Hoptober Golden Ale - New Belgium, Fort Collins

I'd heard a lot of good things about New Belgium's Hoptober Golden Ale. I was a little hesitant to pick this beer up because of how it has been compared to Pale Ales. I'm very particular about the kind of strong hop flavors I like and considering how this beer is New Belgium's Oktoberfest seasonal I couldn't help but think of a hoppy Amber or Märzen. Neither of those options sounded particularly appealing but I decided to pick up a bottle of Hoptober before I completely convinced myself that I wouldn't like it. So, for starters, this beer isn't a traditional fall seasonal style. It's really more of a summer or spring Pale Ale. New Belgium calls this a Golden Ale which puts it into the Blonde style. The Hoptober's appearance is rather light, you could even go so far as to call it pale... The aroma is very hoppy, it has that tell tale grassy citrus flavor which pushes this beer closer to Pale Ale territory. After taking the first sip of the Hoptober I'm convinced, there really isn't anything Autumn about this beer...

In so many ways a Pale Ale by any other name is just as bitter. Loaded with five different types of hops, the Hoptober seems out of its element. When I reach for an Oktoberfest style beer I'm expecting a malty, toasted grain flavor in a beer that matches the reddish brown leaves. New Belgium's Hoptober's similarities with the fall season really start and stop with the clever name. Ok, I get it, this beer is hoppy and it's for sale during the month of October... What I'm saying is that hops just don't taste the same when it's time to put a sweater on and rake the leaves. If I drank this beer in the early summer I'd probably have a different opinion of it, but since it's a fall seasonal I'll judge it as such.

The Hoptober's flavor is similar to a mouthful of yard clippings with just a light squeeze of lemon juice. Each sip of this beer hits your palate with just a little more bitterness than before. It feels as if the hops are stripping the taste buds from your tongue. I can't find much nice to say about the Hoptober, it's far too hoppy and in no way balanced. If you're shopping for Oktoberfest beers I'd suggest avoiding the Hoptober at all costs. If you accidentally picked this beer up just hang on to it until summer rolls around next year...