New Belgian Porch Swing Pale

[steveh]

Lucked on a sample bottle of this brew in a trade package with Fretless - thanks again Fret!

NB calls this a "Single" Ale, and I've seen it described as a Belgian Pale Ale.

The beer poured very golden in color with a dense, white head that remained pretty thick throughout consumption.

While it changed through consumption (the beer may have been a bit cold when first poured), the initial nose was hoppy and estery - a very appetizing fruity - grapefruit to pineapple - aroma. Mix of yeast used and Cascade hops? Maybe, but very pleasing.

The initial flavor reflected the hops and esters in a very refreshing flavor, and finished with a subtle, smooth maltiness. NB doesn't reveal hops or malts used in their recipe, but I'd like to pin-point the nice malt back flavor - I'll have to look up some recipes.

Body was quite light and effervescent.

It was difficult not to drink this beer quickly (especially as it was the first beer of the evening), but I allowed it to warm some so that I could try to notice any changes. The malt character in the nose became more apparent as it warmed - slightly roasty and caramel, and there was the slightest astringency in the flavor. A quick swirl of the beer brought forth the fruity esters.

A very fine beer, I actually liked it better than the 3 Floyds' Alpha King I followed it with. I'd like to compare this side-by-side to Bell's Oberon some time, they have the same refreshing character, though different flavors.

I stated elsewhere, and will repeat: this is the beer that NB should be bottling in the big bottles in place of Flat Tire!

S.

[Kiltlifter]

Amen to that, Brother! Actually, any of their other beers would work sooooo much better in the big bottle format than the Fat Tire. I very much enjoyed the Porch Swing that I had.

[ray m]

I have tried several NBB offerings thanks to a good swap I made with Brewmonkey: Porch Swing was not one of them, but the ones I was fortunate to try were: Abbey, Tripel, 1554, & Loft. The Loft was f&%$ing awesome, and I really liked the 1554, too---would recommend those to anyone. Tried Flat Tire when I was in Wyoming over the summer.....not crazy about that one at all---it just seemed so ordinary.

[hops99]

I'm down to my last two bottles of Porch Swing - not only is it too bad that it's not available in big bottles, it's also seasonal. Pound for pound, I think NBB makes some of the best beers in the country. I love the Abbey, the 1554, Saison, and especially the Raspberry Frambozen.

Even the Fat Tire :eek: is a good clean-out-the-garage brew on a summer day - a tad biscuity and toasty.

I also think that Porch Swing, is by far, the hoppiest beer that NBB makes..

[hops99]

Oh, I almost forgot. Has anyone tried the new Transatlantique Kriek? I guess it's part belgian cherry lambic (shipped over from the Boon Brewery in Belgium - hence the name), and part NBB golden ale. I've heard it's fantastic; man, I'd love to get myt hands on some!

[chazwicke]

I would like to try it too. I have some interesting stuff to trade. Dogfish 120 Minute and Three Floyds Dreadnaught. I have lots of other stuff too.

[Beaver]

Originally posted by hops99
Oh, I almost forgot. Has anyone tried the new Transatlantique Kriek? I guess it's part belgian cherry lambic (shipped over from the Boon Brewery in Belgium - hence the name), and part NBB golden ale. I've heard it's fantastic; man, I'd love to get myt hands on some!

The Transatlantique Kriek is great! I still have two left. From what I can remember, it reminded me of their Two Cherry Ale.

[BluesHarp]

I did a google on New Belgian Brewery and turned up nothing; not even listed on Ratebeer.com...where are they and do they have a website?

[hops99]

Yes, it's www.newbelgium.com

They're out of Fort Collins, Colorado - and the furthest East they distribute is Missouri (St. Louis).

[BluesHarp]

Ah...thanks hops. I looked at the title of the thread and looked up "belgian" instead of "belgium"...it all makes sense now.

[steveh]

Harp,
If you find a place in Wisc. that's selling New Belgium's beers, please let me know. I'd love to get some more Porch Swing, and I have friends who would kill for some of their beer.

S.

[brewmonkey]

I just got my hands on some of the transatlantique.

This beer pours with a beautiful pink head and settles into the glass with a warm crimson hue. Clear all the way through, which I like as I was expecting a somewhat hazy beer. The aroma is that of sour cherries and wet hay, pleasing without being rancid. The first sip brought about a hint of the cherries and the underlying kriek from Belgium hitting the tounge in the right spots with its wonderful sour notes. Not to bitter and going down with a dry acidic finish. The second sip the cherries are gone and the flavor is reminiscent of what a lambic should be, tart, sour, that flavor that reminds you of being in a musty barn in the late fall. There is a hint of the oak that this beer was started in, it comes through almost as a vanilla on the palate but it is scrubbed away quickly. The body of this beer is probably more to the lighter side then the medium and lends support to the sourness.

This was a good beer but not a great one. Overall I was not impressed by this beer. After reading about it on the New Belgium site I was hoping for so much more. When I saw it in the store tonight I grabbed some and had to try it. I don't think I will be buying this one again and instead I am going to go pop open the Rogue Santa's Private Reserve (In a 22oz silk screened bottle no less)

[briandickens]

has anyone tried the La Folie they're selling in limited quantities? My friend picked up a bottle (champagne sized) from the brewery and brought it back for me. The catch is that I need to share it with him. So for now it's cold in the fridge. Anyone had it? What should I be looking forward to?

[Beaver]

I've sampled it there. It's very sour but nice. If you don't like sour beers, you are in for a suprise. My Dad didn't care for it at all, but I liked it.

[briandickens]

I just drank the beer tonight. It wasn't bad. Not a session beer, obviously. It was nice. Complex and dry.

Anyway, those are all the fancy words I know for describing beer. I liked it, but not something I'd either drink a lot of nor recommend to people who like Coors Light.

I'd drink it like wine. Have a bit in a glass and just take my time with it allowing it to warm up in my hand.