Belgo Belgian India Pale Ale - New Belgium Brewing

Jason

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz brown bottle with a freshness date.

LOOK: Clear pale brass, nice curtain of lace

SMELL: Hop resin, herbal, medicinal, bisucity, dried grass, nutty yeast, guava, eucalyptus

TASTE: Deep smoothness, medium body, bitter, leafy, herbal, hop oil, medicinal, earthy, yeast, mellow esters, dried hay, ripe pears, dry herbal finish

Pretty forward with the hop character and story the yeast wants to tell. Both meld well rather than clash, really good drinking here.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 04:27:00 | More by Jason

iHeartMNBeer

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +5.5%

05-17-2013 04:54:22 | More by iHeartMNBeer

MinorThreat

Colorado

3/5  rDev -20.8%

05-16-2013 02:13:54 | More by MinorThreat

ToddHolder

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

05-11-2013 01:56:59 | More by ToddHolder

lernerlift

Kansas

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

05-05-2013 22:11:13 | More by lernerlift

MusicaleMike

Pennsylvania

4.36/5  rDev +15%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured this 12 oz. bottle into a New Belgium balloon glass. Through the hazy, golden orange body we can see a healthy amount of carbonation that rises to the top to support a frothy, creamy, egg-shell white head. As the beer recedes, scarred rings of lacing coat the side of the glass. It could use better retention, but it looks like a healthy Belgian IPA.

The smell is well-balanced, carefully pitting the Belgian yeast (which has a wonderful fruity aroma, carrying notes of pear and bruised apples) with a fresh, floral hop aroma. The resulting smell is rich with a honeyed sweetness, light fruitiness and a touch of lemongrass. It promises to be a delicious beer...and the taste doesn't let us down!

A bold flavor up front. Not full-bodied, yet certainly full-flavored, Belgo IPA has that complex interplay of spicy, fruity Belgian yeast with bitter hops even more so than the aroma. The hops (I get primarily Amarillo) come in quickly and impact the tastebuds with their bitter resin. The hops linger long into the aftertaste, but with each subsequent sip, more fruity esters come into play. A light hint of banana here, a faint touch of peach there. Very appetizing and easy to imagine with food.

The body, like I said before, isn't full, though it has a good amount of carbonation. It's smooth on the finish, and the frothy head on top almost brings a creaminess to the beer. The aftertaste is bitter and palette-coating. Great for an IPA.

I think this may be one of, if not the best Belgian IPA's that I have ever had. It does many things right here, from the good balance of yeasty qualities and hops, to the excellent aroma, to the well-suited body. This beer may not be a "session" IPA, but well worthy of seeking out if you want something in the Belgian IPA category. This is phenomenal, and would hold up easily against the likes of Houblon Chouffe and Piraat.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 01:51:48 | More by MusicaleMike

djs467

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

04-30-2013 16:21:47 | More by djs467

BRD14

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.5%

04-29-2013 01:54:47 | More by BRD14

Eriktheipaman

Virginia

4/5  rDev +5.5%

04-22-2013 12:01:37 | More by Eriktheipaman

lucasj82

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

04-18-2013 02:40:19 | More by lucasj82

blurredline

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%

04-15-2013 02:34:50 | More by blurredline

Birdlegs

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

04-10-2013 05:07:01 | More by Birdlegs

fredmugs

Indiana

2.75/5  rDev -27.4%

04-09-2013 19:18:26 | More by fredmugs

Rudes

North Dakota

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

04-03-2013 23:43:12 | More by Rudes

J10Jordan

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

04-03-2013 18:03:37 | More by J10Jordan

Jamison85

Indiana

4/5  rDev +5.5%

04-02-2013 13:01:00 | More by Jamison85

ilikebeer03

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

04-01-2013 21:33:41 | More by ilikebeer03

eulerthegrape

California

3/5  rDev -20.8%

04-01-2013 19:00:12 | More by eulerthegrape

Daktah

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

03-20-2013 20:17:29 | More by Daktah

JBetz

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

03-17-2013 15:19:34 | More by JBetz

Brown_9ft4x

Arkansas

4/5  rDev +5.5%

03-17-2013 01:24:42 | More by Brown_9ft4x

wmobley

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

03-15-2013 18:16:58 | More by wmobley

JacobGumina

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

03-15-2013 04:18:29 | More by JacobGumina

Cvescalante

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

03-12-2013 22:54:59 | More by Cvescalante

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

03-11-2013 06:02:25 | More by spycow