Published on Friday, November 21, 2008

Beer of the Week: 2˚ Below Ale (2 Degrees Below Ale)


By DAN STONE
Last updated on 00/00/0000 at 12:00 a.m.

The Beer: New Belgium’s 2˚ Below Ale is the brewery’s winter seasonal beer. It tastes like a less sweet version of New Belgium’s flagship beer, Fat Tire.

2˚ Below is a medium-bodied brew with light carbonation and a good balance of malt and hops.

The Good: The brew tastes very smooth. The balance between the hops and malt is excellent.

The Bad: Unfortunately, the citrus taste in 2˚ Below Ale is barely there. The brew has a very present 6.6 percent alcohol content in the taste that takes away from the flavor. Additionally, the alcohol-singed aftertaste is overpowering.


The Cost: $8.49 for a six-pack

The Recommendation: Go with Leinenkugel’s Fireside Nut Brown Ale if you’re looking for a holiday-themed brew. This ale has a much more interesting flavor to it, especially in the aftertaste.

The Bottom Line: Fans of Fat Tire and other New Belgium brews will likely enjoy 2˚ Below Ale. However, the brew does little to appeal to beer drinkers outside of the bitter-brew crowd.

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