Lips Of Faith - Fresh Hop IPA (New Belgium)
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- Written by Scads Tucci
When it comes to New Belgium's east coast invasion, this reviewer is one happy trend hopper. More than just a market push, the surge of hype behind the Fort Collins, Colo. brewer's hops is truly reflective of a bold line of bad-ass, flavor-filled brews. That means be grateful, asshole! And in the D.C. area at least, it means prices for good craft beer are increasingly competitive. I swear I've seen New Belgium sixers go for as low as $7.99. At any rate, if you paid $9.99 or more for that six-pack of Belgo, you've been chumped.
Bombers of their limited, uber-special Lips of Faith series certainly shouldn't cost much more either.
One of the latest in the series, which has included tie-ins with the band Clutch and brew collabs with other beermakers, includes the pleasingly pungent Fresh Hop. The almost luridly funky smell hits your nose straight away, followed by a swig of eminently drinkable grassy, bitter goodness. This is a pretty darn good example of the fresh-off-the-vine, or "wet hop," style of American pale ale. At 7.0 percent alcohol-by-volume, this combo of Amarillo, Centennial and Cascade hops, presumably harvest-fresh, is good to go, bro.