Somersault - New Belgium Brewing

drabmuh

Maryland

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

At the time of this review, this is #10 on the "Top Beers - American Blonde Ale" on beeradvocate.com. Served in a New Belgium globe glass. Purchased as a single from Village Pump for $1.50.

Beer is yellow to amber, clear with a nice steady carbonation. Nice white head, small bubbles, some lacing. Looks good.

Aroma is mildly malty with a subtle hoppiness. Smells nice.

Beer is light in body, a little bitter on the end, an interesting yeastiness to the beer, easy drinking, light, wet, not dry. Very nice. I may have it again.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 15:35:53 | More by drabmuh

Momar42

Maryland

3.08/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a New Belgium globe

In my quest for a flavorful, sessionable summertime beer, next up NB Somersault:

A - Crystal clear deep yellow. Virtually no head but lacing is apparent...odd.

S - had to put my finger on the aroma here. Definitely some yeast and citrus but the most pungent is the artificial lemon smell. Dishwashing detergent comes to mind, please dont let the taste mirror the nose.

T - ok, whew, no detergent. Some jumbled up stuff going on here though. Cereals mixed with old lemons. As I drink it, maybe a hint of lemon pledge, but honestly ANY is unwelcome. I dont know, cant really distinguish WHAT I dont like, but I know its there.

M - heavier than I would want in a summer beer and almost chewy at times. Finishes sort of clean but the aftertaste is a puzzling mess too.

O - First off, I suppose its better than alot of the mostly crap summer offerings, but this NB is just not for me. I have been enjoying some high quality stouts and IPA/IIPA lately so maybe I am spoiled. This beer just furthers my belief that this time of year is the doldrums for beer. The search continues....

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 00:44:07 | More by Momar42

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a six-pack while in OBX, seemed like a good beach beer. It was. Instead of the clean, bland blond ales you usually meet in the summer, this had a lovely mix of mild citrus hops and grapefruit sourness (not bitterness) that adds an extra-refreshing edge. The aroma has a mix of freshly toasted bread/malt and light apricot fruit. Overall, a great take on the style. I'm glad to see brewers finally figuring out how to make a fun and satisfying blond ale.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 20:30:31 | More by tempest

nimrod979

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle best before Aug 12, 2012. Into a pint glass.

Appearance: Blonde with a slight haze. Two finger white head. Great retention. Decent lacing.

Aroma: Fruity citrus and apricot. Floral and grass. Peppery. Good aromas swirling around.

Taste: Grainy, floral and citrusy zest. Apricot fruitiness. Lightly hopped with a floral, and grassy flavor again soem citrusy. Some peppery spice and dryness finishes with some sweet and dry caramel malt and breadiness.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied. Average carbonation. Somewhat grainy but retains drinkability flavors are well balanced. Dry finish. Quite a flavorful beer for the style and a pretty damn good summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 20:46:35 | More by nimrod979

Humulus85

Minnesota

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

From 12oz bottle into my Darkness snifter. Best by 8/12/12

Pours a clear straw yellow. Two-finger, white, head from an aggressive pour. Pretty decent retention with a nice little rim of lacing.

Nose is a bit understated. Grains, some zest, some grass, maybe a touch of apricot.

Nice cereal type grains, more lemon zest, hops are there but somewhat nondescript. A touch of apricot in the finish. A nice bitterness balances things out and lingers in the aftertaste. Subdued, but still complex.

Mouthfeel and drinkability are key in a good summer ale, and Somersault nails it. Light in body, excellent carbonation. Slightly creamy, but finishes dry. Exceedingly drinkable; perfect for a six pack on a sunny porch.

Overall this is an exceptional summer ale. You can tell the main focus here is drinkability, while still maintaining a layered and flavorful brew. They succeeded, but fell short in a couple areas. The nose is a bit weak, and I think they could have brought the overall flavor up a notch and still maintained the level of drinkability. Recommended to anyone looking for a really good summer ale. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 17:25:15 | More by Humulus85

kojevergas

California

2.6/5  rDev -31.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a nonical pint glass in me gaff in high altitude Castle Rock, Colorado. Reviewed live. Expectations are average.

Served straight from the refrigerator. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a beige colour head of bad thickness, okay cream, and average retention. Colour is a clear light copper. Not particularly vibrant. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Crisp clean barley, some cream, light hints of lemon, and lemongrass. Very light citrus and floral hopping. A mild strength aroma.

T: Clean fairly full barley, some cream, lemon, and light vague hints of citrus ester hops. Straw. Not at all as full-bodied as it ought to be. Simple. Balanced alright. Built decently. Lacks complexity or subtlety. Pretty boring and bland.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Undercarbonated. Thin and weak. Hardly suits the flavours well at all.

Dr: Drinkable but boring and bland. I wouldn't get this again (knowingly; I'd reviewed this beer before and got it again by accident). A substandard offering from New Belgium.

C-

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 05:18:59 | More by kojevergas

fields336

North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into SA PP glass. Best before August 12 2012

A: A crisp looking, straw colored beer with 1 finger white/eggshell white head, which dissipates relatively fast. nice carbonation off of the bottom of the glass. lacing is minimal

S: sweet malts, lemon rind, light bready smell, a somewhat sweet cidery smell as well. Slight floral hops are distinguishable.

T: Sweet malts upfront leads the way to a bready malt, then almost a lemon pound cake flavor, then finishes with a sweet cidery flavor. little to no hops, but a slight bitterness is present, but doesnt linger. slight pepper/earthy finish

M: crisp dry mouthfeel, really refreshing and nice carbonation

O: great summer beer, would purchase a 12 pack of this easily.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 03:51:56 | More by fields336

sukwonee

Washington

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

A: One finger fluffy head, lots of lacing, cloudy orange body

S: Lemon, citrous hops, sweet malt

T: Peppery! similar to smell, I get citrous, lemon hops, bready malt, finishes slightly bitter, but not too much. I also taste little bit of lemon zest at the end. I wouldn't really call this hoppy or malty. Taste is not intense, but quite refreshing and well balanced.

M: Light body with high carbonation. Dry finish.

O: Great summer brew!

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 03:48:31 | More by sukwonee

whendeathsleeps

Indiana

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

A- Pours a clear clean pale gold, white 3 finger head, nice retention.

S- Malt on the forefront, bready, bright peppery and citrus notes throughout.

T- More citrus and peppery flavors, hoppy, but a nice malty base, floral taste on the finish.

M- Moderate carbonation, crisp, fairly dry finish. Easy drinker.

O- Enjoyed it a lot, complex, but not overly so, nice beer to have on the porch on a hot summer night. Very refreshing! Went great with a veggie pizza.

Will definitely enjoy again this summer!

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 20:14:51 | More by whendeathsleeps

jimmah120

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle into mug

Look is clear golden yellow with a sudsy 2 finger head that subsides into a foamy froth. Smell is light pale malts, lemon and flowery hops. Taste is very bright and crisp. Lemon and flowers, coupled with ester-y sweetness not unlike magic hat #9 but much more enjoyable. It finishes sweet, with roasted undertones, and a touch of hop bitter.

Excellent beer, surprised it took me so long to try this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 20:10:18 | More by jimmah120

donmonkey1

Tennessee

3.53/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Transparent golden color, decent carbonation, small white head that dissipates fast but laces nicely.

Smell: Nice floral hops with a slight metal smell.

Taste: Sweet lemony citrus floral hoppy drink.

It's interesting because it's different but it's almost too much like cider and not so much like beer. I wouldn't buy another one because it's too sweet and weird.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 21:57:07 | More by donmonkey1

lwillitz

Florida

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12-oz bottle into Samuel Smith "Tulip" pint glass

A - crystal-clear light golden body under 2 fingers of sudsy white head; moderate carbonation bubbles; very nice lace

S - strong citrus scent with grain in the background; very pleasant

T - fruit juices (mainly citrus) mingle on the tongue with light grains, followed by a bitter lemon finish

M - medium body, high carbonation; could do with less bite from the carbonation; refreshing

O - not bad for a summer ale; light, but fairly complex

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 20:57:50 | More by lwillitz

FickleBeast

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle into pint glass. Reviewed on phone.

Pours clear golden with half finger of foam. Aroma is mild with crisp citrus hop aroma.

Very refreshing and drinkable. Nice dry finish. Perfect summer beer. Nice lingering sweet citrus flavors. Would get again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 22:08:41 | More by FickleBeast

EagleTalon

Arkansas

4.1/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours out to a frothy white head, excellent lacing, golden color, clear. Aroma is a nice blend of fruitiness, spicy hops and soft grain. Flavors are light but interesting and complex with apricot, and a hint of "fat tire" biscuityness. Mouthfeel is light and the CO2 is generous. Overall, this beer takes the concept of a blonde ale in some interesting directions. I don't know if they actually put apricots in it, or what the purpose of the oats were, but it works.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 01:36:45 | More by EagleTalon

notchucknorris

California

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a clean an clear pale golden color with a thin white head.

S: Lemon, orange, apricot, and some lime with a spicy hop note, cracked white pepper and a touch of bready malt.

T: Lots of citrus upfront, mainly lemon with some crackery malt, peppery hops and a touch of tropical fruit. Apricot very present as well. Super easy to drink without sacrificing depth of flavor. Really impressed. Maybe the best summer beer I've come across.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 05:23:09 | More by notchucknorris

bubseymour

Maryland

4.59/5  rDev +21.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A -crystal clear pale orange with a perfect 3 finger head. Decent retention. Best looking beer for this style I've seen yet.

S - interesting combo of strong malt presence and some hops as well.

T - I think I've found a new summer drinker. This beer is perfect for the style. Easy to drink, incredibly flavorful with a smallest hint of lemon, strong malt body with a flavorful hop crispness to boot. Perfectly crafted.

M - perfectly fine

Oveall - There is a new summer beer champion and its name is New Belguim Somersault.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 00:26:34 | More by bubseymour

chodinheaven

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beautifully clear with a vibrant yellow color. A fluffy white head sits on top for a while, dissapating slowly and leaving a nice patchwork of lacing. Tons of visible carbonation up from the bottom feeding that pretty head. The aroma has a nice full breadiness to it, touches of grain intermingled with a lemony crispness. There is an orangey or apricot aroma as well, making for a well-balanced aroma. Very pleasant.

Medium bodied, displaying a nice range of flavors from malts, fruits and a light touch of hops. The malt is very lightly toasted, not getting in the way of the apricot and lemon freshness. There's a slight tartness from these fruits, just enough to be pleasantly summery without making you pucker. The hops in the back are citrusy and a touch floral, giving a quick bitterness that is packed full of citrusy flavor and adding to a dryness to a juicy finish. The mouthfeel is smooth, almost slick and goes down incredibly easily. This would be a fantastic beer to sit down and enjoy a few of on a hot summer afternoon. Chock full of more flavor than your average summer beer, this one is definitely worth a buy.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 21:21:49 | More by chodinheaven

Arithmeticus

Maryland

3.48/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured chilled in ale glass.

A: dark yellow, clear; thin head; good carbonation
S: sweet, fruity aroma; spritzy
T: sweet, almost a fruit beer it has so much berry and lemon in it; the aftertaste drops into seltzer-water territory, which isn't my palate's preferred destination, so I dock points for that; otherwise, a good choice for a hot-weather beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 19:09:06 | More by Arithmeticus

rfbenavi80

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a New Belgium Goblet. Bottle kept in fridge, best by 8-12-12.

A- Pours a clear medium to dark golden color. Has 2 fingers of foamy white head that quickly goes away leaving little to no lacing on the glass.

S- Earthy hops, a little citrus, a nice breadiness.

T- Refreshing, crisp, slightly tart.

M- Nicely carbonated, with a little dry finish.

O- I look forward to summer seasonals. This one is an easy drinker after mowing the yard on those hot summer days.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 01:14:56 | More by rfbenavi80

dhannes

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had a tap at Pizzeria Uno...from memory:

A=Slightly amber golden hue...some cloudiness? Head was present but not memorable.

S=Citrus and hops.

T=Rather strong citrus and hop presence. Paired with pizza and other appetizers...was refreshing but not spectacular.

M=Nice, with minimal carbonation.

O=I am not overly familiar with the style, but felt that this was worth trying...will only try again if nothing else intriguing on the menu.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2012 20:40:10 | More by dhannes

Rantingfury

North Carolina

3.6/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from from 12 ounce bottle to jigger glass

Appearance: Nice two finger head of white foam that faded to some lacing. The color was straw/golden color and clear.

Aroma: Citrus and fruity apricot from mainly the hops and malt note at the end.

Taste: Tangy fruit start with a smooth malt finish almost like a sweet and sour sauce.

Mouthfeel: High amount of carbonation that fades to clinging to the palate

Overall impression: This beer doesn't fit into my normal scheme of brews. The sweet and sour nature is like yen and yang going at it. I like sweet beers and I like sour IPA's.. But the contrast is balanced and is interesting. I think this beer would be nice in a breakfast situation or with grilled fish.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 18:35:13 | More by Rantingfury

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pale, clear sunshine with a copper tinge. Good head and awesome foam retention. Nice stickage and bubbling.

Light, grassy hops with soft toasted malts in the nose and a faint Summer fruit nuance.

Faint, soft fruit from start to finish. Mild grassy, Earthy hop bitterness with a little lemon juice tartness on the finish.

Palate is a litle oily, but refreshing and vibrant.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 17:38:09 | More by scruffwhor

Jyc4

4.43/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

has the same high brownish/dark yellow hue of many IPA's when poured from a 12oz. bottle. Had the same distinctive fruit and hop smells of a classic IPA. Even tasted something like a mild IPA upon first taste. However, finished with the sweet malt notes of a lager. Imagine if Sam Adams Boston Lager had slightly more pronounced hop notes and toned down its big malt finish a bit. Very interesting and VERY good beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 05:13:15 | More by Jyc4

intensify

Colorado

3.73/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Started this thing off with a semi-aggresive pour down the middle. created a 2 finger off-white head with blazing fast retention and minimul lacing. Poured a golden body and clear as daylight. Plenty of tangy, zesty fruits on the nose. Orange peel, apricot and spices mostly. Taste followed closely behind but with a lemon zest kick. Sweet throughout the whole drink and it doesn't tune it down with some bitterness that I detect. Medium-High(ish) carbonation makes it similar to drinking a wine cooler. not the best mouthfeel, but not the worse.
Overall not a bad brew. It definately fits perfectly with the seasonal category as its offered. Ill probably drink this again with some grilled chicken at the lake.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 05:42:02 | More by intensify

smakawhat

Maryland

2.8/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

I guess I bought a blonde ale... sheesh.. maybe I'll luck out, I seemed to not mind the last blonde ale I had from New Belgium (Hoptober), let's pour into a nonic pint and see how it goes.

Really super clear body on this with a kind of nice brassy yellow and red hue to it. Head forms white and bright, kind of fluffy with a three fingers cap, settling with some valleys and real nice. Real nice looking beer.

Nose reminds me of a macro lager strangely. Macro sweetness, some faint bread toasty malt hiding. Clean. Overall though not really doing much for me.

Palate seems weird. This brew actually feels a little fizzy, but also strangely lemon sour and a strange astringency. The malt action on this comes out on the finish with a bizarre sticky slightly syrupy and yeasty aftertaste. Gets slightly better as it warms up.

Overall, sigh, not doing it for me, not having another one of these that's for sure, but it could be worse.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 18:29:37 | More by smakawhat