New Belgium/Cigar City Lips of Faith Series, Ale Brewed with Anaheim and Marash Chilies. Odd that there's no name…am I not looking in the right spot? 8.5% Alc. by Vol. Brewed and bottled by New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Clear, golden hue, prodigious snowy white head. Looks good.
Aroma: Light and airy with little traces of chili peeking out. Give it time…ripening some. Unfolding a bit.
Taste: Hot at the first taste, growing wider in the mouth. Peppers keep heating up. Body is light. Malt is meager. Hops are fairly quiet. What's the deal with this one?
I'm skipping ahead to the gobbledygook, hoping it doesn't enrage me with whack-ass wordplay. "We're about to light up Florida with this Cigar City collaborative brew. Our Belgian yeast tangoes with Anaheim and Marash peppers along with loads of citrusy hops to create an ale full of spice. Aged on Spanish cedar to salute our mutual love for wood!"
Well, that wasn't totally offensive, just a little bit here and there. The light it does shine on the base beer doesn't really help. The Belgian yeast doesn't come through, nor do the hops. The pepper heat is increasing still, enough that it seems to cover the base ale to the point that I'm not tasting anything else.
If you just want to taste peppers in your ale, this might punch your buttons. As for me, I'm not thrilled with this one. C'est la vie.
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