The Trip XVI (Farmhouse Rye Ale)
New Belgium Brewing Company

The Trip XVI (Farmhouse Rye Ale)The Trip XVI (Farmhouse Rye Ale)
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From:
New Belgium Brewing Company
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
Saison
ABV:
6.2%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.61 | pDev: 8.86%
Reviews:
10
Ratings:
34
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 18, 2017
Added:
May 22, 2013
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
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Photo of rand
Reviewed by rand from California

3.68/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
22 oz bomber to Modern Times tulip glass

I just realized I had this bottle hidden behind another in the back of my fridge - this was from my last move, around 2 years ago. Typically I'd be excited - most saisons age well, especially when kept cold. But from reading the reviews, and the description, on the bottle I'm fearing the worst here...let's see how it goes.

The brew has a classic, pale ale/Belgian blonde appearance - copper-tan, slightly opaque, and forms a big frothy head that never fully recedes. The nose is subdued, as gentle grassy notes play off honeyed biscuits and a lemon-pepper undertone.

The flavors follow, also subdued. Hints of lemon and multi-grain bread combine with gentle tones of cherry and orange peel. Phenolic, especially toward the back of the sip, which closed with a medium, slightly sweet finish.

This actually held up surprisingly well given that it was supposed to be a hopped-up farmhouse brew, and the ABV isn't all that high. Nothing cloying, nothing off the rails. If anything, it's just kind of a meh attempt at a saison - I'm not sure I'd even call it that. Maybe a rye-forward Belgium blonde or pale. In and of itself, though, categories aside, it's not a bad drinking brew.
Jul 18, 2017
 
Rated: 3.68 by wethorseblanket from California

Mar 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by GClarkage from California

Jul 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by JHB-510 from California

Mar 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by kingmaker from Louisiana

Jan 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Boozecamel from Canada (BC)

Dec 31, 2013
Photo of Jugs_McGhee
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

3/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
"Farmhouse Rye Ale" brewed with rye, amarillo, & cascade hops. Cost was $8.75 USD at a Fort Collins, CO bottle shop. "Brewed and bottled by New Belgium Brewing Seattle, Washington." Hm. 6.2% ABV confirmed. 1 pint 6 fl oz brown glass bottle with red branded pry-off pressure cap and generic uninteresting label art served into a stem-tulip/snifter hybrid glass in me parents' gaff in high altitude Castle Rock, CO. Reviewed live. Expectations are average given New Belgium's involvement.

Served cold - straight from the fridge - and allowed to warm a bit over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: No bubble show forms as it's poured.

Pours a one finger wide white colour head of decent thickness and creaminess. Retention is pretty good - about 3-4 minutes. Okay even lacing clings to the sides of the glass as the head recedes. Fluffy, but not airy. Smooth consistency.

Body colour is a nicely vibrant copper. Translucent. Semitransparent. No floating yeast particles are visible.

Overall, it's not as hazy as I'd expect a farmhouse ale to be. It's not unique or special, but I find it generally appealing. There are no egregious flaws. Far from the best appearance I've seen in the style.

Sm: Limes, sea salt, white pepper (a necessity for a world-class beer in the style), floral hop character, starches, clean barley, Belgian pale malts, and a touch of faintly spicy rye malt.

No yeast character is detectable, which is a bit concerning given it's meant to be a farmhouse ale. Certainly no brettanomyces-induced funkiness.

No alcohol presence is noticeable.

Overall, the lack of funkiness/yeast coupled with the prominent (if not dominant) starchiness isn't making my mouth water. There's also no milky character, which is something you'd find in a great saison. That said, I'm reviewing as always for what it is, not what I want it to be, and for a beer outside of farmhouse ale style conventions, it's generally appealing.

T: Salt, prominent lime, some muddled pepper, floral hop character, Belgian pale malts, heavy starchiness, and clean barley. A bit doughy, somehow without ever evoking yeast. Decently balanced, with a cohesive but not gestalt build. Average depth, duration, and intensity of flavour.

No yeast character/brettanomyces-induced funkiness comes through. I don't find any overtly noticeable alcohol.

Any rye malt is severely restrained. I don't find much in the way of Amarillo or Cascade character. I really want more spice from the flavour profile a la Fantome or Saison Dupont. I do get a bit of clove. Even the pepper - the hallmark note of a great beer in the style - is underwhelming.

Lacks complexity, subtlety, nuance, and intricacy. I do like it in a general sense.

Mf: Smooth and creamy, but it does have a starchy dryness. Okay presence on the palate. It does dry out the mouth a bit. Unrefreshing. Decent thickness and body. A bit overcarbonated.

Not oily, astringent, harsh, gushed, hot, or boozy.

Suits the flavour profile generally well. I wouldn't say the texture feels custom-tailored to the taste by any stretch.

Dr: A drinkable farmhouse ale which is enjoyable but largely forgettable. The starchy notes and doughiness aren't great here, especially given the lack of yeasty character. I wouldn't want another, nor would I recommend it to friends or trade partners. It's not worth the $9-ish pricetag (but obviously that doesn't affect my rating). New Belgium has been churning out many bomber beers in their Lips of Faith series which are mediocre, but generally worth a shot given their reasonable price point; this is less forgivable. I'll easily kill this bottle alone, but the bottom line is it's an unremarkable attempt at a farmhouse ale which ultimately falls far short of the mark - especially considering the vastly superior farmhouse ales available at or below this price point. (See Prairie Artisan Ales for an American example.)

Not worth aging.

Drinks fine from a tulip.

High C
Dec 18, 2013
Photo of maximum12
Reviewed by maximum12 from Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Extra large thanks to rawfish for bludgeoning me into submission during out inaugural trade, & this bottle was one of the load of extras. Love the idea: Road Trip Series. Never even heard of them before. 22 oz. bottle split with my wife.

The pour is clear orange until the bottom third of the bottle, at which point the beer becomes roughly 27% occluded. Aroma is mild; bit of spiciness that's an interesting mash-up of rye & farmhouse - the style, not my grandpa's old prairie wood-frame. Touch of sweetness. Distinct but not very strong.

Trip XVI - Farmhouse Rye Ale brings a sharp steel shank with it. The rye spiciness rakes the palate aggressively, giving me a brief rye high that has me shedding layers in the middle of Minnesota winter. Big yeastiness follows the slash of rye, & it plays off the rye like a Bach concerto. Underneath this ballet are other tastes that are muted: cloves, graininess, sugary sweetness. Drinking this like it's water from the fountain of youth...trickling from the breasts of Asia Carrera.

Complex, unique, lovely, this is a wonderful surprise. I've only a had a few farmhouse/rye hybrids, but the combo seems to work together superbly. This is an excellent beer.
Dec 05, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by MikeMilanoDesign from California

Nov 27, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by westcoastbeerlvr from California

Nov 17, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by vermilcj from Ohio

Nov 07, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by sloelco from California

Nov 04, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by BWH999 from California

Oct 22, 2013
Photo of UCLABrewN84
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California

3.47/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle I brought to share at Tieman's tasting.

Pours a hazy orange with a foamy beige head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. No lacing on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, floral, spice, and yeast aromas. Taste is much the same with grain and spice flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of yeast bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is quite earthy in both the aroma and flavor.
Oct 13, 2013
Photo of BirdsandHops
Reviewed by BirdsandHops from Oregon

3.8/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A: Pours a slightly hazy gold with two fingers of white head that fades a nice cap with good lacing.

S: Sweet Belgian candy sugar and spices up front with a little bit of barnyard funk and sweet citrus and bread.

T: Belgian spices and candy sugar here as well followed by sweet breads and a little barnyard funk. The finish is dry, slightly bitter, and musty.

M: Medium-light body with medium carbonation, this beer is light and drinkable, though could be a bit more crisp.

O: A pretty enjoyable beer overall. I'd like a bit more hop presence, but it's still tasty and drinkable.
Oct 11, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by CelticAleMan from California

Sep 08, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Halcyondays from California

Sep 05, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by jlisuk from California

Aug 29, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by lsummers from California

Aug 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Mayday14 from California

Aug 19, 2013
The Trip XVI (Farmhouse Rye Ale) from New Belgium Brewing Company
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 34 ratings