Red Rock is known for its “Elephino” Double IPA, which features six different hop varieties and is “double dry hopped” just to amp it up a bit more. (Not a beer I’m likely to try any time soon…)
New Belgium is known for its Fat Tire amber ale, Ranger IPA, Abbey dubbel ale, and others. This beer is part of their “Lips of Faith” series of beers, which are limited edition and collaboration beers.
Paardebloem is a Belgian style beer that uses dandelion greens to provide bitterness. It’s “made with Pilsner malt, grains of paradise, peaches, fresh picked dandelion greens and is blended with some wood-aged beer.” It won a Gold Medal at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival in the Experimental Beer category.
It pours a cloudy amber color with thin white head that dissipates within seconds of pouring.
The aroma is yeasty, with some peach and floral notes.
The flavor is complex, mixing malt, peach, a grassy bitterness from the dandelion greens, and a mild spice note from the grains of paradise. The end result is a beer that’s interesting, and not unpleasant, but definitely not a favorite of mine.
Rate Beer gives Paardebloem an 84 overall. Beer Advocate gives it an 81 or “good” rating. I don’t care for it quite as much as they do. I’m giving it a 7 out of 10.
You can usually find Paardebloem anywhere the New Belgium beers are sold in Ohio. I purchased this bottle at Kenny Road Market, but I’ve seen it at Giant Eagle Market District at Kingsdale, Northwest Wine and Spirits, and other local retailers. The price is approximately $8.99 per bottle.
Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, Bitter, or Sour: Malty
Spice Level: Low
Hops Level: Low or None
Dominant Flavors: Grassy bitterness, peach, mild spice
ABV: 9.2%
IBU: Unknown
My Rating: 7/10
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