Review – FOCO from New Belgium & Odells

Collaboration review day continues with this New Belgium branded release with Odell Brewing. Their partner in FOrt COllins brewing crime.

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The Prairie Dog labeled beer pours a darker shade of orange. And is pretty hoppy for a purportedly pale ale. The aroma is a strong medicinal with some woody notes to it. The taste is also strong but not in the muddled way that the Stone collaboration was.

There is quite a bit if bitterness here. Citra seems more background to this Centennial bomb which I would prefer a more even mix of for maximum efficiency. But the lighter hand and pale ale category does allow the hops to shine more.

And it may be one of the only ways to get even a partial Odell’s fix in Los Angeles.

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Brewery Tour – Fort Collins stop # 1 – Odell’s

I made my first trek to Fort Collins this year. It was brutal. Shuttled by New Belgium with beer on the bus to their brewery. But I did miss out on the rest of the scene in this Colorado beer city. So this month, we will travel together to some breweries that I have not visited, yet.

First up is Odell Brewing Company…..

I have had their 90 Shilling Ale and their recent Woodcut offering (#6) but there are quite a few more beers of theirs that I want to try. So let’s get to my list….

St. Lupulin
“A mystical legend echoes in our brewhouse – that of St. Lupulin (loop-you-lin) the archetypal hophead. He devoted endless summers to endless rows of hops, tending to the flowers and the beloved resin within – lupulin. Extraordinary oils in this yellow resin provide this dry-hopped extra pale ale with an undeniably pleasing floral aroma and clean, crisp finish.”

Shenanigans
“Our spirited brewers diligently cultivate recipes on our pilot brewing playground. Sometimes, things don’t turn out as planned…they turn out better. Destined for another adventure, this delightful crimson ale is aged in oak with just a touch of Brettanomyces. The subtle Brett tartness balances the rich amber malt with hints of dried fruit and light citrus. Our ode to the happy accident, Shenanigans was just too good not to share.”

This is family started business that counts sustainability and philanthropy among their core beliefs. That is three mission statements (when you count the beer) that I can believe in.

Footprint

Just when I think the craft beer world can’t come up with any more new ideas, someone comes along with another great one.

Odell’s of Colorado has used an ingredient from each of the states it sells in to create Footprint. Puts all the states and ingredients on the label too. And the sub-name is region-ale. Brilliant.

Odell Myrcenary

“Named for Myrcene, a component of essential oils in the hop flower, Myrcenary Double IPA is our tribute to those who revere the illustrious hop, and their unyielding exploit to craft hop forward beers. Brewed with a blend of hops containing the highest levels of Myrcene, this double IPA prevails with a tropical fruit-like flavor, a pungent floral aroma, and a clean getaway.”

I have recently had a couple of Odell’s beers. Both were good but didn’t blow me away, maybe this is the beer that changes that.

Saboteur from Odell

What do you get when you create a brown ale then dose it with Brett yeast. You get this…
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I like this type of experimentation. Maybe it will bring back people to simple, satisfying ales like the brown or amber.