fooled when I bought this thinking it was a Marzen- but it doesn't matter, its a good solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2009 03:15:18 | More by katan

lonestar4lunch

Texas

3.23/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a bright golden color with a good 1/2inch foam on the top. The smell somewhat funky as to what was expected. Aroma isn't that strong and really doesn't stick out. Maybe it's me. Bottle says it's a 5 hop 4 malt cornucopia of the earth and I get it but this doesn't really bring anything to the front. I keep getting an almost Belgian funk on the inhale before the sip but then comes a mixture of hops and malts. Sometimes it is a bit sweet others bitter. I am gonna have to try this one again.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2009 22:08:07 | More by lonestar4lunch

WhatsNewinBooze

Colorado

2.9/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Once again another new seasonal beer from New Belgium. This Hoptober (not to be confused for an Oktoberfest style) will be released as their fall seasonal. This Golden Ale is comprised of five hops (Centennial, Cascade, Sterling, Willamette, and Glacier) and four malts, in which the pale and wheat malts are mashed together with rye and oats. The beer pours with clear golden color and foamy white head with aromas of citrus. Flavors of grapefruit very prevalent throughout the palate with a slight hint orange. The finish is crisp and dry but is short lived. Overall this new seasonal from New Belgium was okay, but really it reminded me of a water downed IPA.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2009 17:31:22 | More by WhatsNewinBooze

colts9016

Idaho

3.95/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass at 40 degrees.

Appearance: A half finger head that is white and has some foamy head. The head is a light straw color. The beer has some effervescence. The body of the beer is clear.

Nose: A medium malt body with floral bouquet and a nice mild grapefruit aroma.

Taste: A nice medium malt body with a very good bouquet of flowers and a grapefruit aroma. There are some phenols on the background.

Overall: The mouth feel of the beer is slightly carbonated with some astringency. The body of the beer is medium light. This is actually a really good blonde ale. I am very surprised. I will enjoy the other Hoptober's from the brewery.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2009 05:16:31 | More by colts9016

dbossman

Nebraska

3.83/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: golden, strong carbonation creates a nice foam; pretty good lacing

S: There is a wonderful sweety maltiness in the first smell but also a citrus (orange?) that comes from a hoppiness that sits nicely on top of the maltiness.

T: The balance is not as good in the taste as it is in the smell. I do taste a subtle spice flavor that adds some complexity.

M: Not as carbonated as it looks; it actually dissipates a bit too quickly as it goes down.

D: This is another solid and drinkable beer from New Belgium. This isn't quite a session beer and perhaps is too hoppy for what I want in the Fall, but this is a good beer that goes down quite well.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2009 22:35:48 | More by dbossman

ZAP

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Golden colored...minimal head

S-Big juicy citrus aroma...oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, etc..the longer I smell this the more the other layers become evident...it also has a sweeter, sugar note as well as a spicy rye dimension .

T-Juicy citrus flavor as well....the rye malt is clearly evident and I love the citrus hop/rye malt mix...

M-Light side of medium bodied...smooth but not creamy..they used oats and it must have added a little to the body but it is not super creamy..finishes with a little citrus tanginess.

D-Nice creative golden ale that is a joy to drink. Only 40 IBU but it smells and tastes very hop forward.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2009 18:13:17 | More by ZAP

johnnybgood1999

Virginia

3.58/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This reminds me of Sierra Nevada's Summerfest Ale. Anyways, nose is nice and hoppy with citrus flavors coming through. There's mostly hops in the flavor, though its not pale ale like. It's very refreshing. Malt is very light, but plays a role in complimenting the citrus hoppiness with sweetness. A good unfilling beer if you've got a hop craving.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2009 02:20:15 | More by johnnybgood1999

wknight167

California

2.88/5  rDev -24.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Apearance - Pours a clear golden yellow with half a finger of head. Slight lacing.

Nose- Straight hops. Citrus and Pine.

Palate- Again, straight hops. More pine than citrus. Very dry with no evident malt profile. definitely off balanced.

Mouthfeel- medium bodied, medium carbonation, dry.

Drinkability- average

Overall- The name lead me to think it was going to be a oktoberfest one off. It is not. Neither do I think this fits an American Blonde.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2009 08:55:23 | More by wknight167