New Belgium IPAs surpass numerous expectations in Halloween-friendly pack

So, you found yourself reading The Record the other day… the only newspaper with editors willing to print our deeply insightful reviews on beers, seltzers, and liquors. We are just your average consumers of alcoholic beverages with bold and controversial opinions. Please don’t consume alcoholic beverages if you are under 21 and follow the law. If you are of legal drinking age, please drink responsibly and… stop at buzzed!

For this week’s adventure and the coming Halloweekend, we tackled some iconic IPAs: New Belgium. Included in this hoppy pack is Voodoo Ranger IPA, American Haze, 1985 IPA and their #4 X Perimental IPA.

After our previous adventure, Mack is currently locked in mortal combat with his nemesis, Grandpa Joe. The review portion will be done by Sam this week, but don’t worry, when he is done, Mack will write some jokes.

The first drink out of the coffin (very spooky, I know) is the classic New Belgium Voodoo Ranger IPA. With an ABV of 7%, this is our strongest beer we have tried to date. Rumor has it that this IPA warms up with two plates when he benches.

The can is a golden yellow color with New Belgium’s iconic skeleton with a yellow bandana around his neck and looking to the right. Included in this dry-hopped beverage are notes of guava, mango and pineapple. Boo! We sure do love a good jump scare on printed media.

Next up I indulged in Voodoo Ranger American Haze. Coming in at 5% ABV, this sweet hazy IPA was my favorite flavor-wise. The can is white with the skeleton wearing glasses, an aviator hat with a USA-themed bandana and a guitar on his back.

The can was an immediate attraction to this drink, and the flavor lived up to the expectations. The flavor consists of “passion fruit and freedom.”

For someone who enjoys IPAs, the flavor was sweet with a bitter aftertaste. After one sip of this beer, you will be throwing on a Captain America costume and punching Hydra agents.

After the American Haze, I tried their 1985 IPA. With a hazy, light golden color, this beer had a strong mango flavor.

This IPA has an ABV of 6.7% and a fruity flavor that makes it more appealing for people who don’t enjoy the bitterness of IPAs. Don’t get me wrong, it is still quite bitter compared to a light beer, but it is one of the sweeter beverages this week.

The can is bright yellow with the skeleton wearing another aviator hat with a checkered pattern on top and a green brim. The character is also wearing a blue jacket with pink cobra outlines on each side along with vibrant yellow and pink sunglasses.

The 1985 Skeleton signed with Globo Gym and the powerhouse of a dodgeball team that they are. The skeleton is going to have to bulk up if they are going to play with White Goodman and Me’Shell Jones.

Finally, I tried New Belgium’s X Perimental #4. The new drink that they are trying comes in at 6.6% ABV and is a tropical hazy IPA brewed with Nectaron hops.

After a quick Google search, I learned that Nectaron hops are hops of the New Zealand variety. The color and texture is on par with the American Haze and 1985 IPA.

I would describe the taste of this IPA as a fruitier version of their mainstream, Voodoo Ranger IPA. The skeleton on this can looks like a mix between Major Payne and Prince. Three of these and you will start yelling at random ROTC guys to do 30 pushups, and by the time they are finished, you are singing in the rain.

Next week is currently up in the air on what we will be consuming. However, we do want to remind you to be safe on Halloweekend.

If you get lucky, you’ll see both of us out and about on Friday wearing Letterkenny costumes. Better yet, Saturday you might catch a glimpse of Mack wearing a Dr. Disrespect costume. If you hear him yell “Raul!”, you are morally obligated to respond with “Gillette.” We don’t make the rules, sorry.

Are you a single Bennie that is dressing up as a UFC fighter or a devil this weekend? Do you have strong thoughts on alcoholic beverages? Lucky for you, we love the UFC and beverages very much. As the fun and interesting individuals that we are, we would love to tell you some scary stories or watch old UFC fights on ESPN+. Remember, if you are of age, stop at buzzed! Anyways, back to choring.