In craft beer terms, there's a new girl in town and she's a complex character. Ophelia Hoppy Wheat Ale is a new spring seasonal from Breckenridge Brewery. Released in January, Ophelia has had several months to garner buzz and establish itself as a spring beer to be sought out and enjoyed. This past Saturday, with the sun shining and spring in full force, I decided to crack open an Ophelia to find out how it stands up as a spring seasonal.
Ophelia's release is one event in a series of big things lately for Breckenridge. In January 2013, Breckenridge announced plans to build a new $20 million, 12-acre farm-style brewery and restaurant in Littleton, Colorado. The project is in the works and may be completed by spring 2015. Breckenridge has also put out some very high quality offerings from its barrel-aging program. One delicious barrel-aged beer it's produced recently is Barleywine Batch #1, released to the public in mid-March. The Breckenridge Vanilla Porter, a long-time fan favorite, can be found on a nitro tap now as well, giving lovers of the Left Hand Brewing Milk Stout Nitro a comparable second option.
For any brewery, releasing a beer like Ophelia would be important. For Breckenridge, it's part of a positive trend of growth and movement into the upper echelons of Colorado craft breweries. Ophelia pours a bright orange color with a light body and moderate carbonation. The flavors are crisp citrus and spiciness, with a zesty and slightly hoppy finish. It has tons of character and complexity for such an easy-drinking beer. It's in the session-beer realm at 5 percent ABV, which will appeal to many beer drinkers during these warmer months.
Ophelia is definitely a hybrid style, and an excellent example of the innovation of American craft brewing. It seems like the type of beer that holds discovery of its complex nature in each sip, making sure you never get bored.
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