New Belgium Brewing announced the first two beers in its 2012 Lips of Faith series: Biere de Mars and Cocoa Molé. Lips of Faith beers offer limited edition selections that showcase New Belgium’s more esoteric and palate-elevating creations. New Belgium’s Biere de Mars evokes earthy tones of ripe mango and lemon verbena that reflect the hearty character of the southern Belgian and northern French countrysides. Brewed with barley, oats and wheat malts, Biere de Mars’ celestial orange hue inspired the planetary play on words. A wild yeast strain is added for bottle conditioning, which creates a refreshingly sour flash across the palate. Lemon peel coupled with the lemon verbena imparts a citrusy finish. Biere de Mars is available on draft and in 22-ounce bombers. Alcohol by volume is 6.2 percent.
Cocoa Molé combines chocolate, cinnamon and plentiful ancho, guajillo and chipotle chilies for a sweet and spicy burst of flavor. Brewed with pale, caramel-80, chocolate, dark chocolate malts and a healthy dash of chocolate rye, Cocoa Molé presents midnight dark with a subtle reddish hue, lifting a pillowy, burnished head. It starts on the tongue with a swirl of chocolate malt that dissolves into the warm embers of a peppery heat. Alcohol by volume is nine percent and it will be available on draft and in 22-ounce bombers.
“This first round of Lips of Faith offers spice, heat and a touch of sweet,” said New Belgium brewer Grady Hull. “It’s a bold one-two punch to start the 2012 Lips of Faith series off right.”
Beire de Mars and Cocoa Molé are available now through April in select markets while supplies last. Pricing varies by market.