Family Belgian Ale Style Dark Belgian Ale
Country USA (CO) ABV 7.0%
Price $$ Packaging 12oz/355ml bottle
Characteristics Bitter, roasty, unusual, yeasty

Overview New Belgium’s Abbey Ale is, like Fat Tire, based on one of founder Jeff Lebesch’s homebrew recipes, though these days the brewhouse is helmed by authentic Belgian Peter Bouckaert.

Flavors and aromas New Belgium’s Abbey Ale is Belgian-lite, with subtle banana esters as the main nod to Old World monasteries. Roast grains offer coffee notes and there’s perceptible hop bitterness. The end result is a beer that’s adequately drinkable, but that reads more like an American brown ale with some extra yeast-influenced kick.