Lips Of Faith - Biere De Garde - New Belgium Brewing

superspak

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 ounce bottle into signature globe glass, bottled on 10/3/2012. Pours lightly cloudy golden amber color with a 1 finger fairly dense white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass, with some moderate streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of pear, apple, grape, orange peel, honey, bread, herbal, clove, pepper, light bubblegum, light funk, and yeast earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/spicy esters with malt notes. Taste of pear, apple, grape, orange peel, herbal, honey, bread, clove, pepper, light bubblegum, light funk, and yeast earthiness. Slight earthy tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of light fruits, orange peel, honey, bread, herbal, clove, pepper, light bubblegum, light funk, and earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice complexity of fruity/spicy ester flavors with good malt balance; and no cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium body; with a moderately slick and lightly crisp mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a small warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very nice Biere de Garde style. Good balance and complexity of fruity, spicy, and malt flavors; and quite smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 04:10:55 | More by superspak

Kenzie

Utah

3.61/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

I highly enjoyed this beer. The appearance had a honey golden hue, slightly cloudy. The use of orange peel was not overpowering but utilized perfectly. The taste was crisp with a clean finish but had some creamy tones as well. This is more of a light and perfect for summer beer and I would definitely have it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 17:23:03 | More by Kenzie

Bowers-Brew

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A - Nice pale amber color. Thought from the style it would be cloudier.

S - Smell of orange peel is faint.

T - Sweet notes up front are followed nicely by sour/tart notes. You can taste the orange peel at the very end before the alcohol taste kicks in. Finish is a little strong for only 9% ABV.

M - Somewhat thin feeling when sitting on the tongue but more malt may not go well with the flavor profile.

O - Not my favorite Lips of Faith beer, but still worth a try if you like Belgian style ales.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 21:56:45 | More by Bowers-Brew

estlinska

Arkansas

3.2/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Served on tap into a 12oz pilsner-style glass at Vino's on 4/18/13. Pours a pale straw color with a lot of chill haze that clears a bit as the beer warms a tad. The head was very thin and the lacing was minimal (not unexpected from the style). The nose was very delicate and not very active overall. There was the faint smells of spicy and grassy smells with a touch of clove on the nose; maybe some peppercorn burn to the nose as well. There was some bready sweet malt there as well. The taste was pretty much the same. There was some spicy hops flavor to it, but it was more leaning toward the floral side. There was some definite taste of some orange pekoe tea to the brew. The beer finished very, very dry and the alcohol was very present with a strong burn; seemed a little out of place. Overall, a rather average brew for the Lips of Faith series.

Serving type: on-tap

04-19-2013 22:54:47 | More by estlinska

Rope

Illinois

3.39/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5

Served in chalice.

Appearance-
A hazy yellow.

Smell-
Not a lot of the orange I was suspecting, and it almost smells like a Hofbrau lager.

Taste-
Very demure taste for an ale, bready, and a wisp of orange peel at the end.

Mouthfeel-
Well carbonated, a slight sweet linger.

Overall-
Certainly not bad, but nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 04:54:28 | More by Rope

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.51/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The collaborative efforts of New Belgium and Brewery Vivant converge to pull the declining Biere de Garde style out of extinction. The often lager-inspired farmhouse-style ale is largely misunderstood and under-represented even in France and the low lands of Belgium. But these Belgian-influenced brewers capture the taste with authenticity and grace.

Deep straw abd honey-gold in color, the ale exhibits a mild yeasty haze that diffuses its transparity. As it builds a short statured, short lived head, its character is somewhat fizzy and it recedes into a translucent sheet of foam. Intricate lacing provides much more aesthetic value than its foam stance suggested.

Heady aromas of bread dough, yeast extract and a grainy-sweet back allow for an overall scent of baking breads, musty grain, and freshly bailed hay. But its the overtones of zesty orange peel that steals the show, even as the scent of light butter, cork, and cellar-like must keeps the earthy malt scents complex.

Its dense pilsner malt taste reminds me of how close that barley comes to making enriched baking bread- its doughy-sweet, tangy, and earthy taste is raw and starchy. Balanced with medium acidity, the ale takes on cidery taste before diving head on into the bold orange peel additions. Buttery taste fuses with light honey and grain for a finish that's earthen with dusty wood, cumin, and white pepper.

Its smooth, medium body takes off with an oily-sweet film of citrus-infused olive oil. The buttery slickness allows the malt sweetness to linger deep into finish, where alcohol warmth, semi-dryness, and racy carbonation balances against the malt and oil.

The beer really captures all of the taste of traditional Biere de Garde, however its brevity of alcohol, brash orange peel use, and lack of full dryness keeps the beer simplified and less characterful than those from the French farmlands. This is one of those styles that have a soft spot in my heart and I root for them, regardless of the brewers behind the scenes.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 05:41:27 | More by BEERchitect

ElCommodoro

Texas

4.11/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Good, solid, flavourful beer. What was odd about it was trying to decide whether it was refreshing or not. All of the flavours were very fresh and refreshing, so were very delicious, but the beer itself was yeasty to the point of frothiness in a very unrefreshing way. So, despite all those fresh citrus and hop flavours that were nonetheless delicious, I would have to find new scenarios in which to drink this because normally I only drink beers with those flavours in the summer when it's hot. This, I would never want to drink if it were hot. It would be cloyingly frothy and unsatisfying. This is definitely a late-night beer, but with a zesty, summery taste. An interesting meeting of worlds. Give it a try if you're in the mood for something new and interesting.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 04:16:31 | More by ElCommodoro

TBoneJones

Texas

2.95/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Funny enough this looks like the Midas Touch beer I sampled the other night (surely the only similarity, just saying). Golden yellow body with a white finger of a head that all but settles to nothing.
Smells unique to me. Peaches, pear, citrusy. Tart to the nose for sure, but also a sourness i dont care for.
Upon taste I'm greeted with the orange tart but it's the other rustic grainy notes that my pallet's not quite agreeing with. Musty, biscuity, tangy, lemon-grassy but on the bland side.
The more i sipped this i realized that im not liking is the lemongrass taste which i believe is a result of the orange rind playing its role. Harsh. If that flavoring took more of a backseat it seems this would be easier to drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 01:42:47 | More by TBoneJones

UCLABrewN84

California

3.55/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Boneyard Bistro in Sherman Oaks, CA.

Pours a hazy yellow with a foamy tan head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, spices, floral notes, and alcohol. Taste is much the same with a slightly tart flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice and floral bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is drinkable but has a better smell in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

02-22-2013 17:01:10 | More by UCLABrewN84

Mitchster

Michigan

2.95/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

$8.59 for a 22oz bottle @ BevCo. Brewed with Pale, Munich, C-120 malts and orange peel. Hopped with Target and Sorachi Ace.
9% ABV, 18 IBU's, 235 kcal/12oz.

Pours out to a sparklingly clear medium golden with peach accents, forming a tall meringue white head with excellent retention and beautiful lacing owing in part to it's brisk carbonation, ~3.5 carbs. The nose is grassy, yeasty, lemony with floral hops and mild orange peel. As it warms, it gets quite boozy in the nose. The mouthfeel is full bodied, lightly tart, boozy, with firm carbonation and a very dry finish. The taste is a recap of the aroma...grainy malt, grassy hops, fruity yeast esters, a touch of barnyard funk, perceptible alcohol that is a little harsh at first and then gets more harsh as it warms. Dry lemon pepper/lemon vodka finish. Cardboard aftertaste, mild fusels.

Not really digging this one. Flawed. I can't recommend it although I will finish the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 00:01:08 | More by Mitchster

rangerred

Tennessee

3.9/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Had on tap.

Appearance is a clear light gold with a one finger white head.

Aroma is quite citrusy with lots of pears and apples. Some light bready malt as well. There is a little bit of Earthyness but it is well restrained.

The taste is very fruity again with pear and apple being dominant. There is a very juicy quality this beer that is delicious. Some earth and wood along with a light bitterness leading to a slightly sweet finish. Mouthfeel is a bit of the heavy side, though, limiting drinkabililty.

Overall, a pretty good beer from New Belgium but far from spectacular. I would order it again, though, if I came across it.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2013 20:58:46 | More by rangerred

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.61/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Bottle from Champane's Cellars. Light coloured body with lasting off-white head. Mild orange peel and yeast aroma. The taste is a blend of the spices I normally get in a biere de garde, with the taste of orange peel out and above everything else. Decently drinkable. Booze definately in the taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 01:55:06 | More by northyorksammy

BeerManDan

California

4.14/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

When poured, the color was a clear golden yellow with a little white foam and very little lace. But, the smell of sweet citrus and spice filled the nose with a plesant aroma of all the wonder smells. The taste was of orange and lemon citrus, along with a hint on spices that I cannot say what! Great finish on the aftertaste and palate. Not acidic or bitter. I will say that the colder this ale, the better the taste and flavor and balance. When it started to warm up, the flavor had a dull acidic finish. So, drink while cold!

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 00:00:14 | More by BeerManDan

kylehay2004

Florida

3.46/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: no head really with some scattered lacing on a clear bright light golden body.

S: musty grains and wheat, yeast, orange but not sweet orange

T: earthy and herbal hops, yeast, musty grains, hint of Chardonnay, bitter grape, green apple.

M: light to medium body and moderate to high carbonation.

Overall: a little boring and bland. I wanted a little more sweetness from this one. Unfortunately the lips of faith series has again disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 03:03:41 | More by kylehay2004

nickfl

Florida

3.83/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours with one finger of white foam on top of a clear, golden body. The head settles rapidly and leaves decent lace.

S - Clove, pear, pineapple, and thick malt.

T - Lots of malt up front with pepper and clove in the middle. Finishes with more dense, bready malt and fruit.

M - Medium thick body, moderately high carbonation, and a somewhat sweet finish.

D - Not bad, but not especially good either. The alcohol is a touch hot in the finish and it could use a bit of hop flavor to balance things out.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 03:01:18 | More by nickfl

homebrew311

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy orange with a bone white layer of pillowy head. Quite a bit of lacing left behind. Nose is full of bright orange citrus, candied apricot, notes of white grape, grapeskin, clove among other spicy notes. The taste is extremely fruity with an emphasis on citrus. Light waves of tartness play along with plenty of fruity sweetness. The sorachi ace hops fit in perfectly and provides a slight bitterness. Mouthfeel is highly carbonated with light body. Overall, a nice refreshing brew with plenty of character. Abv is very well hidden.

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2013 04:39:56 | More by homebrew311

ClementiPizzeria

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thank you New Belgium for ending my 2012 with a bang. I brought in 15 gallons of this beautiful french style Biere De Garde and it was the fastest pouring draft of the year.

We served this beer on draft in the 16oz NB glasses.

The dark 24karate golden-hue was especially wonderful to observe during the holidays.
My only criticism of this beer was the aroma. It definitely did not have a distasteful scent its was just.... barely there.

The beautiful sour taste upfront was dreamy. The French know their beverages. The Vivant + New Belgium Tag team on this beer was worthy of awarding it a title fight. The medium bodied fruity flavor was deliciously topped with a stupendous amount of hops. I would put this in my top 5 for 2012 on flavor alone.

The texture was evident in its smooth finish that left a wonderful bitter after taste.

I've only gone through 10 gallons. I'm saving the last 5 to tap this upcoming June. I can't wait to pair this brew with the fresh fried blue-gill special I will be serving come May.

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2013 03:19:33 | More by ClementiPizzeria

phishsihq

Colorado

3.44/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

The brew pours golden with half an inch of white head sitting atop it with a decent amount of lace. Sweet and earthy aromas join hints of spice, citrus, and candy sugars. A sweet and fruity start quickly fades into earthy spiciness as citrus and hints of alcohol pull the palate through the finish. Medium bodied with a lighter level of carbonation, this collaboration weighs in at a hefty 9% ABV. Another solid Lips of Faith brew.

Cheers!

Serving type: growler

01-17-2013 02:08:44 | More by phishsihq

Randroid

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Roosters all over this 22 oz printed bottle. Looking good. Beer poured a hazy golden/straw color with a nice creamy off-white head that laced as I drank.

Smell: Some funky old socks or yeast mixed in with some citrus and grass aromas. A little bit of herbs or spice in the aroma too?

First Drink: Bitter in a really pleasant way like eating strong citrus quickly followed by a very smooth (almost oily or buttery) malt and hops aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Crisp yet smooth? A very interesting sensation and not one I can easily pinpoint. A little sticky on the finish.

Last Drink: Not getting much of the high 9% ABV but I feel darn good. More citrus and herbs (floral flavors?) coming through now. Quite nice.

Drinkability: It would be a shame to drink this beer too fast yet I really want to slam it for some reason. A good collaboration between two of my favorite breweries!

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 21:55:54 | More by Randroid

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.1/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into an Allagash cervoise glass.

A: Two fingers of stark white head top a mostly clear golden ale.

S: Lemon verbena and dry yeast.

T: An interesting bière de garde with fairly herbal flavours and a flowery finish.

M: Perfect. Creamy, thick, and delicate. Lightly carbonated with a hint of fennel spice and light cirtric zest.

O: Incredibly drinkable and highly recommended. I would have again and again and again.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 10:24:27 | More by AgentMunky

flagmantho

Washington

3.68/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 22oz bomber into a tulip.

Appearance: medium golden hue with a touch of haze and a moderate effervescence. Head is a finger of frothy white foam with a nice lace on the glass. I like it.

Smell: toasty malt base with a tiny bit of funk and plenty of that orange peel coming out in the aroma. It almost smells like there's coriander in the mix as well, although the label doesn't say this. The mix of toast and coriander reminds me strongly of Froot Loops cereal. Am I wrong for liking this? I think it's playful and enticing.

Taste: toasty malt with a kind of wet sourness which isn't great. I think it's a remnant from all that orange peel. Not as lovely as the aroma, although the aftertaste has kind of a nice ring to it.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a good level of carbonation and a nice, creamy mouthfeel. I like it.

Overall: not the greatest beer in the world, flavor-wise; I think the orange just added too much acid or something. Aroma is weird but enjoyable, which saves it just a little bit. Still, I don't think I'll be going after this one again.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 16:59:30 | More by flagmantho

mastodonj

Colorado

3.98/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very light amber with ample head, slightly cloudy.
Smell is interesting and complex. I get citrus, wheat, hops, coriander (?), yeast.
Taste is bitter on the tongue, almost buttery in the mouth and that citrus comes into play.
All very low key.
Mouthfeel is as complex as the smell. Really not to be missed.

Overall, it's a beer that doesn't get old. Also it needs to be said that the warming is noticeable, more so than any winter warmer (9% doesn't seem that much higher than most warmers). Dangerously drinkable!

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 01:24:47 | More by mastodonj

Mgm54

New York

3.73/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from memory and a few notes

Serving Type - 4oz pour from the New Belguim "Ranger Sation" Brewpub in Snowmass Village

A - lighter than I would have expected, but the color well represented the cistrus taste of the Beer. It was straw yellow, similar to a Wit, but much less hazy (although not entirley clear either)

S - Citrus and yeast are the main elements of the nose, with notes of lemon along with it.

T - Again, Citrus and yeast are the predominant flavors, but there is a lemon zest to be found, likely caused by the use of the Sorachi Ace hop. The sutle but distint lemon citrus flavor in this beer give an ejoyable play of the orange. No decernable booze, which is surprising concerdering the flavor profile and that this beer is 9% ABV.

M - Average mouthfeel, quite light, although it does have some cloying effect to it.

O - enjoyable beer, I would recomend trying it once, as the Sorachi Ace is an interesting hop, and this is a good example of it.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2012 23:53:25 | More by Mgm54

vickersspitfire

Texas

4.13/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours out a light burnt copper color and is topped off with a thin white head that sticks around for a while. The aroma is very pleasant, lots a citrus( lemons and lemon zest) come through. Mild grass and wheat smells are also present. Smooth and crisp as it hits your tongue, this ale quickly warms up your mouth with cloves, grapes medium wheat and banana flavors all wrapped around a semi tart and sweet body, which by the way is light to medium. The aftertaste is a bit more sweeter and almost reminds me of a sweet-tart. The alcohol is well hidden, this a very well brewed beer and it goes down very well. This is my first Biere De Garde and I gotta say I’m a fan for life.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 22:19:19 | More by vickersspitfire

GRPunk

Michigan

4.03/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a Duvel tulip.

Birthday beer from my wife.

A- Clean, golden-blonde body shows just the slightest haze. 1-finger, off-white head falls to a light foam and leaves some awesome stick. Not much yeast, even with a swirl on the final pour.

S- Belgian funk with the crack of the cap threw me a bit. Candy sweet with some grassy hops. Apple peel. Dare I say "farmhouse" or "horse blanket?" Some cellar-like or corked quality even though I know this isn't necessarily aged or corked, especially as it warms.

T- Interesting. Belgian funkiness for sure. Almost corn-like at the beginning, then a rush of green apple. Light grainy flavors. Any citrus contributed by orange peel addition is subdued. Quite sweet throughout with a dryish finish. Any hint of higher ABV is fairly masked. Just a touch assertive. I really wavered between a 3.5 and 4.

M- Moderate-heavy carbonation. Dry.

O- Definitely on the blonde side of the Biere de Garde spectrum. Funkier than most I've had. Yeasty quality does remind me of Vivant's Farmhand and its variants. 9% ABV does make for robust flavor without any burn. I'd almost think it a Belgian strong ale if I wasn't told differently. I'd like to grab another bottle as I know my wife's Brie en croute is going to make a holiday appearance very soon. May be a good pairing.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 00:03:31 | More by GRPunk