New Belgium – Accumulation IPA Returns With a Flurry of Hops

There’s a reason why a “flurry of hops” is the tagline for our winter seasonal Accumulation IPA (which is currently working its way out to a shelf or tap near you): When all the other breweries start releasing their malt bombs, we release a blizzard of tropical hop flavors (because, really, the market does get a bit saturated with stouts toward the end of the year). Sure, it goes against the norm, but we just can’t get enough hops, and we’re not the only ones. Take it away, rad BeerAdvocate reviewer dude:

[Midnight confession: Sierra Nevada Celebration is a fave around these parts, too] But, back to our beer…

While a hefty dose of wheat lends a smooth counter to Accumulation’s bitter bite, the real standout ingredients in the beer are the Mosaic and Amarillo hop varieties we use to dry-hop the IPA. You’re probably already familiar with those hops, mostly because they’ve become two of the most sought-after varieties in craft beer. But, just in case, let’s take a look at what they’re all about:

MOSAIC

Released: 2012

Pedigree: Daughter of Simcoe

Characteristics: Tropical fruit, citrusy, berry, and subtle pine

Featured in: Rampant Imperial IPA, Slow Ride Session IPA

AMARILLO

Released: Early 2000s

Pedigree: Privately grown and registered

Characteristics: Tropical fruit, floral, citrusy

Featured in: Le Terroir Dry-Hopped Sour Ale, Slow Ride Session IPA

Suffice to say, if you dig any of the “featured in” beers, you’re going to love what Accumulation delivers: Big, bright, juicy hop flavors with a surprisingly smooth wheat backbone to carry all of that goodness across the tongue. That being said, if you already dig Accumulation, there’s a good chance you’re gonna love those "featured in" beers, too. See how that works?

Also worth noting: Because we love to have a good time here at New Belgium, an Accumulation post would never be complete without including the video of wood cellar blender Lauren Salazar and sensory specialist Lindsay Guerdrum talking about why the white IPA is an absolute perfect match for Mexican food. Enjoy!