New Belgium to release Mural, an Agua Fresca-inspired ale
In Collaboration with Mexico City's Cerveceria Primus, New Belgium is releasing Mural, an agua fresca-style beer brewed with hibiscus, agave, watermelon and lime to the Colorado market. It comes in 4.2% ABV and is really an easy drinking beer. With the recent releases of easy drinking beers such as Sam 76, Firestone Walker Lager and New Belgium's own Dayblazer, this fruited ale should fit right in.From our tasting:The aroma hits you right in the face with lots of lime and hibiscus, but the flavor is more agave and watermelon as it warms. Our previous encounter with a watermelon and lime New Belgium beer didn't go so well, but this time, the watermelon is nuanced enough to taste, but nowhere near as pronounced as say Paradox's Salty Melons. There's a slight acidity and tartness from the lime, but it's really the hibiscus and agave that are the stars. New Belgium may classify this as a "fruit beer," but I really enjoy how the sweet, honey-like agave balances with the lemony-tart floral nature of the hibiscus.
From New Belgium's website:
Two breweries, two countries, one goal: To brew a revolutionary new beer style in the spirit of international collaboration. Meet Mural Agua Fresca Ale, an innovative new concept in craft beer that merges the tradition of Mexico’s refreshing agua fresca drinks with the ingenuity and craftsmanship of two breweries: New Belgium and Mexico City’s premiere craft brewery, Primus Cervecería. And it all started with a trip to Tijuana.
“Last year I went to Tijuana, and I was doing this exploratory trip where I was looking for ingredients to bring back to New Belgium,” recalls pilot brewer Cody Reif. “I kept coming across this one drink [agua fresca] that was in all the food stalls. I was so inspired by the flavors, I thought this would make a great beer. So I called my friends at Primus and said ‘let’s make a beer together.’”
According to a December 2017 article in Brewbound, New Belgium believes "Mural has the potential to reach new consumers, including female drinkers."New Belgium will be "test marketing" Mural in Colorado this month, so make sure you go out and grab some if you want this to be available more often.Available now in 12 oz. bottles and on draft as a year-round offering, Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza can be found across Mexico and currently in five select US markets: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, North Carolina and Texas. Other US markets may soon be added due to interest from select distributors.New Belgium believes "Mural has the potential to reach new consumers, including female drinkers."
New Belgium's Press Release from today:
Fort Collins, Colo. (March 5, 2018) - New Belgium Brewing and Mexico City’s Primus Microcerveceria have teamed up to capture the spirit and flavor of Mexican street culture and art with their newest collaborative release, Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza. Inspired by the refreshing, fruit-infused drink popular throughout Mexico, Agua Fresca, this super crisp beer is brewed with hibiscus, agave, watermelon juice and whole lime puree.“Last year I went to Tijuana on this exploratory trip where I was looking for ingredients to bring back to New Belgium,” recalled New Belgium Brewer Cody Reif. “I kept coming across this one drink [agua fresca] that was in all the food stalls. I was so inspired by the flavors, I thought this would make a great beer.”Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza defies traditional beer categories; instead it’s an innovative new style, creating a sweet flash with a touch of tart that evokes Mexican tastes and flavors. To create such a breakthrough beer, New Belgium collaborated with their friends at Primus Microcerveceria to craft a liquid as authentic as it is delicious.“Mural is an expression of a true friendship between our teams, our breweries and our countries,” said Jaime Andreu Galvan, co-founder of Primus. “Mural Agua Fresca Ale depicts in its flavors authentic craft beer innovation, much like my country does every day with our gastronomy.”Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza pours a bright amber and a light pinkish white head drifts atop. Watermelon, lime, lemon and fresh green apple aromas complement a sweet, slightly tart taste with a light mouthfeel and crisp finish.Available now in 12 oz. bottles and on draft as a year-round offering, Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza can be found across Mexico and currently in five select US markets: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, North Carolina and Texas. Other US markets may soon be added due to interest from select distributors.
Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza
Malts: PaleHops: NuggetYeast: AleABV: 4.2%IBU: 11Special ingredients: Hibiscus, agave, watermelon juice and whole lime puree
In celebration of this new beer, New Belgium will be hosting a series of beer dinners showcasing high-end food pairings inspired by the liquid. For more information about New Belgium or any of its beers, visit www.newbelgium.com.Editor's note: We originally published this last Thursday, before New Belgium had even released any info. Thanks to our sleuthing, we uncovered most of the correct info, but unpublished to make sure we didn't get any of our buddies at NBB in trouble. We are still early, but now we are publishing with their knowledge and consent. Cheers!
