Lips Of Faith - La Folie - New Belgium Brewing

SamN

Colorado

4.15/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2010 vintage bomber, into a tulip glass.

La Folie pours a very dark, nearly opaque molasses/amber color. Head is limited, dirty brownish color with amber hues. Dissipates into thin bubbly patches. Lively, head crackles with a soapy sticky look. I don't remember this beer being so dark. Almost a mahogany color. Lacing is left in briefly-lasting sheets of sticky brown bubbles.

Smell is initially quite tart, acidic and vinegary. Subtle smells of chokecherries, currants, foliage, earthy-brown tones from the malts; almost a sickly sweet molasses note. The smell is quite complex, with lots of fruit notes, earthen maltyness and a powerfully tart/vinous aroma holding it all together. This newer recipe seems less tart and vinegary than previous years brews; I like the smell, it just seems a bit less intense than previous vintages.

To taste a La Folie, without any introduction to the style, one might think this beer has gone bad. The palette is greeted with a powerfully tart burst of sour berries and puckeringly-dry vinegar tastes. These initial tastes give way to more complex, under-ripe fruit characteristics- immature green grapes, Granny Smith apple skins, maybe even a subtle grappa quality? Quite a range of intensely tart fruit quality. Underlying malt qualities mellow out the stronger flavors, an almost bread-like flavor underpins the wildly different flavors. The finish is less dry than one might expect, leaving a pleasantly tart/sour finish that doesn't overwhelm the palette. The acidity might be a bit much for those new to the style. A strongly flavored beer, to be sure! Leaves a lasting tartness behind for a while.

Mouthfeel is well structured; Not a big beer, lighter body, but firm and holds the strong flavors very well. Perfectly carbonated, mild and subtle, perfectly complimenting the flavor of this beer. Minimal sticky sweetness left behind.

Overall, this is a outstanding beer. Compliments food well, especially poultry and fruit dishes. I like this beer as a digestif at Thanksgiving, or as a final beer for my third helping. Aggressively flavored, overwhelming to some, but with some experience you find this beer to have subtle nuances that are rewarding. Complex, unique and overall, very, very good.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2011 03:54:52 | More by SamN

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