Merry Christmas with New Belgium Accumulation White IPA

'Tis the season for breweries big and small to send their dark, seasonal offerings out into the world of fewer daylight hours, and lower temperatures (at least this half of the world!). I find it difficult to drink down the darker spectrum of beers during any of the warmer months of the year, so it's quite exciting when the snow is falling and I can't see through to the other side of my glass! 

That being said, there's always room in my fridge for the odd-ball, non-traditional take on how to drink in the season...

New Belgium Accumulation White IPA

BG Poured from a 12 fl oz (355ml) bottle into a New Belgium stemmed tulip, 6.2% ABV, Enjoy by 04/05/15

A Light, banana-yellow in color with hardly a finger of snow white head. Sparkly lacing is left in its wake. The beer is very cloudy.

A Fresh squeezed tangerines and orange peel from the citrus hops, sprees, a bit of wheat

T It’s just like the nose, but better. Sweet citrus juices, white bread, lightly bitter citrus rind, pineapple, peaches

M Creamy, yet crisp. Medium carbonation. Light body.

A Gently bitter orange peel

C This is a tropical fruit fest, and feels a bit unfitting for a winter seasonal. The label depicts a snowed-in streamline camper. Maybe it’s a cabin fever kind of thing? Like, you’ve been snowed-in all winter and can’t wait for spring, so you get your fix by drinking Accumulation? Context aside, there are some delicious flavors in here. It’s not very complex, but sometimes less is more. It’s super juicy and visually attractive. This isn’t sounding much like a winter beer, is it? And yet, I welcome it into my frozen, snow dusted arms as a change of pace from all the chewy, spiced, dark beer this season brings. Sometimes, no matter the season, you just want something easy and refreshing, and New Belgium is here to dish it up. Well played, NB. Well played.

FP Herb crusted snapper sandwich with cilantro sour cream in a pita pocket. Minted, glazed strawberries. Ham steaks with grilled pineapple rings.

I just read the Accumulation description on the NB website. It states this beer is "a direct revolt to the longstanding tradition of brewing dark beers for winter." Right on the bright red, glowing nose.