Review: Somersault, New Belgium

Somersault

New Belgium Brewing Co. — Fort Collins, CO

Stats:

• Style:  Blonde Ale
• Bitterness:  28 IBU
• ABV:  5.2%
• Malts:   Pale, Caramel, Oats
• Hops:  Centennial
• Specialty Ingredients:  Ginger and Apricots
• Sampled:  12 oz. bottle
• Calories:  130 per 12 oz.
• Price:  $6.99 six-pack at grocery store.

Description: "Somersault Ale was designed to be a fun roll around on the tongue while requiring only the minimum of palate gymnastics. In other words, this perfect summer lounge around beer is ridiculously fun and easy to drink. Even though the second Somersault goes down as effortlessly the first, our brewer Grady actually has quite a few remarkable notes at play in the nose, flavor and mouthfeel. There is an opening brace of citrus aroma from Centennial hops, a soft apricot fruitiness tucked into the flavor, a fresh snap from a sliver of ginger root, finished with oats in a long cool mash. Color is blonde with a suggestion of cloudiness. Somersaults all around!" — New Belgium Brewing Co.

Random thoughts: This is the third beer I’m tasting as part of my series on summer seasonal brews.

The tasting:  Golden yellow, clear, with a white head that dissipated quickly. Aroma of bready malt, alcohol, and a touch of apricot (I’m not sure I would of noticed it had I not read the description).  The flavor mirrors the aroma as the bready malt, alcohol, and light apricot all are present.  The alcohol was noticeable and I didn’t notice the ginger, which is probably a good thing. I made a homebrew with ginger last fall and learned that a little goes a long way.  Somersault is light bodied, lightly carbonated, and has a thin, flat mouth feel. It finished with mild citrus hop bitterness and cereal malt.

Rating: 3 star.  Good. I would drink this again if someone gives it to me. I liked the apricot in Somersault and would have enjoyed it more if they cranked up the fruit flavor a notch. My biggest issue was the flat mouth feel. I thought the oats would have given it a smooth, silky texture.

Have you tried Somersault or any other New Belgium beers?

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