Lips Of Faith - La Folie - New Belgium Brewing

webmanspidey

Michigan

4.26/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bomber poured into a snifter. It is a medium muddy brown color. Smell is very sour, acidic, and full of vinegar and lemon. Taste is very sour with strong lemon and acidic flavors. Extremely tart and sour, but very tasty. Definitely one that will be enjoyed by sour lovers.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 03:01:27 | More by webmanspidey

NODAK

Tennessee

4.36/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The aroma here is lovely. Certainly bright and acidic...enough to make my mouth water just from the smell alone. Definitely a fruity note there, particularly of tart cherries. Yum.

Pours a deep mahogany in my glass. Head wasn't much to write home about, though that could be my fault admittedly.

Taste is initially sharply tart....reminicisent of vinegar and sucking on a lemon wedge. However, the fruity aspect then comes through that was noticed on the nose. Again, perhaps a cherry influence there....pleasant. The woodsy nature imparted by the oak barrels is also perceptible. Finishes quite obviously tart, but not quite as much as that initial hit was....it's pleasant.

Really enjoyed it, though at 16 bucks a bottle I'd be hesitant to buy any beer at that price very often.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 01:02:11 | More by NODAK

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.44/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

A-dark brown with a thin almost non existent tan head

S-honestly, quite possibly the most sour thing I've ever come across in my life time. The smell will wake you up from a coma. Has hints of dark fruits and caramels.

T-oh and it's every bit as sour as its smell. Holy crap this will make the most battle torn of you guys to pucker. I think there's some dark fruit to it along with some caramel. It's difficult to tell really what lies beyond this tartness.

M-sour. Medium carbonation

O-the more I drink this, the more complex and flavorful it gets, possibly because I'm getting accustomed to the sourness. I highly recommend this to anyone that loves the style, don't try it if you're apprehensive to sourness. This should be tasted when someone is deep within their sour career.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 00:57:23 | More by AdamBear

laituegonflable

Australia

3.35/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark cherry colour, clear. Head is light beige, bubbly and foamy. Quite pleasant, but more lace/head would be nice.

Smell is very pungent and funky, almost to the point of offence. Sulfurous and solventy, slight salty sweaty note, oxidised red wine and masses of pepper. Fascinating, but I find it slightly unpleasant.

Taste is funky, peppery, dark and mysterious. Loads of tart, vinegary acidity from the get-go, with big dollops of merlot, black pepper, currants and burnt toffee/molasses. I like the acidity and the complexity, but I really couldn't drink too much of this.

Sharp pull as expected on the mouthfeel, finishes surprisingly thick and pleasant.

Can't say I'm fully reconciled with this style. I can see this particular example being well loved, but it doesn't quite sit right with me. Good luck to it.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 04:41:47 | More by laituegonflable

KFBR392

Illinois

3.99/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark red amber color with some brown accents. Moderate level of carbonation was active throughout. Very low to no head retention throughout.

Smell: Complex fruits and a very prominent oak aroma. Tart bitterness from the fruit aroma that packs a heavy punch. Cherries and a bright white wine presence is found.

Taste: Dark fruits and cherries hit on the front. Heavy sour fruits lay into the palette in the body of this brew. A very light bodied sweetness left on the palette. No hop presence at all. French oak barrels come on a little heavy in my opinion.

Mouthfeel: Complex and layered. Crisp oak bitter fruits hit then subside to a smooth sweetness. Palette is thrown for a ride.

Overall: Pretty much the first sour ale I've tried. I've been anxious to experiment with this style and I enjoyed my first experience. This beer also gave me some more hope for New Belgian products, will give some of their other products a second chance.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 01:56:09 | More by KFBR392

LambicPentameter

Kansas

4.18/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured out of a 22 ounce bomber into a tulip glass. No bottled on date to be found, but this is the 2013 version, so pretty fresh.

Appearance - An aggressive pour yields a tan, one-finger head that dissipates to abut of foam resting on top in mottled 'islands' of fizz. Lacing clings to glass before slowly drifting back to the liquid. Mahogany, chestnut colors with twinges of muddy red clay color around the edges.

Smell - Hints of vinegar, pickled dark fruits and a healthy acidity. Promise of tartness to come.

Taste - Wonderfully tart with the pickled elements dominating. Sourness and notes of lemon juice linger briefly before finishing dry and crisp. Drinkability increases as the liquid approaches room temperature.

Mouthfeel - Effervescent carbonation balances well with the cutting tartness. Faint and pleasant aftertaste.

Overall, a fantastic beer. There is a reason that this is widely considered among the best American-made sour brown ales.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 20:00:02 | More by LambicPentameter

ElSid

California

4.16/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2013 Vintage

A: Deep mahogany with faint hues of maroon. A finger and a half of khaki foam rises up a generous pour into a snifter which leaves lacing on the glass

S: Tartness and balsamic vinegar run parallel to syrupy, berry sweetness. There is a base of brown bread along with substantial notes of wood and chardonnay.

T: Wood and leather quickly give way to tartness, astringent funk and earthy acetic acid bite. Some crisp sour green apples, raspberry syrup, and raisin sweetness come through in the middle. The oak along with bready cracker maltiness attempt to quell the tart edge succumbing to a dry and puckering finish.

M: Medium with good syrupy linger and moderate carbonation.

O: A nice sour which seems to exemplify the Flanders Oud Bruin style well. A dominating lactobacillus pucker paired with natural apple and berry sweetness. I usually enjoy a bit more fruit sweetness in my sours.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 03:22:44 | More by ElSid

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.61/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

22 oz bottle split and poured into a New Belgium globe.
7% ABV, 2013

A - A vigorous pour unleashes a tall tan head that, due to a lot of acidity, lowered to a small layer kept afloat only by the nucleation point in the glass. The beer is a beautiful dark ruby red with brown low-lights and plenty of thick lacing left on the glass.

S - Woo-wee! Major wood funk abounds in this Flanders. Plenty of sour lactic notes impart wet wood all over the place and traces of caramel and blonde coffee bean beneath. Fruit undertones of passion fruit and sangria-soaked raisin offer a unique touch while slight metallic notes emerge on the back end though.

T - Toasted malts offer traces of toffee, caramel, and light coffee bean but are largely overshadowed by the wood-driven sour funk with a splash of vinegar on the end.

M - La Folie is sour, no doubt about that. Mouth-puckering and tart, it's got an incredibly strong kick to the finish balanced by spritzy carbonated and medium-feeling malty body.

O - Haven't had a sour beer? La Folie is one of the more sour beers available on the market, so caution is advised. This beauty of a brown looks wonderful, smells inviting and complex, tastes great and is ever-so tart for a n exceptional American take on the style. Like sour beers? La Folie is for you.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 21:29:32 | More by BeerFMAndy

darky

South Dakota

4.14/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

2013, poured into a Saxo snifter/tulip.

A: Deep chocolate/reddish brown, minimail head, persisten ring of light tan foam at the edge of the glass which clings nicely with ample lacing as you progress.

S: Green apple, other tart fruit

T: Sour apple, right up front and almost fruit punch halfway through. Finishes on a dry cranberry note. Leaves strong traces of its flavor on the lips, a unique trait among beers.

M: Excellent medium-bodied feel and a champagne-like carbonation.

O: I passed on this last year due to the price and not having ever tasted it before. This is a very nicely executed Bruin. Assertively sour, but the whole package is refined and sophisticated so it's not at all a chore to get through. I feel like this may be a nice gateway to fruit lambics, which I intend to try for the first time very soon.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 04:52:01 | More by darky

MighHighBrewer

Colorado

3.95/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 3.5

2013 Edition La Folie Bottle tried on 3/9/2013

A: Dark brown with mahogany hue. Almost looks like a stout...not quite as black. Very little, if any, head. Bubbles are rather large. I hope this is carbonated enough given that it's a 2013 edition. We'll see...

S: First smell: Dark fruit....fig mostly. Smell a tinge of green apple and grapefruit. A pronounced vanilla and oak character. Strangely, it doesn't smell funky at all. I expected it to smell much more like a Saison than it does. No alcoholic smell at all even though it's a 7% beer. Honestly, it smells great - makes you really want to have a taste.

T - Initial taste: SOUR. Lots of green apple, grapefruit, with some estery notes. It really hits the sides of your tongue while some (and in my opinion, not enough) malty sweetness toys with the front. Pretty dry. Subsequent tastes bring out the oak and vanilla character a little bit more, although the sourness still dominates. Strangely, the dark fruit smell that I get from the beer doesnt come through in the taste. Much more one-note (sour green apple) than I expected.

M - Great mouthfeel. It's medium body and lightly carbonated, yet it feels great in the mouth. Given the lack of any head, I thought for sure it was undercarbed. No so.

O - I think I drank this beer way too early. It's much more one-note than I expect La Folie's to be. By far, 90% of the flavor you get from this beer at this age is sour green apple. Unfortunately, it doesnt have a solid or sweet enough malt base to round out its overwhelming sour qualities. Perhaps this will change with time as the bottle ages, but for right now, it tastes underdeveloped.

I highly recommend that you let the 2013's age for six months (at least) to see if the sour character of the beer mellows out a bit.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 00:58:50 | More by MighHighBrewer

patre_tim

China

4.63/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Deep brown with a slight red tinge, lots of carbonation but largely opaque No real head to speak of, only a tan cream foam. Some cloudiness. Some spider web-like lacing.

S: Mustard, tart as in sour, mustard greens, mustard gas, almost a green vegetal quality. Red hot radish. Sour, balsamic vinegar quality. Cabbage, bok choi, reminds me of Chinese food.

T: Definite sour going on. I don’t know how others drank the same drink and missed this. Almost a salinous salty quality as well. Balsamic vinegar, but not detecting any sweetness whatsoever. Oak is not in the face, but when siphoned over the tongue, I get the dry oak.

M: Medium weighty body, medium high carbonation.

O: Love it. Love the bottle, the taste, the style. Was from part of my Christmas present from a Colorado friend. With so much flavour, this one should be shared.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 04:16:30 | More by patre_tim

rdobens

Tennessee

2.29/5  rDev -46.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

I had my growler filled after a recommendation from other member of my local growler club. Having thoroughly enjoyed the other Lips of Faith brews I had tried I really wanted to like this beer. I just could not get my palate into the sour mash. This was my first sour mash beer experience, maybe if I have a few more and become accustom to the flavors I will revisit this beer and re-evaluate.

Serving type: growler

03-08-2013 00:28:08 | More by rdobens

jvillefan

California

4.11/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

A: A ruby brown body with a lace white head.

S: A sweet caramel aroma that is tinged with a pleasant sour aroma.

T: Not a lot of sour present. Very mild flavors. There is some grape and toffee in the background.

M: A little thing but great carbonation.

O: Great refreshing beer. Worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2013 05:21:10 | More by jvillefan

lordofstarside

Nevada

4.28/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2013 bomber to a goblet

Pours a dark reddish brown with half a finger of foam that's dissipated pretty quickly. Mild carbonation is masked through a haze with very little transparency in the middle, lighting up a bit towards the bottom of the glass. Good lacing, not a bad looking flanders red. Aroma of tart cherry, apple, vinegar, oak, a sweet mild malt and a bit of alcohol. Dark fruit esters also come through bringing everything together. Taste follows well, sour fruits up front, nice toasty oak, and a subtle malt backbone. Feel is good, medium body which leaves my mouth salivating. Overall this years isn't bad. I don't know if it's whether I've gotten more acclimated to sours, but this years doesn't seem as strong as last years, despite having the abv kicked up to seven. Still a great beer, I'm not going to pick up many more at $14 a pop though

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 02:54:03 | More by lordofstarside

Murrhey

Montana

4.34/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a standard pressure-cap bomber into my New Belgium tulip glass in high elevation Libby, Mont. No best-by date. 2013 vintage. Price was steep, $14.99 at Brix Bottleshop in Kalispell, Mont. Hoping it lives up to its reputations. I do love sours. Anyway, beer time.

A- One-finger light brown head with very active carbonation and a quick erosion of the head. Slowly falling lacing. Maple-reddish color with low clarity.

S- Absolutely wonderful and complex aroma. Chardonnay, tannins, oak, vanilla, and typical sour scents. Holy cow, this smell is a five.

T- Crisply tart, vinous flavors and tannins from the barrels this was aged in. Strangely, I could pick out the chardonnay and oak even if I didn't read that on the bottle. Sour, but not overpowering. I believe I may have found my new favorite sour. Surprisingly refreshing.

M- Slightly vinous like a dry white wine. Finishes with active carbonation and a light body.

O- The mouthfeel is well above average and it is the weakest part of this beer. Do no pass this up if you see it. Worth $15 for a once-a-year type brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 05:26:43 | More by Murrhey

spoony

Colorado

4.09/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

From a 650 ml bomber (dated December 2, 2012, but the release is 2013) into a tulip.

A-This brew pours a thin, light-brown head that drops to spotty foam cap within seconds. The beer is a nice-looking ruby red hued brown color. Quite murky.

S-The smell is moderately sour with hints of sour cherries and a light touch of tart apple, as well as a pretty solid whiff of vanilla. The dry oak scent is mild at first, but really grows as the brew warms toward room temperature. Not much funk happening here.

T-The taste tracks the smell closely with perhaps a bit more pucker power on the tongue than you would expect, and a stronger oak component. You get sour cherries, some vanilla, and a light funkiness. Finish is long and all dry oak.

M-This beer is heavier in the body than some oud bruins, but I still medium weight. There is a decent wave of carbonation upfront that pairs nicely with the sour flavors and that long, dry finish.

O-This is one of my favorites and one of the beers that really got me back into craft after a whiskey-filled hiatus. While La Folie isn't as good as I remember from back in the day of corked and caged bottles, this is still a fine beer and an excellent representation of the style. This year's batch has more oak (and less sour fruit) than I recall from previous batches, but that could just be nostalgia talking.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 04:01:07 | More by spoony

falc0n2600

California

4.46/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Nice reddish color with a small head. Intense-smelling fruity smells with incredibly tart but slightly sweet, and a whole lot of sour. I had this during a sour beer night with sixteen sour beers and this one was definitely one of the most memorable of the night.

Serving type: on-tap

02-26-2013 06:30:29 | More by falc0n2600

hopoilcrazy

Tennessee

2.93/5  rDev -31.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

22oz bomber --- 2013 Vintage

A - This oud looks right on point. A beautiful ruby-ish copper hue really grabs the eye and made me salivate. Little to no lace, the head blooms up and quickly goes down to a thin ring.

S - Plain old white vinegar hits first, then light fruity notes hit, mostly plums and cherries. The rest of the aroma is taken up by a vanilla-y diacetyl that seems bothersome.

T - Everything is confirmed in the taste. At first, I get a nice champagne-like dryness and then a massive just shy of vinegar hit. The sourness is actually very pleasing, but lingers a little to long. I think that the roastiness of the malts is too much for an oud that I would like. This oud would be awesome if it had more funk, more dryness, and definitely less roast on the malt. And no lactic tang. It is nice that the alcohol is totally imperceptible.

M - The mouthfeel is nice. Very crisp and light it tingles the tongue and is the only saving grace of this beer.

Overall, I think that this batch (2013) is too young and needs some tweaking to really sustain the legacy of La Folie, which I have immensely enjoyed in the past

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 07:35:37 | More by hopoilcrazy

suspect

New York

4.33/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a Central Waters snifter.

A: Crystal clear pure brown color. Aggressive pour leads to a cream-colored soft foam 1 finger head.

S: Funk brings it home first and foremost! Love it! Biting yeast, good malty backbone. Nose is kind of a one-trick pony but it's great.

T: Biting sourness backs away just a bit (man I was hoping it was going to bring IT) but it's still very deliciously sour forward with tart fruit notes like green apple and some lemon zest.

M: Perfectly carbonated brew, crisp finish.

O: A really solid Oud. Perfectly soured, really good flavor. Excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 01:52:00 | More by suspect

SPThirtyThree

Colorado

3.85/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Corked and caged, in a 750 mL champagne bottle, either 07-11 or 11-07. Hand-bottled, number 13, 490. Must be 2007 then. Thanks, Harvey!

A: La Folie pours a clear, ruby-tinted brown with a thin eggshell cap, but even in the etched goblet from New Belgium themselves, the head doesn't persist. There's no lacing, leaving the naked beer sticking to the glass like a bad wine. There are lots of little yeast clumps in the first pours, and a thick cloud of yeast in final pours.

S: Watermelon, honey, horse blanket, nutmeg. It's estery, just slightly funky, and oakey. It smells and looks a bit more like a Flanders Red than an Oud Bruin, but we'll see what happens next.

T: The taste is puckering sour cherries a sulfurous spice. It approaches overwhelming, but the intense tartness quickly backs off. There's cardboard in the middle, so I think this bottle might be past its prime, but I'd have to try a newer batch of La Folie again to be sure.

As I drink, it sweetens, but there's still more vinegar and salt than I remember.

It's more dry than sweet, but there is a faint, juicy sweetness behind the apple tartness. I don't get much malt at all, but plenty of juicy fruits.

Overall, a pretty good beer. The color, fruit:malt ratio in smell and flavor, general tartness, and vinegar make it seem more Flanders than Bruin. It's intensely tart, though there are plenty of beers more sour.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 01:28:29 | More by SPThirtyThree

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.48/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

la folie, vintage 2007, bottle # approaching the 1000th, corked & caged -- from the bridge in St. Louis

The beer pours a hazy, dark rusty brown with a loosely carbonated tan halo of head. The nose presents notes of sherry/oxidation, fresh string beans, a slight sweetness, and intense funk. The taste is distinctly oud bruin with a subtle cherry sweetness, oak and a petri dish's worth of funky culture. There is very little acetone or alcohol present and it drinks balanced. Smooth, well-carbonated, with an initial sweetness that transitions into a woody, tart, very dry finish. For $20/750ml (bar price nonetheless)...I should have ordered another bottle!

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 02:34:34 | More by ThePorterSorter

popery

California

4.3/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

From notes, 10/29/10. 2009. Dark maroon, transparent. Little head. Aroma is raspberry seeds, sour cherries, berry jam - wonderful fruit flavors abound - dry oak and subtle earthiness. Reminiscent of Rodenbach Grand Cru. The taste is very sour and dry. Great pucker. A bit thicker than expected. Wonderful sour.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 07:41:43 | More by popery

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

750ml corked and caged bottle from '08, poured into a wine glass and enjoyed during Zwanze Day '12 at Spuyten Duyvil.

A: Dark, hazy reddish-brown body with a cap of fine tan bubbles. Ok retention, spotty lace. Nice.

S: Insanity. Oak, red-wine vinegar, grape must, cherry skin, vanilla, and general ripping acidity. Wow.

T: Fruitiness up front, with overripe cherry and underripe apple giving way to rich acetic sourness and deeply earthy, musty oak funk. Long, bittersweet finish with cherry and vinegar balancing perfectly. Terrific.

M: Soft, moderately carbonated, and tinglingly sour.

O: Amazing. I'd heard such great things about the C&C bottles of this beer, and was not let down at all. It was especially great getting to enjoy it side-by-side with some incredibly different sours from Cantillon and Hanssens. Wonderful experience.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 02:11:24 | More by woosterbill

AlexFields

Tennessee

4.16/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

'09 c&c bottle opened January 2013.

Pours hazelnut brown color, not much head, looks more like a barleywine than an oud bruin.

Smell is a let down compared to the other bottles of this I've had. Vaguely tart, sweet cherries, pretty tame.

Taste is far better. Nicely sour, sweet cherries and other fruit, tomato. Excellent.

Mouthfeel also very good, super creamy and very drinkable.

Great beer, the '07 I had was even better but I didn't take notes to review that one.

8.9/10

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 21:15:53 | More by AlexFields

teromous

Virginia

3.38/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

2012 Vintage

A: Dark reddish brown body, with a very thin off-white head. Very little lacing, and tiny carbonation bubbles are barely visible through the darkness of the beer.

S: Musky smelling with some alcohol scents coming through. I get a piña colada scent from the beer as well. Some toast scents come through as well.

T: Lots of sour raspberry flavor on my tongue but no puckering anywhere else in my mouth. Some musky flavor in the end, followed by some shallow bitterness at the back of my mouth. The toasty scent does not make it into the flavor which is a bit unfortunate.

M: The tartness makes this a definite sipper. Lots of puckering and chewing takes place when drinking the beer. It feels very watery and doesn't have much texture at all.

O: Overall I thought it was a lot nicer than many other sours I have tasted, which is probably because it is blended. I still would like more of the musky character from this beer and less blatant tartness. If you are not into sours, you will be put off by this beer because it has a very strong tart flavor. I would have liked more body to the beer as well.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 23:07:31 | More by teromous