No, “Super IPA” is not a new style in the ever-expanding book of India Pale Ale derivations. The name of New Belgium‘s latest Lips of Faith series collaboration is “in the vein of super heroism,” wrote Alpine Beer Co., New Belgium’s partner-in-crime in the brewing of this beer.
Why super heroism? Alpine, whose annual production is approximately 1,500 barrels and whose beer rarely ventures outside of San Diego, explained that it brewed “a [d]ouble IPA almost equal in volume to our annual production. It will be 9% abv[,] and we used an incredible 2 tons of four different hop varieties just in the dryhopping.”
The resulting beer pours an opaque, dark gold with a thin, cloud-white head. As the nostrils come within the vicinity of the opening of the glass, there’s no turning back from an aroma of juicy, fruity hops. Notes of pineapple, grapefruit and a hint of citrus—you’ll definitely get your recommended daily dosage of lupulin with this beer.
Flavors of mango, apple and more grapefruit are no surprise as Columbus, Amarillo and Centennial shine. Super IPA showcases its final hop variety of Simcoe in the finish with a hint of pine followed by a tinge of heat in the back of the throat. The beer isn’t cloying, but at 9 percent ABV, it briefly coats the mouth before disappearing and pining for more.
Alpine and New Belgium each brewed a version of Super IPA together at their respective breweries in California and Colorado, and each brew is available in their respective distribution areas in 22-oz. bottles.
Other than the beer itself, the real heros will be those that share these bottles with friends. “Alpine might be small, but their brewing chops are mighty… Consider yourself a hero for getting an Alpine beer outside of San Diego,” New Belgium stamped on their bottles.
