New Belgium Brewing Company- Ranger IPA: Plain Label, Awesome Beer

When Jason called to tell me that New Belgium was finally rolling out a straight forward IPA he sound like a kid on Christmas morning. I tried to maintain my cool guy persona by reminding him that we hadn’t even tried it yet, besides New Belgium couldn’t make great beer every time, could they? But when I hung up the phone, I instantly ran across the living room floor, slide five feet on my knees, playing a blazing 30 second air guitar riff of Iron Man by Black Sabbath and let out 15 hard rock fist pumps. One of my favorite breweries was making my favorite style beer, hell to the yeah!

When you first crack one of these beauties a very strong and pungent floral hoppyness hits your nostrils. As the small foam head subsides a sweet, malty underbelly emerges. The flavor is intense, like a battle scene in Black Hawk Down. It bum rushes you with a hop infused explosion, that finishes with bursts of an extremely dry and slightly sweet malt graininess. This is bitter and true IPA. After you swallow completely the hop concentrate comes back for round two.

Ranger India Pale Ale is a confident and bold offering. It pours slightly darker than traditional pale ales but tastes like a classic entry into the genre. If you’re into strong and bitter beers, this is Triple A prospect that might just get called up to Big League fulltime. Everything about this brew is above average, everything but the extremely generic label. Don’t let the uninspired artwork fool you, this is a beer worth hunting, capturing and consuming. Be a ranger for a night, you won’t regret it!

ABV: 7%

Consumed: Pint Glass

Verdict: Buy A Case!

New Belgium Brewing Company- Ranger IPA: I Wanna Be A New Belgium Ranger, I Wanna Live A Life Of Danger.

Being one of my favorite breweries, I had recently found out that New Belgium Brewing Company was introducing an IPA.  I have to say that I have not been more excited in regards to a beer before in my life.  To top it all off, they introduced it on February 1^st…my birthday.  The unfortunate part of the story is that I was unable to get my hands on it until today (Feb 4^th).  But as the old saying goes, good things come to those who wait…and nothing could be more accurate.

New Belgium Brewing Company classifies this beer as an American India Pale Ale and their website describes Ranger IPA as, “So, here it finally is – New Belgium’s foray into the true American India Pale Ales. Bring out the hops! This clear amber beauty bursts at the starting gate with an abundance of hops: Cascade (citrus), Chinook (floral/citrus), and Simcoe (fruity) lead off the beer, with Cascade added again for an intense dry hop flavor. Brewed with pale and dark caramel malts that harmonize the hop flavor from start to finish, Ranger is a sessionable splendor for all you hopinistas. Thank your Beer Ranger!”

This beer pours a beautiful clear golden honey color with a fat 1 ½” off white colored head and slaps your senses in the face with abundant hop, citrus & spice aromas.

This belated birthday present was just what I needed.  Ranger IPA certainly does not disappoint.  In fact, it surprises.  It is both bitter and smooth and finishes crisp.  This amazing IPA attacks your taste buds like the Army Rangers attacked North Africa & Italy in WWII.  Ranger IPA is a part of New Belgium’s Explore Series and is the brewery’s first foray into the IPA style.  Well it’s about damn time!!  This IPA is in a class all it’s own.  Ranger IPA, I salute you!!

ABV: 6.5%

Consumed: New Belgium Globe Glass

Verdict: Buy A Case