Cape Fear Craft Beer Alliance Collab “Highway of Diamonds”

Style: Belgian Table Beer
ABV: 4.5%

This week we’re trying out “Highway of Diamonds,” a special collaboration between 3 Carolina coastal breweries. Made by New Anthem, Waterline Brewing, and Salty Turtle, this Belgian style table beer was made for Craft on the Coast and Nourish NC (check out their sites for more info). The collaboration was what caught our eye on the shelf at Tapped, we couldn’t pass up a beer made for a good cause by great breweries.

Nick’s Take

I served my can of “Highway of Diamonds” in a short tulip glass and noticed a good level of frothy foam develop right away. As it settled, the beer showed as a pale, straw-like gold color that was pretty clean and clear-looking. A lot of Belgian-style beers I’ve had are a bit darker in hue so this was a nice surprise.

The tulip glass helped me capture the aromas as I went in for a smell. Right off the bat was the characteristic estery aroma that I expect from a Belgian beer, with some added character. I found some sweet malt (kind of bready) and a touch of sharpness that I couldn’t identify right away. Overall, it was pleasant on the nose and seemed to promise some good flavor for a light beer.

My first couple sips provided some crisp carbonation, but it was overall pretty light in that regard. The beer did have a pretty soft, foamy mouthfeel though, and was smooth to drink. The finish left my mouth a bit dry but then again, another sip took care of that.

I think from the aromas that I anticipated a fuller flavor, but things were a bit subdued on my palate. The sweet ester flavor was of course present, but it was lighter than I was expecting. There was also an attribute similar to a dry white wine in the aftertaste that I didn’t pick up when smelling the beer (unless that lines up with the sharpness I detected). Not a poor tasting beer by any means, but just a little short in flavor if that’s what you’re looking for.

This does serve as a pretty easy-to-drink Belgian beer and would fare well on a hot day at the beach or with grilled food at a picnic/cookout. It isn’t going to overwhelm food flavors and would serve as a great light beverage for different cuisines. I’m always interested in trying collaboration beers and learned a thing or two about Cape Fear Craft Beer Alliance in the process, so that’s a win in my book. Cheers!

Joe’s Take

“Highway of Diamonds” poured a very pale golden color in my Belgian beer glass and was adorned with a thick fluffy white head. The head persisted throughout the tasting and stayed in a thin layer atop the beer. The brew was opaque and shared looks with some of the juicy IPAs in New Anthem’s lineup.

Aroma was anything but IPA with strong fruity esters dominating the smells emanating from the glass. There were notes of banana, dark fruit, raisins, and a touch of spice (thinking nutmeg or cinnamon). The aroma was pleasant, slightly sweet, and easily concentrated by the curvy glass.

The mouthfeel was light and brightly carbonated. This beer would be a great dinner beer as it could easily wash away any heavy fats lingering in the mouth. The finish was slightly drying and begged you to take another sip.

The flavor of “Highway of Diamonds” was malt and yeast character forward. There were bread crust malt notes and spicy dark fruits present. The banana like esters picked up on the nose played well with this flavor. I feel that a lot of flavor in the beer comes from the aroma as the actual beer itself is relatively light. Coming in with an ABV of 4.5% and a refreshing mouthfeel, this table beer is wholly drinkable (even if you aren’t at a table).

If you feel like trying out an interesting collaboration beer from a few great breweries I suggest you give this beer a try. Maybe even pick up a 4-pack as the easy drinking tasty brew is likely to be liked by all at the table. Cheers!