Everybody likes a snow day, right? I know I sure do. There’s just nothing like being snowed in, with nowhere to go and nothing to do but relax and make the best of it. If you can have a Snow Day on your snow day, well, that’s even better. I’m referring to New Belgium Snow Day of course, a delightfully hoppy American Brown Ale that is, unfortunately, not being brewed this year.

Still, that doesn’t mean you’ll have to go thirsty on your snow day, since you can still enjoy the accumulation: New Belgium Accumulation White IPA that is, the new winter seasonal for 2013 from Colorado’s New Belgium brewing. From the label:

Accumulation White IPA was inspired by the white beauty that falls each winter from our Colorado sky. Flurries of Mosaic and Amarillo hops bring soft fruit and citrus flavor, followed by a layer of bitter. Piled high in IBUs, Accumulation will make your winter brighter.

New Belgium cites the following ingredients on their website:

Hops:  Target, Centennial, dry hopped with Mosaic and Amarillo

Malts:  Pale, Wheat

Yeast:  Ale Yeast for bright, fruity notes

Strangely absent, however, are spices. Most White IPAs that I have tasted are really a hybrid between IPA and Belgian White Ale. Samuel Adams Whitewater IPA, Harpoon White IPA, and Saranac White IPA (my three current favorites) all are spiced with citrus peel and coriander. With Accumulation, New Belgium only uses wheat to lighten the beer’s body, and better allow for the juicy fruit of the Mosaic hops to shine through.

New Belgium Accumulation White IPA has an alcohol content of 6.2% by volume. My bottle says it is best by 16^th February 2014, at which point I assume it will turn into a bottle of Pumpkick. I paid $8.99 for a six-pack.

New Belgium Accumulation White IPA pours to a cloudy yellow-white color with a thick creamy head of tightly packed bubbles and an absolutely wonderful nose packed with tropical fruits from the mosaic hops. Taking a sip, I get a bit of caramel maltiness attenuated by tart wheat, with the end result a light quenching maltiness. So power of suggestion and all. Quickly, the hops come through, and I must say that this beer is loaded with them. Tropical fruit from the Mosaic hops come right at you with pineapple, passion fruit, and citrus too. Accumulation is quite resiny, as well.

The wheat malt lightens the beer up, I think, and still let’s all that aroma and flavor from the dry hopping sing. The delicate nature of this beer is much of its charm, you get so much flavor and such drinkability, all in a convenient 12 ounce bottle. I am impressed. Some peppery hop zing emerges in the finish along with more fruit and it all ends with a solid bitterness. Light resin abounds, this is a very, very hoppy beer.

Have I talked about the hops enough? There’s no denying this is a wonderful beer, and I think its subtlety and delicate nature are extremely alluring. Absolutely a beer that I will buy again.

Update 1/23/2021: Everybody likes a snow day, right? I know I sure do. There’s just nothing like being snowed in, with nowhere to go and nothing to do but relax and make the best of it. If you can....wait a minute. Apologies, friends, but this is 2021. Since March of 2020, it's been like an entire year of snow days, with many folks (myself included) not able to go anywhere or do anything. Still, as I type, we haven't had a real snow day here in Canton, Georgia, and I think I would still like one. In the meantime, the closest I can get is a can of New Belgium Accumulation, really the only accumulation we ever get in these parts.

New Belgium says:

This white IPA is a direct revolt against the longstanding tradition of brewing dark beers for the winter. Crafted with Mosaic and Amarillo hop varietals—and a bit of wheat—this IPA will keep your long nights glowing blizzard white.

Apparently, Nugget hops have replaced the Targets. IBUs are now listed as 55. The beer is not that much more expensive these days than it was seven years ago. Target sells it for $9.49 a six-pack. It is now available in cans as well as bottles. My can is stamped 28FEB2021 as a best by date.

New Belgium Accumulation Ale pours to a hazy whitish-yellow color with a thick fluffy white head and a crackery wheaty hoppy nose. Taking a sip, the beer is light malty with tart crackery malt. It’s a bit juicy and tropical fruity from the Mosaic hops, and the Amarillos provide some citrus. Finishes gently bitter and grassy.

I like some orange and coriander or one at least in a White IPA, though not all White IPAs go that far with the integration of Witbier and IPA. Some, like this one, just add wheat. I like this beer well enough, though not quite so much as I did with my prior tasting notes. Still a solid beer at 4 stars, though that is a half star less than I gave it in 2013.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled, canned

(D)=Draft

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