Belgo Belgian India Pale Ale - New Belgium Brewing

Flatlands

Missouri

3.65/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-Good looking mix of Belgian and Pale Ale, slightly cloudy. Nice bubbles on the top and the bubbles lace the glass.
S-Earthy smell, not my favorite but OK
T-Better then the smell, good hoppy bitterness but muted by the Belgium yeast. It like the hops start to kick in but then fall off. Think of it as an IPA that is less "edgy."
M-Clean, long lasting, just right.
O-New Belgium does a solid job of making consistently good brews. I flew with one of their sales reps and he comped me a free beer so I try and pick up a 6 pack from time to time. This is a solid beer for pizza to make every bite of a good pie, a great experience.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 21:41:54 | More by Flatlands

ZachKelly

Virginia

3.65/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle poured into a standard pint.

Belgo has a nice pale golden color I didn't get much of a head, maybe because of my pour, but what head was there dissipated quickly. It does leave a nice lacing as you drink it. Darker than most pale ales. has a good hoppy smell, it foretells of the hoppy taste you are about to get. The flavor is good, strong. you can easily tell what you are drinking as the flavors hit you right as they hit your tongue. it has a good, smooth feel as you drink it which is nice for a pale.

I was half expecting the standard IPA flavor and smells, but this was a pleasant surprise and change of pace. I might actually like it better than New Belgium's Ranger IPA. It doesn't linger as long, thought it does have a nice kick to it at 7% ABV. Good beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 02:42:01 | More by ZachKelly

gratefuld

Indiana

3.68/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Nice yellow amber color, but a minimal head. I expected more...overall though, clean refreshing looking beer.
S: You can definitely smell the belgian yeasts in this one. You cannot really smell any hops in this one, but I really really like how this one smells. (I think the taste is deceiving given the smell!)
T: You can definitely taste the hops in this beer. Initially I thought this overpowered the belgian style of the beer, but after a few more sips, the combination of the hops and the belgian yeast. The more I drink this the more I like it.
M: Crisp clean mouthfeel. Dry Finish

O: One of the first New Belgium beers I have like in awhile. Initially I did not like the beer, but I think my expectations were skewed given how much I like Flying Dogs Raging Bitch. Overall I think this is a pretty good beer, that I'm glad I bought. I'll definitely have another one of these....I bought a six pack!

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 22:48:12 | More by gratefuld

lancecenter

Texas

3.68/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - Light amber color, fairly cloudy, moderate amount of head, good retention, excellent lacing.

S - Phenols, esters, and pepper nicely balances the piney hops.

T - Piney hops with a bit of a sweet Belgian undertone.

M - The least impressive part of this brew. Maybe too much carbonation and too watery of a finish.

O - Very drinkable beer. I think I'll have another!

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 04:49:21 | More by lancecenter

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

BB April 22, 2013

Beer is golden in colour with a large white head. Dissipates at a relatively slow pace leaving a bunch of sticky lacing.

Hops and Belgian yeast are immediately noticeable in the nose. Very floral, a bit soapy and a bit of citrus. Light fruit scents are strong, along with lots of sugar. A very very sweet smelling beer, to the point where it smells a little bit like fruit-flavoured candy. However, with this reservation, generally a very nice smelling beer.

Rather similar to an pale wheat ale. Huge bubblegum flavour with surrounding bitterness, especially at the end. The sweet bubblegum flavour and the bitterness do not mingle very well but remain remarkably distinct from one another and are not complimentary. The beer has a soapy flavour to it, and some grapefruit flavour is present. Some spice and other fruit flavours are there as well.

Moderate to high carbonation, good for the style. Medium bodied. Dries out the mouth quite a bit, and feels a bit sticky.

Overall, this beer has some good qualities, but the taste is only average for a Belgian IPA. It is not nearly in the same league as gems such as Lupulus or Duvel Triple Hop. The Belgian and IPA aspects are not well integrated but seem to be in conflict with one another.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 02:21:08 | More by jrenihan

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Two plus fingers worth fluffy light airy slightly off-white colored head... Excellent retention... Loaded throughout with swirling moderate to rapid paced carbonation that rises in random patterns... The color is a lemony golden yellow with an ever so faint glow and a slight red hue... Lots of sticky lacing clings to the glass... This a a very nice looking offering and spot on for the style...

S - Lemon zest... Grassy notes... A slight piney hop presence... White pepper... Simple... A bit understated...

T - A mirror image of the nose presents itself... Lots of lemon... Some faint grassy notes... A subtle sharp hoppiness that is a mix of euro and piney hops... A faint spiciness is present on the finish...

M - Light to medium bodied... Brisk prickly carbonation... Slightly lush... Very crisp... Clean... A bit sharp...

D - A solid American interpretation of the style... Absolutely stellar appearance... The nose and flavor are solid, but a bit understated... The mouthfeel is a bit too sharp... Overall is a solidly above average Belgian IPA...

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 02:00:18 | More by philbe311

aval89

Arizona

3.68/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a: gorgeous golden orange with huge tight head of 3 fingers. leaves nice lacing. clear body. (into NB globe)

s: lemon peel with some grassy, herbal notes. a bit spicy and bready as well.

t: upfront is an herbal flavor, then you get hit with some lemon zest. the yeast esters come in a lot mid palate. leaves a grassy, resiny taste on the palate. simple but well made.

mf: prickly carbonation gives it a Belgian feel. medium body. semi-dry finish.

o: i really enjoyed this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 08:47:29 | More by aval89

depechemode1983

Texas

3.7/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - Pours out clear medium gold in color. Carbonation is very noticeable. Head is off-white, and there is plenty of it. Seeing tons of sticky lacing. Excellent.

S - Smells like bitter sweet grapefruits with undertones of lemongrass. Also getting pineapple and a pepper spiciness. Sweet caramel can also be detected in the middle if you really dig for it.

T - A little mono tone considering the nose. Mainly bitter hops and light caramel malts with faint tropical fruits. Still getting the peppery spice. Could stand to be a little more refined. Not bad though.

M - Light bodied. Watery. Carbonation is ok. Eh. Mouthfeel could use some work.

O - Overall this is a very good beer. Smells and looks wonderful. The flavors just didn't match up well with the nose. Everything was there just a bit vague and unorganized. And lite. It makes for easy drinking though. I would buy this again.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 00:49:10 | More by depechemode1983

jayhawk73

Maryland

3.7/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a gold color with a nice one finger off white head. Excellent lacing on the side of my snifter glass. It's fairly clear in appearance. The nose is really nice- peach, pear, spice, hops- really extremely balanced, and very nice. The flavor is the same profile, but it's not as complex as the best Belgians in this style. Feel is nicely carbonated, with a very dry fruity finish. Overall, this is a solid beer, but you can find better in the style. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 17:50:15 | More by jayhawk73

nickfl

Florida

3.7/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours with one finger of bone white foam on top of a clear, medium golden body. The head settles at a moderate pace and leaves nice, thick lace on the glass.

S - A spicy yeast aroma of clove, anise, and coriander with bready malt and some pine hops in the background.

T - Spicy yeast character up front with coriander, pepper, and perhaps a hint of orange. Some pine and musty hop character in the middle fading to bready malt and more coriander in the finish.

M - Medium body, moderately high carbonation, and a dry finish.

D - A well crafted Belgian style ale, though I might be inclined to question its IPA pedigree. The hop character is lacking, both in its intensity and its American character. There are hints of pine, but most of the hop flavor gets lost in the spicy yeast notes.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 03:29:38 | More by nickfl

Hopheadjnr

3.7/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A....Hazy yellow with pure white pillowy head

S....Very nice floral aroma with a little bit of sweet citrus

T....hops forward, lots of bitter followed by a pine resin type of hoppiness. Finishing off a little sour. A bit of a sour yeast and doughy maltiness. A bit out of balance but in a pleasant way.

M....a little flat on mouthfeel. Looks more carbonated than it actually is.

O.... this is an easy drinking beer. Would be great on a hot day. Light body with a crisp feel and quick finish. I think non hop heads would like this.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 01:12:50 | More by Hopheadjnr

BerkeleyBeerMan

California

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

App: Bright lit up clear golden yellow with a substantial bubbly head that laces lightly and retains well.

Smell: Lots of Belgian yeast. The hops are subtle and don’t overpower the delicate yeast esters. I pick up hints of floral and herbal hops as well as a light spiciness. Slight citrus and pepper

Taste: Very dry and bitter. Mild spicy herbal taste with a heavy yeast backing. Lots of grain flavor like a big pilsner. Not as flavorful as I would hop. Hardly sweet at all which can be a nice alternative. Not as much character from the Belgian yeast as I would have liked. I prefer the cracked egg flavors of stone’s Belgian IPA.

Mouthfeel: Dry with a big balance of heavy bitters and grainy maltiness. Finishes quick an dry.

Overall: Decent but lacking in character. I probably wouldn’t purchase this again.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 07:05:02 | More by BerkeleyBeerMan

HosP

Indiana

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had one of these at families house for the holiday. Poured 12oz bottle into pint glass.

A- Lighter color, dull yellow, pretty clear all the way through. Foamy white head on top with good amounts of lacing.

S- Dull hop aroma up front. Piney, citrus hops mixed together. Get a hint of clove at the end. A bit of funk somewhere in there too.

T- Some hop flavors up front. Slight citrus taste to it. Quickly turns in the middle to caramel malts mixed with a little spice to it. Clove comes through in pieces. Some banana flavor towards the end. The Belgian yeast gives it a nice finish and supports the piney hop flavors at the end.

M- Medium body, close to a lighter body. Good carbonation, slightly dry.

O- Haven't had lots of Belgian IPA's before. This was a good drink, but nothing made it great. Good flavors and nicely put together. Would maybe pick up a sixer of this sometime as it was easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 17:33:17 | More by HosP

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to flexabull for this one.

A - Hazy golden amber with a thin white head.

S - Phenols, pepper, citrus and piney hops. Seems like any complexity is coming from the yeast with the hops in the background.

T - Starts fairly bitter with some citrus and pine followed by grapes, honey and some bready malts.

M - Dry with strong carbonation causing a little bite.

D - Could be really good if they toned down the bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 01:52:12 | More by brewcrew76

tlazaroff

Virginia

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On the nose, Belgo's hop aroma is a bit more prevalent than anything else. I get a nice pine resiny scent off of it backed by a yeasty note that is reminiscent of classical Belgian ales, as well as some light fruit notes like peaches and nectarines.

Aesthetically Belgo is quite a knock-out. It's light golden color is topped by a fluffy bright white head that looks like whipped cream topping on a latte. Lacing is more than generous.

Carbonation is quite low, especially for a "Belgian" style beer. Mouthfeel is smooth as silk with a medium body and a bit of a sweet finish.

Overall, this is quite a nice beer. It has qualities of Saison, but defiantly is more reminiscent of an IPA. I like it a lot as a whole experience - super drinkable too.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 00:47:24 | More by tlazaroff

whatthehull

California

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tulip

A - golden/copper, hardly any head but very bright white and a tiny bit of lacing

S - Super bright sweet malts, really nice sweet Belgian yeast, floral/fruity hops, candy sugar, woodsy/pine, baking spices and terrior

T - Pine, sweet/toasty malts, sugar, awesome Belgian yeast, flowers, very fruity, spices, wood, foliage and terrior

M - Medium minus body, well balanced, decent complexity, medium minus acidity and a very long sweet yet bittersweet finish

D/O - one of the more refreshing beers I have had. VERY easy to drink, great amount of flavors and balanced in those flavors. If you love craft beer or are a novice, this one you and most people will like. The bitter sweet balance is almost perfect

Final thoughts - Only $7-8 a sixer, nice 7% abv and just all around awesome. Once again another New Belgium beer that has the notes of fat tire in it. I really think all of them do

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 02:54:03 | More by whatthehull

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Acquired from brewerburgundy courtesy of BA Secret Santa 2011, so a big “Thank You” goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light gold color, with a large white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains floral hops, Belgian yeast, caramelized malts and some citrus.

T: The taste starts out with a strong bitter hops flavor that is followed by a Belgian yeast breadiness. Then some very mild sweetness comes in from flavors of citrus and bananas. The malt character is hearty but not too heavy and provides some balance. The after-taste is slightly bitter.

M: Crisp and a little smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, it’s a solid beer but there are others in the style that I would pick first.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 17:44:04 | More by TheManiacalOne

gpogo

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Clear golden body with tiny little particles floating around. Huge fluffy white head, very sticky and left a nice lacing. Light on the bubbles.

A- Instantly hit with some bitterness. Grapefruit, coriander, and a belgian yeast spiciness.

T- Nice bitterness straight away with a mild sweetness. Herbal hop flavors with a light coriander taste. I wish there was a bit more to the malty flavor, the hop astringency prevents that.

M- Medium body, smooth and spicy. Light to moderate carbonation.

D- Enjoyable. Got it in a mix pack. There are better Belgian IPAs, but for the price it's rather tasty.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 21:11:14 | More by gpogo

diamondc

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Superb .. huge head, excellent lacing, half way thru there's still thin cap of foam. Surprisingly filtered.

S: Grapefruit and grassy hops hit hard. Bubblegum and clove round out the end. Great.

T: Lemony, tropical fruits, lots of citrus-y bittering hop flavor, mostly grapefruit pith and some subtle pineapple in the mix. The Belgian part gets lost in the flavor, though.

M: Hides the ABV well, not heavy at all.

O: If I just pretend the Belgian part of the beer didn't exist, then this would be a great IPA. Falls short of other Belgian IPA's I've tasted, but this one makes much economical sense ($7.99 a six pack).

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2011 06:22:45 | More by diamondc

Amalak

New York

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The color is wheat, a slight haziness to it, some bubbly white head and small bubbles. Leaves a little lacing. Strong wheat scent.

This has a tart taste to it. There's some wheatyness to it. A slight bitter bite. True to the name, it has a bitter hop taste mixed with a Belgium wheat. Solid, and well made.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 22:45:48 | More by Amalak

Bockrules

New Mexico

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

poured from the bottle into a tulip glass

A - Pours a hazy golden apricot with flecks of yeast floating around. A few bubbles rise to the creamy, off-white head. Head stays intact all the way down the glass and leaves behind a beautiful, thick web of lacing.

S - Tons of coriander and orange great the nose upon opening the bottle with cascade hops and yeast playing supporting roles. Once in the glass, green-apple smelling yeast takes over.

T - Yeast and dry hops upfront. The body is dominated by flavors reminiscent of a dry-hopped American IPA, but with dry yeast edge and sour/tart green apple. Strong yeast as the beer passes over the back of the tongue leads to a dry, crab apple finish as the belgian yeast mingles with the american hops.

M - Relatively light bodied (about like a tripel) with moderate amounts of carbonation. Could be an iota thicker to help balance out the hop notes.

This is another classic example where to things that I like by themselves aren't incredible when combined. I love both belgian triples and American IPA's, but this, although interesting, doesn't really do it for me. Although a gorgeous beer packed with flavors, the notes don't really seem to gel and the stupidly acidic and tart crab apple finish really only motivates me to take another sip to get that flavor out of my mouth for a bit. This significantly degrades what is otherwise a pretty sold beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 05:57:43 | More by Bockrules

beagle75

Iowa

3.78/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tulip glass.

A: Very clear, light amber color with one finger of white foam that diminishes to a persistent pad of foam. Heavy lacing remains on the glass and a few streams of bubbles make relaxed progress upward in the column.

S: Very spicy, featuring black pepper, cloves, and allspice, that adds a crispness while dominating faint malt and herbaceous hop contributions.

T: Begins off-dry, with bright fruit and fermented grain that is refined on the palate. Moderate acidity adds energy without detracting from other flavors. Peppery phenolics kick in after a few beats and carry through to the middle where slightly smoky caramel also resides. Hop aromatics are selfless in their contributions of floral and herbaceous notes that do not challenge the Belgian yeast characteristics for dominance. The finish is moderately bitter but otherwise relatively vacant of flavors. It cleans up in too orderly a fashion for a beer whose Belgian qualities were so dominant early on.

M: Thin to medium viscosity, fairly wet on the palate showing minor stickiness and alcohol warmth late, with moderate carbonation.

D/O: While it is unclear whether or not this beer's core is the same as their Ranger IPA, New Belgium has managed to produce a worthy American-brewed contribution to the style. Its flavor profile is structured around concise yeast phenolics that face little competition from hop aromatics. It is a stylistic crossover of sorts, appearing as much like a Belgian pale ale as a Belgian IPA. It will satisfy the Belgian beer enthusiast more than the West Coast-hopped Stone Cali-Belgique, but that other beer manages to remain more true to the IPA label.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2011 00:53:27 | More by beagle75

HalfFull

California

3.78/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Standard 12 oz. New Belgium branded bottle poured into, of all things, a New Belgium globe glass. Pours a golden orange with a touch of haze and with a full inch of white foam.

Aroma is a nice blend of Belgian yeast and spicy Noble hops. Intriguing yet not overwhelming from one side or the other.

Taste is sweet up front and a bit void in the middle, though warming does challenge that perspective. Offers a unique orange character throughout the palate. Finish is floral and spicy yet not very bitter. Slightly coarse in nature, and bready, this beer finishes with a peppery clove flavor. More Belgo. than IPA yet pleasant and never abrasive. As I struggle to grasp the wide range of brews that fall into this style, I think I like this one. Hoppy yet not overly bitter and in balance with a malt character that is well accentuated by the yeast esters. More subtle and delicate than a certain Raging Bitch I know...

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 05:16:54 | More by HalfFull

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

clear golden yellow pour with about 2" of creamy white head, tons of sticky lacing. smells of orange peel, coriander, soap/detergent, pine. bitter earth flavor up front followed by a bitter sweet orange peel taste. a little too bitter with the hops to be able to determine the other flavors.. has a slight zest to it. light to medium bodied.. watery at first but then gets creamy and coats your tongue with a heavier body.. nicely carbonated creates a subtle fizz on the roof of your mouth. overall a nice thirst quencher, has a dry bitter finish. feels like it should be a session beer but at 7% abv, i would be careful!

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 06:27:42 | More by facundoCNB

vickersspitfire

Texas

3.78/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a snifter, it has an awesome body to it, slightly cloudy, plenty of carbonation, light lacing and a slight burnt orange hue to it all topped off with a nice white fluffy and creamy head that lasts quite a while. The hops are very present in the aroma, there a fruity aromas mixed in as well. I can pick up some grape fruit, apple, a slight grape aroma, and it’s got a fairly clean smell to it. Its light to medium bodied, the hops are quite flavorful but not over powering. It has some slightly bitter flavors mixed in with some apple and orange, overall its sweet with a semi-harsh aftertaste that has a hint of alcohol. It goes down pretty smooth, this is another good beer from the New Belgium Brewing people…

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 21:22:45 | More by vickersspitfire