Lips Of Faith - La Folie - New Belgium Brewing

Zach136

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Vintage 2012 Bottle Poured into an oversized tulip glass.

A - Pours a dark rust color with a thin beige head that dissipates after a few sips. A little bit of lacing. Very light carbonation.

S - The Brett horse blanket presence is up front with some vinegar and tart fruit.

T - Where this beer really shines. Green Apple mostly with hints of raspberry and wood notes in the after taste. Great balance of sweet and tart.

M - Some sours I need a glass of water after, not this one. La Folie is crisp and dangerously refreshing.

O - Its the top of it's class for a reason. Mrs. Salazar does a great job. The only question is whether or not to drink my remaining bottles ASAP, or ignore her advice and cellar them for a verticle.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 05:07:27 | More by Zach136

beerdhabelly

Nebraska

4.83/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Clarification: this is not based on the style, as I know little about the style, but my own interpretation of this particular beer.

I loved this beer! A uniquely rust red color that in itself was intriguing to me (given have only had a few sours). Smells sweet, but not like it was, I would not have guessed it to be so sour based on the smell. A wildly sour taste that converted me from thinking sours taste like vinegar to sours being highly enjoyable. The feel was a nice medium body with spot on carbonation.

Really loved this beer and it opened up sours for me. Have one!

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2013 19:22:28 | More by beerdhabelly

yamar68

Minnesota

4.31/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage:

Great looking beer - burnt ruby brown body topped with a half finger of khaki head that retains and laces well.

Loads of super sweet dark fruits... raisins, dates, plums, figs... brown sugar and molasses, pretty imposing. Not obviously sour. There's a good dose of red wine vinegar. Really a unique smell; it's got that "La Folie" aroma.

Oooh... yeah. That's a beautiful thing. Not exactly a traditional "sour brown." It's more like a big bad oud bruin which I totally dig... tart dark berries, fresh apple, a bit of oak, a bit of awesome. Again, this seems so familiar but at the same time it's really a game changer.

Try it. It's a badass beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 01:40:33 | More by yamar68

Thehuntmaster

South Africa

4.8/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle 6,0% Abv.
Served lightly chilled in an over sized wine glass.
2008 Vintage, corked and caged bottle.

Thanks to Futura123 for this bottle.

Appearance: La Folie appears a deep red-brown in the glass, with a back light revealing beautiful crimson highlights that fade into golden-amber along the edges of the glass. A rough pour yields a massive light tan coloured head that lasts fairly well and leaves thick clumps of lacing clinging to the glass.

Smell: Wow, this smells amazing! The initial nose offers big tart, woody cherry notes alongside balsamic and spicy oak. Further contemplation and some warming reveals an amazing complex aroma, with additional notes that include: A general red fruitiness (red apples in particular), a vinous character, a distinct metallic note, a deep earthiness, old wood, a hint of cinnamon bark (the actual bark, not the spice sold in general stores), a big underlying sweetness (could be associated with brown sugar), a hint of chocolate and touches of vanilla.

Taste: Wow, futura warned me that this one would be tart, but I was not expecting it to be outright, mouth puckeringly sour (a big plus in my book)! After the shock of the first sip, the flavour opens up with amazing complexities and is as delicious as the nose suggested. Notes include: Woody cherries, balsamic, red grape skins, a little lemon, spicy oak, a metallic note, old wood, a distinct earthiness, a vinous character, red apples and a touch of leather. Interestingly, even though the flavour is mouth puckeringly sour, there are still traces of an underlying sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, with a medium high level of amazingly smooth carbonation.

Overall: I am told that these old C&C bottles are quite a lot better than the new bombers. If true, this is a shame, as this was easily the best Oud Bruin I have had and I would love to have it again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 19:55:51 | More by Thehuntmaster

rangerred

Tennessee

3.05/5  rDev -28.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Had on tap.

Arrived a clear ruby red with no real head to speak of.

Aroma of dark fruit with a definite tartness present. Some wood and tree bark as well.

Immediate dark fruit on the flavor reminding me of cherries and figs. Lots of tartness along with vinegar and some funk. A little bit of lighter citrus in there as well. Mouthfeel is very watery, unfortunately, and detracts somewhat.

Overall, I was a little underwhelmed by this beer. It seemed to lack some complexity and the mouthfeel was terrible.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2012 19:57:31 | More by rangerred

BucannonXC5

California

4.05/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Type: Draft
Glass: Half pint glass
From: URGE American Gastropub in Rancho Bernardo (San Diego, Calif.)
Price: $6.00
Misc.: N/A

Poured a dark red, plum color with about a finger (when I got it) of marshmallow white head that initially had good retention. Nice spider web lacing on the sides as the beer went down, averaged out on the top.

Smelled sour cherries, green apple, rum, black cherry, plum and Cherry Coke.

Tasted sour cherries, black cherry, tart, Smarties and still that sour green apple. Some sour grape as well.

Medium body. Oily texture. Average-to-lively (above average) carbonation. Extremely long smooth finish. Definitely the best part of the beer.

Very good beer overall. I’m still learning the sours and Flanders’, but this seems to be one of the better ones I’ve tried. Would definitely try it again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2012 00:22:54 | More by BucannonXC5

tectactoe

Michigan

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

On tap at the Oak Cafe. Pours a deep copper-ruby red hybrid letting spotty amounts of light shine through; tan head, decent retention, minimal lacing. Aroma lifts up heavily from the glass with tart apples, strawberries, and a large assortment of sweet and tart fruits popping everywhere. Slight wet-wood and funk scents around the edges, however its very light and certainly overthrown by the cornucopia of fruit.

Taste is initially tart and sour on the very tip of the tongue, pucker inducing; ripe strawberries, green apples, sour cherries, and a huge assortment of other berries dance around the palate. Tart and sour flavors mellow out within a few seconds and turn into a lasting sweetness. Some mild yeast in the background, if nothing more than a foundation for the fruits to build in, it works well. Lots of carbonation, crisp and surprisingly dry, thin-medium body, more on the medium side I would say.

Great sour ale from New Belgium. It's hard to get great sours in the US sometimes, especially ones that are readily available. La Folie isn't cheap, but it's worth picking some up each year when it's released. Authentic fruit flavors are the key - this one nails it. I happen to like sour fruits, and this hit the spot.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2012 12:40:42 | More by tectactoe

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Dark brown with red-brown highlights in the light. The beige head suds up nicely in my tulip, but fell just the same leaving some consolidate bubbles. Looks nice. 4.0

Rich apple-y vinegar and fruit notes with some light rot and juicy tartness. Tart cherry, starting-to-rot apple flesh, apple cider vinegar, raisiny malts, red currants, and some damp leather. 4.5

Leathery and fruity with some lovely sour notes. Primarily, apple and tart berry. Lightly vinegary and very oaky, but well-balanced between sweet and sour. Malts decomposed a bit with the addition of wild yeasts, but you can still make out cereal notes. Some mustiness. Very delicious. 4.0

Drinks simply. Lower carbonation. The body is average, would like some more fullness. 3.0

Excellent Oud Bruin. The nose is exceptional and the flavor has great balance and intricacy. Kudos. 4.5

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 03:02:54 | More by thecheapies

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.95/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on tap at Beachwood BBQ during their sourfest last year. A darker burnt copper kind of color, thin head on it, beige it appears. It doesn't do much in the lace department, there was never a substantial head formation to measure how well it made lace, much less discussing retention beyond that.

A mildly tart, acidic aroma permeates the nose. Enjoyable, you get some minimal intrusions of wood barrel in the aroma as well.

Flavor profile leans towards cherry tarts. Notes of apple come on as well. There is some sweetness, but nothing approaching Lindemans territory here. Funkiness doesn't seem developed, this one comes off all modernized and clean. I think I heard they pastuerize this stuff now, so it won't be growing in the bottle, this may explain the lack of funk, I don't care, its not something I went in hoping for either way. Some brown malt/ale type of leanings when you look beneath the fruit flavors and sour/tart aspects of the beer.

Its a good flanders brown, the cost seems to keep going up, but I don't mind picking up one of these every year.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2012 21:43:49 | More by Beerandraiderfan

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

3.93/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

32 oz growler poured into a New Belgium globe at fridge-cellar temperature.

L – Ruby brown color with a 0.5-finger tan bubbly head that rapidly dissipates to a ring of bubbles that surround the edge of the glass throughout. A tiny bit of patchy lacing. Some haze but clear enough to appreciate a good amount of bubbles.

S – Red wine, cherries, vinegar, some oak, and maybe some caramel. As the beer warms, certainly more malt becomes apparent with more caramel, chocolate, and plum notes.

T – Tart right off the bat with sour cherries and grapes. Finishes slightly bittersweet with some apple, raspberry, and oak notes. Again, as the beer warms, the sweetness balances out the sourness better with caramel, chocolate, and dark fruit notes.

F – Thin-bodied with good carbonation, a puckering mouthfeel, and a sour and slightly dry finish. Again, as the beer warms, it gains more body and the sweetness makes the sourness more manageable.

O – I really like this beer, and so it pains me to give it anything less than a 4. However, it possesses the misfortune of belonging to a style of beers that can be some of the most brilliantly complex beers in the world. Regardless of the score, this is a very good beer and a fantastic introduction to sours. In fact, it was the very beer that got me hooked on them. This is a very tasty, drinkable, and approachable sour beer.

Serving type: growler

12-02-2012 21:07:12 | More by BlackBelt5112203

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On draught at HopCat for the Wood and Wild Ale Festival 2012 (several times over), into a tulip.

Deep ruby red, no head, no lacing. Nose is brilliant once warm, darker cherry notes and Flanders Red type malting predominate. Taste is acetic, dark cherry, sweetish malts with some mild vinegar notes in the finish. Tartness hangs around for a while. Lighter medium feel, medium high carbonation. An excellent Flanders ale, super drinkable and something I'll revisit any time I catch it on draught.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2012 18:03:38 | More by liamt07

Caedus

California

3.93/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: A dark reddish brown color with about a half inch head that doesn't retain very long.

S: Tart fruits right off the bat, cherries, apples and some raspberries are immediate with a little bit of funk on the back end.

T: A surprising touch of brown sugar, helps to balance the tart fruits present in this beer, but the cherries really come through. A bit of vinegar, but the brown sugar sweetness eventually pulls through the tart and sour fruits.

M: medium body with a lot of carbonation.

D: A bit overly tart, but easier to drink due to the brown sugars.

Full review here: http://bit.ly/Q7n52b

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 09:12:45 | More by Caedus

brother_kenneth

Virginia

3.88/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 - 22oz bottle, poured into a snifter glass.

A- Pours a deep brown, reddish color. Light foam, goes away rather quickly; light lacing.

S- Sour cherries and some oak. Really just a funky smelling brew.

T- Again, cherries and oak are the main things here. I am not sure I can pull much else out of this one. It is super tart! One of the more sour beers I have tasted, without a doubt. Nice carbonation considering the style, fairly light body.

O- This is one mouth-puckering sour beer. It may not be as complex as other similar beers I have tasted, but I do really like this one. Again, this is a super sour brew. Would not recommend this one as someone's first beer of the style. Definitely worth the $12 I spent!

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 02:13:06 | More by brother_kenneth

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 Vintage

A: Pours a crystal clear dark garnet red in color with some reddish brown notes and moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a half finger tall fizzy light beige head that slowly reduces to a very thin film covering about half of the surface of the beer with a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of sourness including sour cherries along with some oakiness.

T: Like the smell, the taste of this beer contains quite a bit of sourness including sour cherries and some oak flavors as well. In addition, there are some light vinous/vinegar notes in the finish.

M: Light to medium bodied with moderate to heavy amounts of carbonation. Just a hint of acidic prickliness.

O: Very enjoyable - there is a nice sourness to this beer along with the presence of the tart/sour cherries. Not overly sour but it might be a tougher beer for folks new to the style to approach.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 03:40:05 | More by dbrauneis

cfrobrew

Texas

4.6/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2009 bottle found randomly at a specs here in Texas
Appearance: dark brown with hint of red like cherry coke, very little head that disappears quickly
Smell: strong tart smell with a slight hint of vinegar and cherries
Taste: awesome, medium to high tartness with a hint of cherry
Mouthfeel: good carbonation, very smooth, medium body
Overall: this is one of my favorites, expensive but solid go to sour, old faithful, very tart and drinkable

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 19:16:21 | More by cfrobrew

superspak

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 ounce bottle into signature globe glass, 2012 vintage. Pours crystal clear brick red color with a 1 finger fairly dense light khaki head with decent retention, that reduces to a thin cap. Light spotty lacing slings on the glass, with a good amount of streaming carbonation retaining a bit of head. Aromas of big tart apple, cherry, raspberry, hay, red wine vinegar, grass, funk, leather, oak, and yeast spiciness. Incredible aromas with fantastic balance and complexity. Taste of tart apple, cherry, pear, hay, red wine, oak, funk, raspberry, grass, leather, light earth, and light yeast spiciness. Nice amount of sourness on the finish; with lingering notes of tart dark fruit, hay, grass, funk, leather, red wine, oak, grass, and light earth on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic balance and complexity of flavors; with a nice sourness/sweetness balance; no cloying flavors after the finish at all. Medium carbonation and body; with a lightly slick and very acidic mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with zero warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a fantastic Flanders brown style! Fantastic balance and complexity of flavors; very smooth to drink despite acidity. An incredibly enjoyable offering as expected.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 02:56:47 | More by superspak

cfrances33

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2012 bottle, poured into a teku.

Pour: Deep burgundy that is a little hazy. Nice two finger tan head, that is slow to recede and leaves minimal lacing.

Smell:Light cherries, some caramel, and a minuscule funk. Not really anything besides that going on here.

Taste: Follows the nose, with some cherries and a pretty sizable caramel sweetness. Some tart pear might slip in there too, but just a little.

Mouthfeel: A big disappointment on the sour aspects. Just a light tartness. Nice carbonation, but nothing to really write home about. Light to medium bodied

Overall: A pretty big disappointment given the price tag and reviews. I won't be getting this again.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 23:48:53 | More by cfrances33

mltobin

Connecticut

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

Split a bomber of this with a couple friends.

Poured it into a Duvel tulip glass. The appearance is reddish brown with a short head. This oud bruin has a nose with raisins, apricots, funk and oak. It is a very nice aroma which draws you towards the beer. Taste is vinegar, sour cherries, cask and some faint vanilla. Mouthfeel is pleasant, well balanced, a dry finish. I really had waited too damn long to try this beer from New Belgium, thats the trouble when there is no distribution close by and you are not an active trader. Oh well, recommend it to sour fans and beer drinkers in general.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 23:45:16 | More by mltobin

bens0n

Texas

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

Got a bottle of 2012 La Folie

This beer pours a dark copper color with a small amount of foamy tan head that dissipates very quickly.

This beer right off the bat has a lovely sweet and sour fruit smell that overpowers everything else, theres a tiny bit of bready malt that lingers in the background.

This beer has a lovely crisp start and a lip puckering sour finish that induces you to take tiny sips just to get that sour lip puckering action. It tastes just like it smells but its way more sour than sweet. The malt body is more noticeable in the middle, but its all washed away on the sour finish.

Have never had a sour before, but I loved this beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 18:33:26 | More by bens0n

elgiacomo

Georgia

4.23/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle, 2012 batch. Served at around 45F and allowed to warm in the glass.

Pours clear reddish brown with a two finger light brown head that recedes to a ring and leaves only a few spots of short-lived lacing behind.

Aroma is sour, vinegar, apples, cherries, a little funky, some wood and a hint of vanilla. All comes together quite nicely. Good to very good strength.

Flavor starts with a big blast of sour, quite puckering, strong sour apples, cherries, vinegar, oak, a little touch of sweet malt dances around, particularly at the finish, but this sour first and foremost. Minimal alcohol.

Mouthfeel is light/medium bodied, a bit sticky, lowish carbonation.

Very nice Sour and quite sour at that.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 03:43:28 | More by elgiacomo

UnderPressure

South Carolina

4.65/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2012

Clear, plumb colored. Off-white head

The sour aroma fills the room. Sharp, pungent, and wine-like.

Fine and dandy like sour candy. Some might say the flavor is similar to wine. I would say it's better. The backbone obviously comes from barley malt. Not fruit. But, fruity flavors are upfront. And sourness after. I could go on and on. Really complex flavor.

It's hard to judge the viscosity, since this beer is doing so much to your mouth. the dry tartness hits the tongue immediately and lingers inside the mouth. Meanwhile, you still have sour to lick from your lips as you try not to pucker.

Some folks may not enjoy a beer like this. For me, I consider it a treat. Your life is not too bad if you're enjoying a beer like this.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 16:51:25 | More by UnderPressure

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 bomber

Appearance. Pours a clear re-brown with a finger of off-white head that fades quick.

Smell. Nice sweet and sour cherries, old funky dank wood, sweet green apples and demerara sugar.

Taste. Tart cherry and a little lemon juice, some of that dank old wood I was smelling and a little dark and grainy malt. No alcohol whatsoever.

Mouthfeel. Medium body, medium-low carbonation.

Overall. Very nice oud bruin. I love the sour, but it could have used a little more of those nice flavours.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 02:31:26 | More by Rutager

ESPNman

California

4.43/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Dark, murky, off-reddish brown with a finger's width of loose brown-tinged head. Very little lacing.

S - Right off of the bat, you get hit with the overwhelming sour funk of this beast. Red wine vinegar, tart cherries, oak, and FUNK dominate the nose. It's not a horse-blanket, cheesy kind of funk, but more of a sour kind of toe-curling funk.

T - Almost identical to the nose, but with more pronounced fruit and oak. This this is extremely sour, but it isn't too sour given the rest of the flavor profile. It's almost like biting into a dark cherry a couple of weeks before it's ripe. A nice round oak flavor really completes the balance between the sour and the... I'm not quite sure how to describe it.... Meatiness.

M - Good carbonation, a little on the thin side. Extremely dry finish, but in a good way for such an extremely sour brew.

O - I love this beer. My wife loves this beer. My friends love this beer. Granted, they are all familiar with sours and consider them to be one of their favorite styles, so it might not be for everyone. For a fan of a sour beer, however, this one is a must-try.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 05:56:45 | More by ESPNman

MikeyMikee

New York

4.63/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 served at fridge temp into a snifter.

A: Deep reddish brown with a red hue. Loose looking head with large bubbles, and a quickly dissipating head. Not too much lacing after swirling and drinking a bit of it.

S: Smells acetic and vinegary. With a load of cherries and a dry oaky/woody kind of finish.

T: Pretty much identical to the smell. Very tangy and vinegary, mouth puckering tartness. Cherries really come through and it has a heavy underlying sweetness that almost takes over the tartness after a while, but not quite.

M: Carbonation is a bit heavy at first but after a bit of swirling and time to warm it really reaches its peak. Awesome carbonation and overall feel. If it weren't for the tartness, it would have a pretty velvety feel on your tongue.

O: I love this beer. Great example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 04:04:03 | More by MikeyMikee

libbey

Washington

4.4/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

64oz growler split with friends. Poured into a snifter.

A: The beer pours a murky dark amber/brown with a minimal cap of head that settles quickly leaving a thin trail of spotty lacing.

S: The smell is of musty tart cherries intermingling with layers of oak and funk.

T: The taste follows the nose with a a big blast of super tart dark fruit on the font end with a nice dry oaky finish. Flavor is fairly bright with fruit and very sour.

M: Overall mouthfeel is well carbonated and carries this medium bodied bruin brown perfectly. Finish is dry with oak and funk lingering on the pallet.

O: Overall this is an exceptional sour from New Belgium and one that I never pass on when I see. World Class pursue accordingly.

Serving type: growler

09-09-2012 23:19:30 | More by libbey