It's always pleasant when you discover a new brewing company that makes beer you really like. It's even better when that brewing company has a "Lips of Faith" series because let's be honest, that's a pretty awesome name. Enter New Belgium Brewing, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, and a rock band that's called Clutch. I have never heard of them before. As a matter of fact, I'm listening to them as I write this and honestly, I'm not sure what to think. It's different. I'll have to listen to more. It's a little intense, but that's okay, because the beer is too.
Anyway, here's a description of the beer from New Belgium's website:"It started as chance, a sandwich shop encounter between a band and a fan. It ended as the Clutch Collaboration. This pleasing, two-part potion was brewed with chocolate and black malts for a rich and roasty overtone, then fused with a dry, substratum of sour for a bold and audacious flavor. Black as night, this beer is blended at 80% stout, 20% dark sour wood beer for a collaboration that begins with a sour edge and finishes with a big, dark malt character, lingering, sweet on your palate."
Yes, you read that right. This is a dark sour ale that has chocolate and coffee malts. This is a sour ale on crack. This 9% brew is surprisingly easy to drink, and it will probably go down fast (it did for me). So be careful, or this beer will have you in its clutches... hah hah get it? Okay never mind...
Color: Really, really dark mocha / brown color, with possible hints of a dark red or mahogany. It is very dark, indeed "black as night," but because of the lighting I did see some hints of reddish-brown. This pours with a thick off white head that starts off quite large but disappears rather quickly. As you can see, I've used the Stone glasses again, but I think they go very well with this beer, as it's definitely not fizzy or yellow.
Aroma: Think sour + chocolate. I know that doesn't sound like the best smell in the world, but believe me, it works. The beer smells pretty damn good. There's also a coffee aroma that starts off slight at first, but then once it really gets into your nose, it smells like a strong dark coffee. So really it's sour + chocolate + black coffee. Basically everything you need for a midnight brew with an edge.
First Sip: Interesting. Verryyy interesting. I tasted the coffee flavor first and foremost, with some hints of chocolate in the background. There's also a nice warming sensation (thank you 9% ABV!). There's not too much sour taste at first--it's like your taste buds get hit with the coffee and chocolate and can't pay attention to anything else.
Mouthfeel: However, once I start drinking more of the beer, more sour taste comes through. There's also more of a coffee taste. The chocolatey-ness of the beer is more slight and subtle. As I sift through the flavors, there are more sour notes that come through, and the coffee and chocolate start blending together into a more mocha flavor (rather than separate tastes). It's not a heavy beer, but still full of flavor. There's a little sweetness, but not much.
Aftertaste: I'm left with a mostly coffee taste, and some chocolate. The beer continues to warm my throat even after it's gone.
So if you want a sour beer with bite then go for this one.
Upcoming in the next week (hopefully) I will have a review for Samuel Adams Third Voyage IPA and one for Cisco Brewing's Tripel, from their Island Reserve Series. Then after that, it all becomes a huge muddle of Dogfish Head, Stone, and Jack's Abby. So stay tuned!
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