I have to admit I am in love with the Lips of Faith series. I love the concept and I love the bottles. This is the fourth Lips of Faith beer I have tried from New Belgium (the first being La Folie 2013, the second was Transatlantique Kriek, and the third La Terrior). I have been excited to sample this beer ever since I bought it.
I did not know what Yuzu was prior to holding this bottle in my hand. My sister-in-law thought that Yuzu was only an incense scent. I thought it was just a cool name for a beer. Low and behold, it is an actual thing. Color me enlightened.
Strap on your learning hat, it’s time to learn about Yuzu!
Other than being a really cool word, the Yuzu fruit is an Asian citrus plant that is found in China, Korea, Tibet and Japan. When looking at a Yuzu, you may think it looks a bit like a miniature grapefruit. That is probably because it does. I could also hear an argument for a yellow orange. The Yuzu fruit is used in plenty of Asian cuisine, but because of it’s very tart nature, the rind is the usual suspect. The juice is normally sweetened and made into a syrup before it is used in culinary products. The flavor itself is orange-y with a hint of that strong bitter flavor of a white grapefruit.
When I cracked the bottle open, the earthy peel scent was already teeming. This worried me a little, since I am hesitant on lemon flavored anything. Especially in beers. I have had too many “lemon” flavored whosiewhats that just end up tasting like lemon bathroom cleaner. I poured four glasses for me and my zombie buddies and we all enjoyed our first Yuzu brewed beer.
The Yuzu poured a very cloudy golden hay color and had minimal head with big, full bubbles. The smell of the Yuzu peel was strong and acidic, but not in an offensive way. It was very light and smooth in the mouth with a really even taste throughout the tongue. The blending done on this beer was superb. Nothing stood out over anything else. It was just very well balanced. You got that bright lemon-grapefruit pop of the Yuzu right away, and then it mellowed out into a very familiar orange zest flavor. I believe that since this beer was brewed with Lactobacillus and Breattanomyces this lets it live in the world of sour beers. New Belgium has qualified it as a Berliner Weisse – and it has all the classic beer qualities of a good Weisse as well. I would certainly buy this one again and keep it around for those long Minnesota winters when the Yuzu’s citrusy flavors will remind me that eventually this harsh cold will end and the beaches will be open once more. What can I say? I have a flare for the dramatic.
Beer: Yuzu
Style: Berliner Weisse
Brewery: New Belgium Brewery - Lips of Faith
ABV: 8%
Served from: Bomber
Rating: 4/5 - I will certainly pick up another!
I did not know what Yuzu was prior to holding this bottle in my hand. My sister-in-law thought that Yuzu was only an incense scent. I thought it was just a cool name for a beer. Low and behold, it is an actual thing. Color me enlightened.
Strap on your learning hat, it’s time to learn about Yuzu!
Other than being a really cool word, the Yuzu fruit is an Asian citrus plant that is found in China, Korea, Tibet and Japan. When looking at a Yuzu, you may think it looks a bit like a miniature grapefruit. That is probably because it does. I could also hear an argument for a yellow orange. The Yuzu fruit is used in plenty of Asian cuisine, but because of it’s very tart nature, the rind is the usual suspect. The juice is normally sweetened and made into a syrup before it is used in culinary products. The flavor itself is orange-y with a hint of that strong bitter flavor of a white grapefruit.
When I cracked the bottle open, the earthy peel scent was already teeming. This worried me a little, since I am hesitant on lemon flavored anything. Especially in beers. I have had too many “lemon” flavored whosiewhats that just end up tasting like lemon bathroom cleaner. I poured four glasses for me and my zombie buddies and we all enjoyed our first Yuzu brewed beer.
The Yuzu poured a very cloudy golden hay color and had minimal head with big, full bubbles. The smell of the Yuzu peel was strong and acidic, but not in an offensive way. It was very light and smooth in the mouth with a really even taste throughout the tongue. The blending done on this beer was superb. Nothing stood out over anything else. It was just very well balanced. You got that bright lemon-grapefruit pop of the Yuzu right away, and then it mellowed out into a very familiar orange zest flavor. I believe that since this beer was brewed with Lactobacillus and Breattanomyces this lets it live in the world of sour beers. New Belgium has qualified it as a Berliner Weisse – and it has all the classic beer qualities of a good Weisse as well. I would certainly buy this one again and keep it around for those long Minnesota winters when the Yuzu’s citrusy flavors will remind me that eventually this harsh cold will end and the beaches will be open once more. What can I say? I have a flare for the dramatic.
Beer: Yuzu
Style: Berliner Weisse
Brewery: New Belgium Brewery - Lips of Faith
ABV: 8%
Served from: Bomber
Rating: 4/5 - I will certainly pick up another!
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