668 Neighbor Of The Beast
New England Brewing Co.

668 Neighbor Of The Beast668 Neighbor Of The Beast
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From:
New England Brewing Co.
 
Connecticut, United States
Style:
Belgian Pale Strong Ale
Ranked #52
ABV:
7.8%
Score:
89
Ranked #12,506
Avg:
3.96 | pDev: 9.85%
Reviews:
231
Ratings:
933
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 01, 2023
Added:
May 29, 2010
Wants:
  100
Gots:
  183
The La Chouffe Belgian yeast used in this brew leaves your taste buds wondering what's up. A "gateway beer" that is a fine first step into Belgian brews, The Neighbor Of The Beast is a fruity, banana-tinged, spicy little number that is full-flavored without being overwhelming... and it is oddly a great pairing with caramel-covered popcorn. Yeah! We know! Right? Go figure.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Gambrinus1184:
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Reviewed by Gambrinus1184 from Connecticut

4.15/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served on-tap at New England Brewing Co in Woodbridge, Conn.

A: Hazy, golden copper-yellow with a one-finger head of creamy white foam which hung around for some, time, leaving a nice sheet of lace on the glass.

S: Loads of tropical fruits and earthy, herbal hop aromas mixed with a tinge of phenol alcohol. The scent of pears, apples, mangoes, pineapple and grapefruit are picked up along with with herbal, white pepper and musky hop aromas.

T: Semisweet, fruity, candied malt up front with a bit of chilled haze, protein and yeast to chomp through. Afterward, a complex bouquet of tropical fruits, citrus, floral bitterness, toasted grains and candied, sugary spices leap onto the palate and wash away a bitter, fruity, mineral finish.

M: Medium to full bodied American-style Belgian pale ale with plenty of full, citrus and spicy flavors up front with the right amount of demure quaffability.

D: Sort of a sipper at 9% ABV, 668 drinks light and satisfying enough where it would be a problem from the uninitiated who don't recognize ABV. A tasty, fruity, floral and complex "near-summer" beer to quench the masses.
Mar 26, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.83 by ctbeerman1 from Connecticut

Sep 01, 2023
Photo of ovaltine
Reviewed by ovaltine from Indiana

4.17/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a slightly unfiltered golden color with a foamy white that lingers and provides a nice cap on the beer. The nose has that spicy phenol note that I really enjoy in the style, with a bit of clove and the slightest smidge of banana.

The taste is really focused on that spicy phenol flavor, especially as the beer warms, and there’s more clove and banana on the taste than on the nose, providing a very flavorful and balanced beer.

The mouthfeel is a little softer than expected, but this is still a beer I’d gladly revisit. Really enjoying this.
Aug 20, 2023
 
Rated: 4.46 by Tom_Hartlett from California

Apr 22, 2023
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Reviewed by woemad from Washington

3.68/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12oz can courtesy of Roguer. Canned on September 22, per the stamp on the bottom of the can. "G'Doyle Rules!" is also stamped there. I do not know what that means.

Poured into my Precious Things teku, this was a fairly cloudy dark apricot shade of amber, with a good sized beige colored head. Lots of lace. It's a bit dark for the style, but it's got that classic Belgian golden ale head.

Nose can be best described as smelling like what I might imagine a Belgian iced tea would smell like. There's definitely some spicy Belgian yeast notes, but the dominant nasal player is the tea-like aroma, with a mustiness in the background. Notably absent are the predicted banana notes.

Taste is...odd. It's not bad, it's not great, it's not what I expected at all, either from the description or the aroma. It is both spicy and tea-like, with a bit of herbal hop flavor,but there's an odd though not unpleasant sweetness as well.

Somewhat light bodied, but, despite the big, creamy, long lasting head, it somehow seems a little heavy for the style.

I love the name of this beer, and it's not unpleasant to drink, but it's definitely odd for the style. I'm not sure this could be a regular for me if it were local. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna bust out some Maiden.
Dec 01, 2022
Photo of beergoot
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado

4.16/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Rich, peach colored body; semi-cloudy; thick, white head, creamy and rocky. Wonderful aroma; pear and green apple; candi sugar sweetness. Heavy, sweet taste; earthy esters at play; excellent phenol spiciness; bold bitterness throughout; big alcohol presence though tamed with the sweetness. Heavy body; coarse and sticky; bold residual sugar presence; mild boozy dryness.

This is a great Belgian style ale, rich and boozy with some outstanding ester and phenol interaction.

Pouring temperature: 44 °F; canning info: O'DOYLE RULES! 09/22/21
May 22, 2022
Photo of DoctorZombies
Reviewed by DoctorZombies from Florida

4.03/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours deep gold with excellent clarity; one finger of creamy white head with some rocks; good cap retention; heavy ring; soapy lace. Nose is clove, star anise and strong estery bananas. Taste follows nose; clove is strong but supported by sweet Belgian Candi. Medium body, moderate carbonation; no warmth from 7.8%abv. Tastes like style, but the spicy clove/coriander notes are a bit strong for me; not as balanced as Duvel, but the taste can give the Devil a run for it’s money.
Mar 10, 2022
Photo of thebeers
Reviewed by thebeers from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a hazed golden-bronze with three fingers of yellowed head. Not nearly as rocky as Duvel, but at least in a foamy camp that leaves thick lacing.

Banana, lemon and clove in the nose. Maybe a hint of biscuit-like malt underneath.

Less banana, more green apple and lemon, in the taste. Hint of bubblegum. Not strictly woody, but definitely some twiggy character, which I attribute more to the yeast than any barrel.

Medium bodied with soft carbonation.

Definitely one of the better American takes on the style. Very enjoyable.
Jan 17, 2022
 
Rated: 3.59 by Jsalz21 from New Jersey

Sep 30, 2021
 
Rated: 4.02 by cdub70085 from Connecticut

Aug 19, 2021
 
Rated: 3.97 by mamaraza from Texas

Jun 28, 2021
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Reviewed by Amendm from Rhode Island

3.94/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
An easy pour from a 12-oz. can released a fat finger of creamy off-white foam with very long retention and thick blotches of lacing. Very hazy, can't read through it but I can see my fingers. Golden straw color with a hint of orange.

Rising yeasty bread dough, cracker and baked fruit greet the nose, faint herbal hops in the background.

Semi-sweet with mild bitterness, crackery malt is in front of a medley of fruits; apple, orange, banana, pear peach, and honey dew melon, all with a cooked taste. Alcohol is noticeable in the taste, hidden during the smell. Big yeast presents provides that Belgian taste. The finish is fast and clean with the alcohol bite and bitterness rising to above average.

Medium-light body with plenty of carbonation, smooth minus the alcohol bite. Meets style guidelines head on. Big flavor with big alcohol, a little chewy towards the finish. Hops are faint yet bitterness sneaks up on you.

FROM THE WINDOW TO THE WALL 10/16/20
Nov 07, 2020
 
Rated: 3.5 by McSeal from Connecticut

Aug 01, 2020
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Reviewed by colts9016 from Idaho

4.27/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I have not drunk many Belgium Pale Ales. Purchasing these beers here that are moderately fresh often poses a challenge for me. The beer is a few months old but has a higher alcohol content. The beer is 50 degrees and served in a tulip glass. The pour of the beer produced a two-finger rocky and billowy head. The head is bright white. The head of beer dissipated quickly, leaving little behind on the glass. The color is medium amber with straw yellow hues. The clarity of the beer is transparent, with a few yeast cells floating happily within. The beer follows the guidelines for the appearance.

The aromas in the beer are bananas, spicy phenols, cloves, crackers, toasted malts, orange, a tinge of caramel, and a slight nuttiness.

The flavors in the beer are peppery phenols, orange, fruity esters, cloves, banana, toasted malts, light caramel, a nuttiness, and biscuity.

The mouthfeel of the beer is smooth with a slight alcohol warming.

The body of the beer is medium, medium-carbonation, and a full finish.

Surprisingly, this beer is well balanced, and the flavors fit this style perfectly. The beer is smooth with a pleasant balance. I was amazed by this beer. The beer needs a slightly higher rating on this website.
Dec 15, 2019
 
Rated: 3.94 by M4CDO from Massachusetts

May 21, 2019
 
Rated: 3.87 by oberon from North Carolina

May 10, 2019
 
Rated: 4.35 by Jstarr2517 from Connecticut

Apr 20, 2019
 
Rated: 4.14 by Magnapinna from Connecticut

Mar 26, 2019
 
Rated: 4.29 by AElfwine_Nerevar from Connecticut

Nov 19, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by ljbonadonna92 from Maryland

Feb 09, 2018
668 Neighbor Of The Beast from New England Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 933 ratings