New Belgium’s new fall seasonal Red Hoptober surfaces in Memphis
The hunt is over. New Belgium’s new fall seasonal beer, Red Hoptober Ale, is arriving in Memphis this week.
FuzzyBrew got a sneak peek at this beer, and it’s a really different offering from Colorado’s New Belgium Brewing Company.
This is no Octoberfest beer. Dry-hopped with El Dorado and Centennial hops, and brewed with Target, Nugget and Cascade, Red Hoptober is piny and floral on the nose.
And while there’s a noticeable hop bitterness when you first sip it (Red Hoptober is packed with 60 IBUs), the malts quickly make themselves known.
I tasted coffee and baker’s chocolate, along with sweet caramel. Red Hoptober is brewed with a pale malt base, and has Caramel 80 and roasted barley for specialty malts.
Medium in body, the beer is deep garnet color and is close to an American-style Red Ale, though it doesn’t fit neatly into a particular style category.
At 6% ABV, you’ll find Red Hoptober in Memphis area-grocery stores over the next couple of months. Red Hoptober replaces the Hoptober Golden Ale as New Belgium’s fall seasonal beer.
I found it at the Kroger at Poplar/Highland about two weeks ago. Told the boyfriend about so he went and bought a couple six-packs. Then, of course, when I was there again last Tuesday, all gone. I suggest whenever someone finds it in store… stock up cause it’s bound to go quickly!
1So what do you think of it?
2I’m a fan of hoppy beers, but I like it better than Hoptober for the sole fact that it has that roasted nut-coffee flavor.
3