#bruegala

Name: Somersault

Brewer: New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, Colo.

By the numbers: 130 calories per 12 oz; 5.2 percent alcohol by volume

Notes: I generally approach New Belgium beers with a bit of apprehension. I was really excited the first time I got hold of a Fat Tire in a bar... until I tasted it and it was kind of so-so. During the first Year in Beer, I tried their winter seasonal, 2° Below, and I wasn't terribly impressed with it either. Then I tried 1554 and it was just OK. So I was kind of surprised at how much I liked this beer. It poured an inviting blonde color and had a citrus aroma with a bit of apricot. The taste was like a summer wheat beer, with a very crisp, fruity finish. New Belgium adds oats to the malt and a touch of ginger, as well. This was a tasty, refreshing summer beer.

Try it with: A hot, late summer day that just doesn't want fall to come too soon. The Marzens are in the stores, the annual Bloomington beer fest, Brüegala, is set for its debut in a new venue downtown, and high-school football kicks off this week, but we still have temperatures in the 90s. I love it.