Lips Of Faith - Clutch Collabeeration - New Belgium Brewing

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.35/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

From: Friar Tuck's, Savoy, IL
Date: None, bottle purchased in August 2011
Glass: Tulip

As a "wild" ale, I'd say this was an abject failure: there's just no sour or wild character to really be perceived. As an experimental stout, it worked at an average or slightly above average level, with modest roasted malt and chocolate flavors combined in a not unappealing way: it just wasn't anything special, either. With all the other stouts readily available, there's little reason to try this again, probably why New Belgium will not brew a repeat.

Pours a substantially tall head of dark tan to light brown bubbles, small in size, that has well above-average retention, lasting several minutes. The head does not recede without leaving substantial lacing along the sides of the glass: fairly large sheets of the stuff coat the glass' walls. Body is a dark brown to black, opaque, with light not affecting its coloration, and no visible carbonation.

Aroma is of roasted malt with sweetened chocolate and dried fruit esters akin to prunes. Not particularly robust, but certainly not unappetizing.

Flavor is solidly in the stout side, moderate roasted malt with mild chocolate flavor, just a slight "ping" of acidity on the sides of the palate. Front of palate detects some sweetened milk chocolate flavors . Mid-palate of sweetened milk chocolate with mild tangingess on the sides of the tongue and hints of ethanol. Very faint tartness on the back of palate, settled in as a minor character alongside continued roasted malt and chocolate flavors, with a new appearance of ethanol, too. Aftertaste of roasted malt sweetness with hints of chocolate and super-mild acridity.

Beer is medium to medium-heavy in body, with moderately intense carbonation that quickly peters out from a mildly fizzy feeling to a slightly foamy and smooth mouthfeel for the majority of the sipping period. Closes dryly, with little residual stickiness across the palate. For a 9% abv beer, the ethanol is surprisingly well-hidden, only slightly felt in the nostrils and throat.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 06:16:07 | More by falloutsnow

csfcmitchell

Texas

4/5  rDev +7.8%

05-23-2013 15:56:15 | More by csfcmitchell

tbone1384

Wyoming

4/5  rDev +7.8%

05-19-2013 01:07:09 | More by tbone1384

PlinyBeMiney

California

3/5  rDev -19.1%

05-12-2013 21:43:01 | More by PlinyBeMiney

Jordantb313

Colorado

3/5  rDev -19.1%

05-05-2013 05:39:37 | More by Jordantb313

marlinsfan4

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%

05-05-2013 03:46:26 | More by marlinsfan4

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -32.6%

05-02-2013 22:44:40 | More by xnicknj

djs467

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +14.6%

04-30-2013 16:16:18 | More by djs467

largadeer

California

2.5/5  rDev -32.6%

04-06-2013 21:52:34 | More by largadeer

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev +7.8%

03-24-2013 01:31:06 | More by Sparky44

Cyclone8

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +7.8%

03-16-2013 13:20:14 | More by Cyclone8

JeffSuttonTX

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +21.3%

03-11-2013 01:19:34 | More by JeffSuttonTX

spycow

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%

03-10-2013 00:03:24 | More by spycow

kell50

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%

03-08-2013 01:05:49 | More by kell50

orangesol

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%

03-07-2013 19:10:41 | More by orangesol

Kopfschuss

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%

03-07-2013 02:58:16 | More by Kopfschuss

Drew26

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +7.8%

03-05-2013 20:12:03 | More by Drew26

nzerbe

New York

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%

03-03-2013 23:43:53 | More by nzerbe

Devinph

California

4.5/5  rDev +21.3%

03-03-2013 19:11:59 | More by Devinph

ADTaber

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%

03-02-2013 21:33:13 | More by ADTaber

warnerry

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -12.4%

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wceaton

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +14.6%

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devilben02

North Carolina

3.28/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours a dense dark brown that looks about the same color as it did in the (brown) bottle. I am surprised and strangely excited by how dark the mocha brown head is. The aroma has some light grains and a bit of lactose-like sweetness. It's not bad, but it is just not much. The flavor is similarly unexciting, although it has a rather complex combination of mild apple tartness up front, some moderately roasted malts in the finish, and faint hints of chocolate and wood that creep in as the beer opens up. The texture is fairly light and smooth, which allows a light lingering woodiness to develop. Despite this beer's subtle complexity, however, it just doesn't provide much payoff, particularly for its high ABV.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 15:16:33 | More by devilben02

drummermattie02

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%

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AlexFields

Tennessee

3.25/5  rDev -12.4%

01-26-2013 04:09:07 | More by AlexFields