New Belgium Side Trip Review

Name: New Belgium Side Trip
Style: Belgian Pale Ale
ABV: 6%
IBUs: 22

Now we're looking at the other beer that New Belgium just released a couple weeks back alongside their Citradelic IPA and that is their Side Trip Belgian Pale Ale. Apparently the idea for this beer was conceived last year at New Belgium's retreat to............Belgium!!

You see, like Fat Tire, this marks the second beer from the brewery that was inspired by a trip to Belgiam. However, unlike this beer, Fat Tire was inspired by a bike ride while this beer was inspired by the brewmaster making "Side Trips" to find a good yeast strain to use. Well since we have this beer in front of us, he obviously found something.

Appearance - Fairly clear bright yellow color with a high amount of visible carbonation. The head has a good amount of foam to it and the lacing left behind is quite abundant.

Aroma - Belgian yeasts and candied caramel malts, with some notes of cloves and mild floral hoppiness. I'm also picking up on some bubblegum, bready biscuits, and banana notes in here too.

Taste - Fairly similar to the aroma. In the front you've got that Belgian yeast and candied caramel malt sweetness, followed by some clove and mild floral hoppiness in the middle. Towards the back you get some bready biscuits followed by some mild bubblegum and banana notes. The aftertaste is surprisingly dry save for a mild clove kick.

I would've like to see something more than just cloves in the aftertaste, but it's a very minor complaint in the grand scheme of things. What we've got here is an excellent Belgian Pale Ale and having this makes me wish that more breweries would release their own rendition of a Belgian Pale Ale. Bearing in mind too that Belgians are not exactly in high demand, I will happily drink this for the time being.

New Belgium Side Trip - 8.5/10