Glassware: Citradelic has a beautifully delicate hop aroma that is an absolute must enjoy to truly appreciate this beer. The Spegielau IPA glass is a definite with any IPA, but due to the fragility of them many bars do not keep them in stock. A great backup is a snifter glass or Willi Becher pint glass, the key is to have a tapered top to trap in the wonderful hop aroma.
Description: Citradelic pours a brilliant golden orange hue with bright white head that leaves a thick layer of lacing. The aroma is a beautiful bouquet of citrus with heavy emphasis on orange and tropical fruits like a pineapple, and subtle hints of pine up front with hints of sweet caramel notes coming through as well. The taste follows the nose with heavy citrus hops cascading over the palate first followed by tropical fruits and pine with sweet malts rushing in at the end to provide the perfect backbone and balance. The finish is juicy but still dry and leaves you wanting more. The medium body and moderate carbonation are textbook for the style. Citradelic is a wonderfully balanced IPA with a heavy leaning toward citrus and tropical fruits. The bitterness is not too strong making this a great beer for those looking to get into the style without destroying the palate. Regardless of your IPA drinking background, this is a great beer to enjoy with great use of hops!
Food Pairing: IPAs are always a great match with spicy foods, but Citradelic strong citrus flavors make it wonderful with a variety of dishes. If you love Mexican food than Citradelic is a beer you will want to have in your fridge. The wonderful spice bite from many dishes is the perfect pairing with the perfectly hopped beer. The hops and spices will combine for a treat that any spice lover will enjoy while the smooth malts will quell the heat and maintain balance on the palate and the citrus flavors create wonderful depth to the meal. The one characteristic about Citradelic is that it is simple enough to pair with a delicious taco and complex enough to have with more involved dishes. Citradelic is enjoyable with Indian dishes, especially with chicken tikka masala! Thai food is a great pairing with this world class beer.
The Final Word: New Belgium is one of the largest craft breweries in the United States and has developed a strong and loyal following during their process of growing to that size. Along the way its staple beer, Fat Tire, has continued to be a big seller but they have not rested on those laurels and instead have continued to expand its beer portfolio. Citradelic is one of the newer beers and shows that no matter the size, if a brewery knows how to brew good beer it will shine through! While some breweries pridefully boast their IPA’s are extremely bitter with very high IBU’s (international bittering units) New Belgium prides itself on balanced and highly drinkable beers.
