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Ahh, 1985. Let’s see if New Belgium can make the past and/or future hazy.
‘85 pours a well hazed yellow color with hints of orange. That aroma is big. Just opened a can of sliced pineapple big. Super juicy. The beer itself is pretty soft and fluffy. There is a streak of solid bitterness that I like as well as some berry notes. Leaning towards strawberry. But it is the pineapple that sticks all the way through.
Of the VooDoo’s, this is my favorite.
New Belgium sent me a nice little box with two of their new beers in them. One I was jazzed to get a free bottle of and the other, I was on the fence about.
Let’s get to it…
Sour Saison
Getting Concord grape. Dry. Some vinous notes too. Wheat in the background pops up as well. Not particularly sour. More a 50% tart than anything. That tart fades quickly. Some barnyard funk hiding in the background.
VooDoo Ranger Atomic Pumpkin
Cinnamon bursts out when you pop the cap. Plenty of habanero heat to go with the large dose of spice. Could feel it on my upper lip. Falls into both the spice and purée camp for me. Beautiful brilliant orange color. Pumpkin comes in strong at the end. Liked it better than I thought I would.
The Sour Saison is the understated one of the pair and the Atomic Pumpkin is a blast of flavor. Where you land on the subtlety to agressive scale will decide which you like best. I go for the Sour Saison.
…towards Mandarina hops in the latest VooDoo Release from New Belgium…
Here is the description from the brewery, “Juicy Mandarina IPA, an unfiltered wheat IPA. It bursts with citrus and juicy tropical flavors and features German Mandarina Bavaria and Australian Galaxy hops. Juicy Mandarina IPA pours a hazy orange and comes in at 6.5% ABV.”
The first three beers under this banner were quite nice, with bright notes to them so I will certainly look for this new one.