New Belgium’s RyePA looks to the future, while Gruit goes back in time

With the groundbreaking of the Asheville, N.C. facility just a few short months away, New Belgium Brewing is celebrating the second Mothership coming to life by teaming up with Asheville’s own artisan maltster, Riverbend Malt House. The two collaborated on New Belgium’s latest Hop Kitchen release, RyePA. The India Pale Ale, which is brewed with Carolina RyeTM and malted by Riverbend, boasts a bold blend of Simcoe, Galaxy, Cascade, and Mosaic hops, giving it some spicy notes and aromas.

“Some may wonder about basing a Hop Kitchen beer on a malt, but this malt plays up hop flavors and aromas so well, it’s like a mash made in heaven…or Asheville, which isn’t too shabby,” said Matty Gilliland, brewing process analyst with New Belgium Brewing. “The team at Riverbend is an inspiring group and they rallied together to ramp up their production to help make this collaboration possible.”

RyePA comes in at 75 IBUs and 7.5 percent ABV. Read more about the backstory behind RyePA.

Gruit Ale is the latest Lips of Faith release and uses an ancient brewing style of incorporating herb mixtures into beer. This ale is brewed with pale and Munich malts, along with wheat and oats. Other ingredients include Bog Myrtle, Horehound, Yarrow, Wormwood and Elderflower, making for an herbal, almost mint-like and floral bouquet with a bittered root taste. The flavor is bold, with the botanicals playing a big role. Gruit is 6.6 percent ABV.

Both RyePA and Gruit are available in 22-ounce bombers and on draft, now through late May, or while supplies last.