New Belgium is celebrating its 20th year of business this June, and in honor of that they've released 3 new beers and updated some others! As many of you know, New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado, is one of the premier craft breweries in the country. Sold in 26 states around the country (and soon you'll be able to find their tasty beers in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C.) has set a standard for craft brewing but also for organizational integrity and environmentally sustainable operations. New Belgium is a truly unique company, and in celebrating 20 years of success they're bringing back an old favorite, and a couple new ones!

     Abbey Grand Cru - A strong bold beer based on their hallmark Abbey Ale (a traditional Belgian abbey ale and the first beer the company made wholesale) with a punch. The Grand Cru is a 9.5% ABV beer with the same malt/hop profile as the traditional Abbey. The first time I had this beer was in their "Liquid Center" at the brewery, and I was instantly a fan. It reminds me of the those incredibly rich European ales that needs to be enjoyed in an outdoor cafe off a cobblestoned lined canal.

    Super Cru - This is a brand new beer that is coming out in June, the Grand Cru on steroids. (Apple flavored steroids!) The Super Cru is a 10.5% ABV, what I like to call a "one-and-done", and maintains the same basic profile as the Abbey Grand Cru with a couple of exceptions. For one, the Super Cru contains esters of asian apple which give the beer a particular tart finish. Not to mention that with the taste comes smile-inducing, eyelid-drooping buzz.

    Both the Abbey Grand Cru and Super Cru are part of New Belgium's specialty Lips of Faith series. New Belgium releases limited batch beers in their Lip of Faith series that don't generally get the distribution, might be slightly more spendy per bottle, but are generally worth both the money and the time to find them. (I've found three locations that routinely carry Lip of Faith beers in Omaha and visit regularly.) Another honorable mention for the Lips of Faith that's brewing as I write this post is the Belgo IPA, which is in my top three New Belgium brews. The Belgo is similar to their Ranger IPA in terms of its extreme hop profile, but the malt is kicked up a notch as it is double brewed (and nearly twice as strong) with a much sweeter finish. On a side note, this beer is almost impossible to find since they make it on such a limited scale, so when I find it, I buy as much as I think I can drink before it goes skunky.

    The last beer in celebration of their 20th anniversary is the new Summer Seasonal; Somersault Ale. This ale is light, totally drinkable, and at 5.2% ABV will keep you in your chair for several more. The lightness, with apricots for spice and a slightly bitter finish gives the ale a vaguely lager-like taste, which just improves its drinkability.

    On a related note, I've noticed New Belgium rolling out more 12-packs. Ranger IPA, their seasonal Somersault, and Abbey have all joined their traditional 12'er offerings of Fat Tire, Sunshine Wheat, and Folly Packs (a mixed 12'er of four different kinds of beers.)

    Locate your nearest New Belgium retailer or drinking establishment and help New Belgium celebrate 20 years of brewing great beer!

Photo from snowrev.com