It isn’t brewed in Belgium, but it tastes almost like it was
Colorado’s New Belgium Brewery continues to win fans around the nation, both for its business model and the generally good quality of its products. The company is best known for its flagship brew, Fat Tire Amber, but it has many other beer products and New Belgium continues to expand the lineup each year. One that I have tried and liked is New Belgium Abbey Ale, a Belgian dubbel brew.
Beer Bio:
Style: Belgian Dubbel Ale
Alcohol Level: 7 percent by volume
Calories: 200 per 12 oz. serving
Carbs: 18 grams per 12 oz. serving
Looking at the basics, New Belgium Abbey Ale is amber in color and a moderate pour results in a steady head of foam, with legs left on the sides of your glass as you consume. The nose on this beer is one of malty caramel, spice, fermented fruit, and a touch of cocoa. The flavor of this beer is complex, with many taste sensations vying for attention. Toffee and caramel malts are present, balanced by the flavors of clove, spice, banana, non- citrus fruits like prunes, and floral hops. The beer finishes with an acidic, alcoholic zing.
Belgian- style beers are considered among the best in the world, so it is always a welcome event when a brewery creates a Belgian- style beer. Many craft- breweries have attempted to brew Belgain beer, with mixed levels of success. Fortunately, New Belgium Abbey Ale is a very good attempt by New Belgium Brewing to create an authentic Belgian beer. It offers a medium body and a good deal of complexity that will make it a hit with beer drinkers everywhere.
Like I said, this is a complex brew and the taste you will notice right away is that of malted caramel malt and banana. This banana- bread flavor sticks with you as you consume. Yes, there are certainly other flavors present and they combine and balance themselves quite nicely. But the taste of banana bread is the one you will notice most strongly. The spicy/fruity character is also interesting, with flavors like prune, figs, clove, and yeast competing for attention.
New Belgium makes some good beer and this, New Belgium Abbey Ale, is one of several that I have found to my liking. It isn’t as awesome as the very best Belgian dubbel, but it is still quite good and certainly worthy of a sampling.
Rating: 8 Cheers out of 10
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