New Belgium Brewing – Ft. Collins, Colorado
Rampant IPA
BREW OF THE MONTH: MAY
With supplies of spring’s seasonal brews dwindling, I’ve decided to suggest a spring-ish beer that is not only brewed year-round, but also offers a level of hop bitterness that exceeds anything else I have recommended: Rampant IPA, brewed by New Belgium Brewing.
As an Imperial IPA, Rampant is not one of those flavorful, springtime camping IPAs with lots of citrus and tropical fruit. Rampant offers hints of that, but it is brewed to be bitter and boozy, and that is exactly what it is. It is not the most extreme version of the style, but it is a good value for the style.
Pour into a tulip or oversized wine glass. The beer is clear with a light copper color. Two fingers of dense, eggshell-colored head will leave a rocky cap, a webwork of foam along the glass and will eventually settle to a skim and bubbly ring around the edge for the rest of the pint. The smell offers a balance between floral hops, citrus and tropical fruit. Pine is prominent at first, but is tempered by grapefruit, orange, apple, tangerine and mango as the beer warms. As the beer becomes warmer, it offers a sticky-sweet aroma that is tinged with citrus, mango and perhaps peach. Though it may just be the pine resin, I think there is a touch of catty pungency.
The flavor offers a bold bitterness that slowly works on the taste buds and does not reach its peak until the aftertaste. Though not completely masked, the alcohol keeps a low profile. The flavors are pretty tame: mostly floral hops and pine, with sharp lemon zest. Hints of grapefruit and mango peek through, but the beer needs to warm considerably before they are noticeable. After that point, the bitterness is countered by pale malts and a light, candy caramel flavor.
- Serving temperature: 50ºF or a little warmer
- Alcohol content: 8.5 percent ABV
- Food Pairings: BeerAdvocate recommends barbecue; peppery, sharp and pungent cheeses; and grilled meat.
- Where to buy: Rampant is available at most area beer retailers.
- Price: $9 per six-pack
Casey Wagner lives in Iowa City.
