(Fort Collins, CO) – Lots of New Belgium news over the past 24 hours…and there is more.

When asked to confirm whether New Belgium Hoptober would be replaced in 2012 [as reported first by The Brew Bros blog], New Belgium Media Relations Director, Bryan Simpson, said…

We do rotate through seasonal releases. Hoptober is our Fall release for 2011. In 2012 we are releasing a beer tentatively called Red Hoptober and as it’s a year out, I don’t have a description.

If I had to guess, New Belgium may plan some ways to get drinkers involved in activities around this beer…like this event from last year:

The hunt is on as the USNWC introduces the New Belgium Hunt for Red Hoptober. In this activity based scavenger hunt, teams of two will compete against the clock as they scour the facility attempting to complete a series of tasks and activities. We have some awesome prizes up for grabs, including a New Belgium Cruiser Bike.

New Belgium is also replacing Mighty Arrow with a new offering called Dig next year as well releasing a new beer in 16 oz. cans that has yet to be named.