New Belgium Portage Porter Review

New Belgium Brewing

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Newbelgium.com

6% abv

$9.99 a six pack

Appearance: black body with a nice one finger tan head leaving some spotty lacing on the glass

Aroma: medium-light roasted coffee; light charred wood;

Flavors: medium roast coffee; toasted cocoa bean; I’ll stay with that charred wood; 65% like dark chocolate bitterness on the back; toasted and slightly burnt notes linger on the palate

Mouthfeel: medium-full body; very light fizzy feel from the carbonation; burnt and roasted notes on the palate; medium / medium-full bitterness mix with those roasted notes;

To the Point: this is a very good Porter; I really like the roasted and slightly burnt notes – they make for a nice hearty beverage; perfect for those cool nights of spring or cold winter nights that are finally gone – thank God!  I have enjoyed a couple of six packs of this Porter over the last few months.  I think this Porter will make a great beverage to use in my March Matching Tournament.  This is where I pair up a variety of different cigars with a beverage to see which one is the best match.  

Visit Cigar Postings for the March Matching 2015

New Belgium Snapshot Wheat Beer Review

New Belgium Brewing

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Newbelgium.com

5% abv

13 IBUs

Unfiltered Wheat

Appearance: hazy lemon peel body with a one finger white head that does not stay around long; leaves some lacing on the glass

Aroma: fresh wheat; light citrus zip; yeast; light spice; soft and pleasing

Flavors: the coriander stands out to me and is softened by the yeast and wheat; light tart on the finish; this would make a nice ‘sweet/tart’ candy – the sweet wheat with a light tart lemon

Mouthfeel: active carbonation; soft, refreshing; light-medium in body; light yet tart lemon peel on the back

To the Point: this will make for a nice summer beer if we ever get to summer this year; I liked it; I would buy again; I personally think the people on Beer Advocate are a little tough on this one – they gave it an 80; which would be only okay; I’ll give this beer an 85 a solid good but, not outstanding.  

New Belgium Pumpkick: Review

New Belgium Brewing

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Newbelgium.com

6% abv

Ale Brewed with Pumpkin Juice, Cranberry Juice and spices

Fall Seasonal

Appearance: shiny copper with an orange-ish tint; half-finger off-white head that did not stay around long

Aroma: hint of pumpkin pie; nice spice, cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg; I’m searching for the cranberry note – maybe my bloodhound wife can pick it up

Flavors and Mouthfeel: I pick up the tart cranberry on the palate; pumpkin pie like with nice allspice; flavors seem a little muddled; light carbonation; lightly dry;

To the Point: this is okay to good; might be a good introductory Pumpkin Ale; I’ll take the Post Road Pumpkin Ale over this one; but, I am not a big fan of Pumpkin Ales in the first place; if I was going to give this a grade I would give it a C+/B-

Heavenly Feijoa Tripel: Review

New Belgium Brewing

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Newbelgium.com

Collaboration with Dieu du Ciel

Lips of Faith Series

Brasserie Dieu du Ciel

Heavenly Feijoa Tripel

Ale Brewed with Feijoa and Hibiscus

1pt 6oz bottle

9% abv

Appearance: misty amber golden body with a one finger white head that some lacing on the glass.

Aroma: now that is unique; white wine like for sure; I don’t know what Feijoa fruit smells like but, the fruity smell is sweet yet tart; swirl of floral; very aromatic; if Faith’s lips smelled like this when I kiss her – I would be a happy man;

Flavors: Yes, flavored lipstick; very fruity – once again it must be the Feijoa fruit; tropical sweetness with a tart note on the finish; pineapple, mango, guava, white grapes, apple, peach; the tartness reminds me of a green apple and cranberry mix; there is also a touch of dusty white pepper on the finish; white wine like of the flavor as well;

Mouthfeel: sweet upfront; tart on the mid and finish; linger tart notes with a lip smacking sweetness; low carbonation with a very fine fizz to the feel; the tart feel seems to clash with the sweet fruit on the aftertaste; semi-dry on the finish; the alcohol really did not come into play;

To the Point: not everybody; first couple of sips I did not like it and my wife liked it on her first couple of sips; halfway thru – I am starting to like this and she did not like it; if I was blindfolded and tasting this I would guess it was a white wine; the only give away would be the body weight is a little heavier than a white wine; if this was a flavored lip stick – I sure would like to kiss Faith’s Lips. 

New Belgium Rampant Imperial IPA: Review

New Belgium Brewing

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Newbelgium.com

Imperial India Pale Ale

8.5% abv

1pt 6oz bottle

$4.99

Appearance: fairly clear orange body with a one finger (if that) white head that leaves lots of lacing on the glass.

Aroma: very aromatic; citrus – pink grapefruit and orange; hint of pine; touch of malts

Flavors: aromatic tropical flavors with a nice touch of herbal; grapefruit salad with a piece of pineapple and orange; some dusty malts

Mouthfeel: bitter grapefruit; pine; sweet grapefruit; fine fizzy carbonation; slight alcohol warmth on the finish; bitter tropical notes linger on the aftertaste

To the Point: a pleasing Imperial IPA; nice tasty bitter/aromatic hops; 

Hoppy Bock Lager and Surrogates Bone Crusher Cigar: Review

Hoppy Bock Lager

New Belgium Brewing

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Newbelgium.com

Hop Kitchen

Style: Maibock

1pt 6oz bottle

6.9% abv

$4.99 a bottle

Left over from spring time – I put some bottles in the cellar and they never made it the beer fridge back then.  Maibock is a spring seasonal brew.  I always joke that it the leftover Oktoberfest beer that they did not sell and they just repackage it. 

Anyways, this is not a true Maibock; it is a blend obviously.  This is what I like about the beer industry today.  The craft brewers are willing to try anything to be different. 

Appearance: golden body with a big white as snow head – easy 2 finger; good lacing – took me by surprise on the appearance – bocks are usually dark

Aroma: crisp fresh hops with a sweet malty back drop

Flavors: you get the feel for the Bock style; a little bit of toasted malts, a little nut, and then the hops kick in and you are left thinking this is not a bock beer; nice grassy hops;

Mouthfeel: a little sweet – a little bitter; semi-dry yet refreshing; smooth feel; light carbonation; pleasing to drink

To the Point: to me this is a surprise; I was not expecting myself to like this one; guess what? … I like it.  I would buy more.  I like the fresh crisp hops with that malty back drop that is on the aroma and the palate.  Don’t overthink this beer just enjoy it. 

The Cigar

Surrogates Bone Crusher

Size: 5.25 x 54

Profile: full dark roasted coffee; rich compost with toasted fall leaves; a nice full earthy style; light to moderate spice; the mid-point has a musty white peppery note; very meaty and heavy on the palate and the sinuses; somewhat bitter on the mouthfeel

The Pairing

This ended up being a good pairing.  The hops in the beer are not overly bitter so it worked with the slight bitter style of the cigar.  An IPA bomb and the Bone Crusher would kill your palate for a day or two.  The toasted malts and nuts of the ale mixed well with the earthy style of the cigar.  The grassy hops of the ale blended in with the spice and white peppery notes of the cigar. 

These two played well together.  I am sure glad I did not try this cigar at the cigar store – for water is not enough to drink with this bold cigar.  I’ll bet this cigar would be great with the right red wine.  

New Belgium Rolle Bolle: Review

New Belgium Brewery

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

newbelgium.com

Ale brewed with soursop and monkfruit

Summer Seasonal

5.5% abv

Appearance: crystal yellow with bubbles slowly rising to the top of a white one finger head.

Aroma: a nice aromatic note on the pour; light fresh fruit and a soft citrus feel

Flavors: light citrus meat, fresh apple and pear, bread, light floral feel on the back of the palate; delicate and simple overall and it was made for drinking during the summer

Mouthfeel: light citrus rind twist on the palate, lightly bitter/tart on the aftertaste, light-medium in body, good carbonation to keep it crisp

To the Point: New Belgium Company says on the bottle that it is made for playing summer games – you don’t want it much more complex than this simple style for summer fun; get the bocce balls and jart game out and let’s play.  It’s simple, refreshing, and should be just tasty enough to be enjoyed in the summer heat.  

A fly joined in on the fun;
on the left side of the cap

New Belgium 1554 Enlightened Black Ale: Review

New Belgium Brewing

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Newbelgium.com

5.6% abv

$9.99 a six pack

I had a bottle of this the other night and I found it to be … uninteresting … just like this football game I am getting ready to watch between the Bears and the Lions. 

Appearance: deep dark mahogany body with a thin tan head that leaves some sticky lacing on the glass.

Aroma: very light bouquet; light roasted malts

Flavors/mouthfeel: roasted grains, a little chocolate note in the mix, simple in style, light/moderate carbonation, fairly clean feel and finish.

To the Point: to me … not all that interesting, too simple on the nose and taste, should be good to pair with a mild or medium bodied cigar, should work with a full bodied smoke … there are no flavors in the ale that should interfere with a bold smoke and the ale should refresh the palate.  

Fat Tire Amber Ale: Review

New Belgium Brewing

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Newbelgium.com

5.2% abv

Appearance: clear amber body with a little beige head that leaves a touch of lacing on the glass.

Aroma: clean, fresh, hint of biscuit,

Flavors: lightly toasted bread, grassy hops

Mouthfeel: light, clean on the delivery, dry grassy feel on the finish,

To the Point: fairly simple in style, easy to drink, would I buy it again … probably not.   

Snow Day Winter Ale: Review

I just reviewed two Pilsner beers ... let's get something with some character.

New Belgium Brewing

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Newbelgium.com

6.2% abv

55 IBU

On the bottle, “…dark caramel roasted Midnight Wheat braced with a serious load of Styrian Goldings, Centennial and Casade hops?”

Had this beer on tap at The Oven in Caro Michigan and enjoyed it so much I almost stayed the night in the town just so I could drink another one or two.  Looking forward to having it today while, I watch my Detroit Lions.
Can they beat a bad team in the Arizona Cardinals ... I doubt it ... but, I'll watch anyways.  

Appearance: very dark brown body; hold it to the light and you’ll see some mahogany highlights; super 2 finger light tan head that has great staying power; just sheets of lacing hanging on the glass like a big old velvet curtain.

Aroma: toasted grains/malts, hint of dark fruit, touch of spice, light pine. 

Flavors: deep roasted caramel malts, profound toasted grains, and grassy bitter hops.  Not all that complex but, it sure is enjoyable. 

Mouthfeel: nice moderate bitterness from start to finish, fine fizzy carbonation, roasted notes and light-moderate bitterness linger on the aftertaste, firm body, medium-full overall,

My Strength Rating: 6.5 – the hops kick it up notch (50 IBUs); deep roasted notes

To the Point: I really enjoyed this on tap and now I wish I bought the twelve pack instead of the six pack.  I am waiting for my ‘Snow Day.’  

Side note: the Detroit Loins lost ... of course. 

My Black and Tan Hound Dog ... Annie

Rules, the Detroit Loins Suck

And she is a Judge ... see the wig

Red Hoptober Ale: Review

Fall Seasonal

New Belgium Brewing

newbelgium.com

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

6% abv

22 oz bottle

$3.99

Appearance: plain and simple to me … it looks like root beer soda – a dark caramelized body in color with a tan two finger head.  Holding it up to the light the mahogany shines through. 

Aroma: light citrusy hoppy nose with some toasted grains in the mix

Flavors: white grapefruit meat (it’s under control), toasted light rye, lightly roasted caramel, herbal? Or sea grass? From the hops on the back, 

Mouthfeel: decent carbonation; light hoppy notes tantalize the tongue; toasted grains and a light roasted caramel help to balance things out; a moderate aftertaste;

To the Point: I have only had one bottle so far but, I am willing to buy more.  It is tasty.  Exceptional … I am not ready to go there yet … “very good” sure.  Not harsh or heavy on the palate.  Worthy of a try.  Understand that it is a red amber ale with some Cetennial, Cascade and Eldorado hops.  The light-moderate bitterness with a touch of sweetness should satisfy most specialty beer drinkers palate.