New Belgium Lips of Faith - Grand Cru Abbey Ale

Brewed by New Belgium Brewing Company
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Fort Collins, Colorado USA

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip

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UPDATED: JUN 4, 2011 Bottle (2011). Head is initially average sized, frothy, off-white, mostly diminishing. Body is light to medium brown. Aroma is lightly to moderately malty (caramel, nuts), lightly hoppy (flowers), with notes of gum/banana, clove, and brown sugar. Flavor is heavily sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly to moderately bitter. Medium to full body, watery/syrupy texture, lively carbonation, moderately alcoholic. Oddly enough, it’s like the regular Abbey only toned down quite a bit in the nose. Which seems backwards, but it’s true and helps the aroma score a bit since it’s not such a ridiculous gum/banana/sugar-bomb. Bit more spicy as well. Simple and mild nose, but ok. Very sweet in the mouth, not much to say. Boring but acceptable.

In short: An very good classic example of the Abbey Dubbel style. That simple
How: Bottle 22oz. Consumed when around 6 to 8 months of age. Bottle from either tyler_mm… or maybe oakbluff… one of those two losers
The look: Mostly clear dark copper body topped by a persistent small beige head
In long: Nose has a nice roastiness (roasted almonds) and fruity yeasty esters. Taste has delicious creamy mixture of toasted malts in fluffy yeast, roasted almonds, soft cashews, fruity notes of red and darker fruits, juicy hops resin, very nice pillowy monthfeel with a lot of soft bubbles. Nourishing. Not too sweet. To me this bottles was a rare example of an American brewery nailing this elusive Abbey Dubbel style just right down to the mouthfeel. Another beer I acquired in a trade, and don’t think that trading and rating beers is all I’m capable of, because I’m actually pretty handy when you need to repaint your apartment and you need someone to come over to sit there quietly and drink your beers while you repaint your apartment.

Sample at O-town throwdown ’09 Growler. Pours copper with beige head. Aroma malty/caramel with candi sugar, fruity (peach/apricot). and yeast. Taste, candi sugar, Belgian yeast.A fine dubbel.

Pours a dark brown/ruby color, not hazy at all. Nice head which stays until the end with lacing that sticks to the side to keep you company throughout the drink. The aroma is lightly fruity with a yeast front and a malty background. The fig/plum aroma in this one reminds me alot of a well rounded quadrupel. This finishes a little more acidic and with more of an alcohol kick than I'm used to in the style, but overall this was a great beer with all the belgian qualities that I strive to find in a beer. Way to go NB, now you just need work on your other beers.

Tap at Uber. The aroma is very estery with some spice, dark fruits, must. A touch of alcohol. Amber pour with a super thin head and some very light lacing. Flavors of raisin, caramel, spice, yeasty notes. A little bit of alcohol. The body seems soft, and the carbonation is light. I thought this might have been a little too boozy for me.

Copper hue with small tight head and good lacing. Medium-bodied. Carmel, grapefruit, pine, pear, vanilla, and a hint of pepper in the aroma. Ripe fruit taste with an balance of tartness, very nice. Warming but not overpowering. This beer has been blessed. Wonderful.

Draft at Uber. Wow, what a shocking disappointment. It’s not like this beer has had an unbearable run-up of recent hype; it’s been well-known as a good beer for a long time, but not with an annoying drone of marketing-inspired buzz around it. But this keg was just so banal. Pours a deep mahogany brown with garnet highlights and a thin, brief, slightly moussy tannish head. Big nose of red apples, brown apples, and alcohol. Creamy medium body with very soft carb. Alcohol comes right out at you. Red apples, brown apples, and a bit of sherry follow. Sticky, sherry-like finish. Something not so good happened here. What a shame.

GABF 2008. Lovely deep copper orange. Big aromas of caramalized banana and clove. Silky estery palate of cooked dark fruits, banana, and spices. Sweet, but not too sweet. Full bodied. Very nice.

Medium copper color, large creamy head. Very rich malt taste. Very full rich flavor, expansive and fruity. Mouthfeel is very round, full and smooth. Good hop balance. Re-fermented in the bottle with Belgian yeasts, there is a near vinous like quality to this beer. Reminiscent of a Belgian Red. Very complex flavor, somewhat thick. High Alcohol? Finish is very smooth. Aftertaste is malty and sweet.

On tap at Hamiltons. Dark brown with a creamy tan head. Sweet fruity aroma. Sweet caramel and citrus hops taste with a dry finish.