New Belgium Honey Orange Tripel

New Belgium shouldn't be confused with an actual beer from Belgium. These guys are out of Colorado, and they have notably progressed up the ratings scale as time has progressed. I really enjoy a good tripel, and adding orange (or are they referring to just the color?) might make this a bit more textured than the regular version, and I like innovation.

The somewhat misty, gold beer is a lot lighter than I expected, but I don't know why I was expecting something darker. Maybe I became so accustomed to Belgian Ales that I expect anything that says it's a "Belgian-style ale" to be similarly dark. This just isn't, and there's nothing wrong with that. The white head  is sparse, and it settles to a dusting on top of the beer with a relatively thick ring around the sides. The aroma is delicious oranges and bright Belgian yeast.

First sip is very direct yeast with that very nice citrus smoothing things over and a honey sweetness tamping down the mustiness of the yeast. The result is a very smooth, grainy beverage that has the distinctness of the Belgian yeasts with the honey bringing out personality in the orange. I have to say, I quite like it.

Tip-in is musty Belgian yeast and sweet honey with a very subtle carbonation tease. The middle is a sudden lurch forward of carbonation as the orange peel scrapes the top of the mouth and the yeast becomes thick as it mixes with the honey in the center of the mouth. The finish smooths out with a curious mix of bitterness and sweetness before impressing yeast on the tongue and trailing off an orange-scented honey.

Bottom Line: Gets a little tricky in the middle, but it is solid.

3.0/5