New Belgium Metamorph Collaboration IPA WIth Fir Tips

New Belgium Metamorph Collaboration IPA

New Belgium is getting together with two interesting brewing partners for a new West Coast-style IPA, and this one has a little more story behind it than your typical collaboration release. Meet New Belgium Metamorph, a three-way collaboration with Cloudburst Brewing and Old Growth Brewing that brings together three breweries connected by Seattle and a shared appreciation for West Coast-style beer.

The new New Belgium Metamorph collaboration IPA will be brewed with fir tips, giving this release an ingredient that immediately separates it from the crowded field of standard American IPAs. The beer is listed at 7% ABV and will arrive in 12-ounce cans, with colorful artwork that is certainly not going to get lost on a crowded beer shelf. The label identifies the beer as a West Coast-Style India Pale Ale brewed with Fir Tips, so there is no guessing about the intended direction here.

This is a three-brewery project. New Belgium Brewing, based in Fort Collins, Colorado, with its additional brewing operation in Asheville, North Carolina, is joining Cloudburst Brewing and Old Growth Brewing for a release that celebrates a Seattle connection between the people behind these breweries. According to the label, the story began in Seattle, Washington, where three brewers became lifelong friends, and the collaboration grew from those relationships.

I like that angle. Beer collaborations are everywhere now, and sometimes the story behind them can feel like an afterthought, but New Belgium Metamorph actually has a specific connection that gives the release some personality. Three brewers, a shared history in Seattle and a beer that brings those relationships together in a can. That’s a pretty good starting point.

The fir tips are probably the detail that will get the most attention from craft beer drinkers. Fir tips are the young growth found on fir trees, and they have been used by brewers and other food producers to bring distinctive evergreen, resinous and sometimes citrus-like impressions into a recipe. Depending on the species, harvest timing and how the tips are handled, the flavor can vary, but the general idea is to bring a fresh, outdoorsy character to the beer without relying entirely on conventional hop additions.

That could work particularly well in a West Coast-style IPA. Traditional West Coast IPAs are known for their assertive hop character, cleaner fermentation profiles, firm bitterness and a relatively dry finish. Pine, citrus, grapefruit, herbal notes and resinous flavors have all been part of the style’s identity, so fir tips are an interesting ingredient choice that fits the general direction without simply repeating the usual recipe.

Of course, fir tips are not a replacement for hops, and the label does not tell us exactly how the brewers are using them. They may contribute an aromatic layer, a more noticeable evergreen character or something more subtle that works alongside the hop bill. We will need an actual tasting before making any firm claims about the finished flavor.

At 7% ABV, New Belgium Metamorph lands in a comfortable range for a full-strength West Coast-style IPA. It has enough alcohol to support a substantial hop-forward recipe without pushing into the double IPA category, and the 12-ounce can format makes sense for a specialty collaboration that is likely to attract attention from fans of independent breweries and classic American IPA brewing.

The artwork deserves a mention, too. The label features a large, colorful butterfly surrounded by bright botanical details, with New Belgium branding on both sides and the Cloudburst Brewing and Old Growth Brewing logos in the center. The butterfly imagery fits the New Belgium Metamorph name, while the story printed on the label gives the package a little more meaning than a simple brewery logo lineup.

There is still some information missing. We do not yet have a confirmed release date, distribution details or a complete description of the hop varieties and fir tip additions. For now, the 7% ABV, 12-ounce can format, three-brewery collaboration and West Coast-style IPA designation are the details available from this first look.

New Belgium Metamorph is an interesting combination of breweries, ingredients and personal history. A Seattle connection, a fir tip addition and a classic West Coast IPA foundation give this release several reasons to stand out. I am looking forward to seeing how much of that evergreen character makes it into the finished beer, because that is where this collaboration could really become something different.

Stay tuned for release details.

Label Text New Belgium Metamorph:

NEW BELGIUM®

Brewing Fun Since ’91

CLOUDBURST BREWING

OLD GROWTH BREWING

Small, seemingly insignificant actions can create massive West Coast-Style IPAs. This collab story began once upon a time in Seattle, WA, where three brewers became lifelong friends. The rest continues to ripple out.

NEW BELGIUM METAMORPH

West Coast-Style India Pale Ale brewed with Fir Tips

7% Alc/Vol

12 FL.OZ. (355ML)

Additional side-label text:

Brewed and Canned By New Belgium Brewing Company, Fort Collins, CO.

GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.

Recycle Me

Related news from mybeerbuzz.com:
New Belgium continues to explore new beer styles, collaborations and creative packaging, and there is plenty of related coverage to check out while we wait for the Metamorph release. Take a look at our coverage of New Belgium and Hello Brew Co. teaming up for Pils Pals, New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Mango Fuerza, New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Super Imperial IPA, New Belgium Voodoo Ranger and Invincible teaming up for Blood Orange IPA, and New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Sweet Ride. These stories offer a look at the brewery’s continuing interest in new IPA releases, unusual flavor combinations and collaborations that bring different brewing perspectives together.

About New Belgium Brewing Company

New Belgium Brewing Company has grown from a small home-based brewing operation in Fort Collins, Colorado, into one of the most recognizable names in American craft beer. Founded in 1991 by Kim Jordan and Jeff Lebesch, New Belgium began with an interest in bringing European brewing traditions and distinctive beer styles to American drinkers. More than three decades later, the brewery has developed a broad portfolio that includes iconic beers, modern IPAs, specialty releases, experimental recipes and collaborations with breweries across the country.

The original inspiration for New Belgium came from a bicycle trip through Belgium. Jeff Lebesch, an electrical engineer and homebrewer, traveled through the country and experienced its brewing traditions firsthand. Belgian beer culture made a strong impression on him, particularly the variety of flavors, ingredients and brewing techniques used by smaller breweries. He returned to Colorado with ideas about producing beers that reflected some of those traditions, and he began experimenting with recipes in the basement of his home.

Kim Jordan joined him in turning that idea into a business. Her background in social work and her approach to building relationships helped establish the company’s people-focused philosophy, while Lebesch concentrated on brewing. The brewery officially began operations in 1991, and two of its earliest beers were Fat Tire Amber Ale and Abbey Belgian Style Dubbel. Fat Tire would eventually become the beer most closely associated with the New Belgium name.

The company grew quickly enough that the basement operation could not remain its home for long. New Belgium moved into a former railroad facility in Fort Collins before expanding into a larger brewing operation. As production increased, the brewery invested in additional equipment, expanded distribution and introduced new beers that helped establish its reputation beyond Colorado.

Fat Tire became a major part of the brewery’s success, but New Belgium never limited itself to one style. Its brewing team developed a variety of beers, including Belgian-inspired ales, seasonal releases, sour beers, specialty offerings and hop-forward American IPAs. That willingness to work across different brewing traditions helped the brewery connect with consumers who were becoming increasingly interested in independent beer and more adventurous flavor profiles.

The brewery also developed a recognizable approach to environmental responsibility and business practices. New Belgium became known for its investments in renewable energy, water conservation, recycling and employee involvement. The company built a reputation around what it called its Human-Powered Business model, emphasizing coworker well-being, community participation and a broader responsibility beyond simply producing beer. Those ideas became part of the company’s public identity as it expanded.

One of the most important developments in its growth was the opening of its Asheville, North Carolina, brewery in 2016. The second major brewing location gave New Belgium a stronger presence on the East Coast and created another place for the company to connect with local beer drinkers. Located along the French Broad River, the Asheville operation includes brewing facilities and a visitor experience that reflects the company’s interest in community and sustainability.

New Belgium has also become closely associated with the modern American IPA category through its Voodoo Ranger family. That lineup has helped introduce the brewery to a newer generation of craft beer drinkers, with releases covering everything from approachable hop-forward beers to stronger imperial IPAs and unusual fruit-driven combinations. The brand has become a major part of New Belgium’s current business, while the company continues to maintain established beers and specialty offerings.

The brewery’s corporate ownership has changed over the years as well. New Belgium entered a new chapter after being acquired by Lion Little World Beverages in 2019. In 2021, the company joined forces with Bell’s Brewery, bringing another important American craft brewing portfolio into the organization. Bell’s well-known beers, including Two Hearted IPA and Oberon Ale, expanded the range of brands associated with the broader brewing business.

Despite those changes, New Belgium remains strongly connected to its Fort Collins beginnings. Its original brewery continues to serve as a major center for brewing, innovation and visitor experiences, while Asheville provides another important brewing and community location. The company continues to develop new beers and work with outside brewing partners, which is where projects like the Metamorph collaboration fit into the picture.

New Belgium Metamorph is a good example of how the brewery can combine its own national reach with the experience and personal connections of smaller independent brewing operations. Working with Cloudburst Brewing and Old Growth Brewing brings a Seattle connection into the project, while the fir tip addition gives the West Coast-style IPA a distinctive ingredient story.

From Fat Tire to Voodoo Ranger and specialty collaboration IPAs, New Belgium Brewing continues to operate across a wide range of beer styles. Its history is rooted in Belgian brewing inspiration, but its current portfolio reflects a much broader interest in American craft beer, experimentation and collaboration.

For more information about the brewery, its beers, locations and visitor experiences, visit the official New Belgium Brewing website.

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