Lips Of Faith - Tart Lychee - New Belgium Brewing

FreshHawk

Illinois

3.84/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A - Crisp, light gold color. Good sized, smooth, creamy, tight, white head. Pretty good retention leaving a thin lacing.

S - Fairly tart aroma. Oak and slight funk are the strongest aromas. Fair amount of berry, apple, and lychee on the nose. More tart but a subtle sweetness with that fruity aroma. Hidden, and slightly dull cinnamon spice.

T - Similar to the nose, although the lychee and berry flavors are slightly stronger. Fairly tart and verging on puckering, but there is enough sweetness and fruitiness that it isn't too intense. A nice oak and funk flavor. Not barnyard but more of a clean, tart funk. Notes of apple and tart cherry. Not picking up much cinnamon but there is a hint of a kick on the finish.

M - Medium to light body. Slightly above average carbonation. Slightly juicy and puckering feel.

D - Tartness and funk are very well balanced and integrated. Nice oakiness in the back. Fairly juicy fruit with just a subtle sweetness all make it a fairly easy to sip sour beer. Nothing too extreme or harsh.

Notes: Overall a nice sour, but it's nothing special or all that memorable. It's been about a year since I've had lychee (had it in a homebrew about 8 months ago though I guess) but it was definitely a major component. The tamed and balanced funk and oak took the spotlight though, but I liked that with the fruit notes being complimentary. Easy to drink and nothing extreme. Overall it's decent, but I won't lose any sleep about not having it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 04:06:35 | More by FreshHawk

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.99/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

"To sweet and sour! In celebration of one of the greatest combinations ever, Lychee fruit brings tropical sweetness to the party hosted by Felix, our golden wood-aged sour beer. Cinnamon sticks were invited to spice things up and so are you! Get in one the tasty revelry that is tart lychee."

Poured from a 22 oz. bomber to my New Belgium globe glass. Served north of 46º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a creamy white head with decent staying power over a pale golden amber body with a medium haze. Lacing is medium thick and clingy. Carbonation is plentiful. Appearance is quite nice for the style. 3.75

(Smell) Aroma consists of tart berry fruit notes, pale cracker malt and a bready yeast funk with a substantial acidity, a pinch of candy syrup, and a very mild tick of cinnamon. Wood tones are pretty mild at best, but add a moderate dryness perceptible to the nose. The balance is pretty nice, a touch more malt body may have rounded out the flavor even better, but what is here is enjoyable and quite well balanced on its own. 4

(Taste) Up front a thin pale malt syrup with a sharp tart, mild fruity midsection and a mildly spiced finish of toasty cinnamon sugar. Although I'm a sucker for sour ales, this one is admittedly well done, enjoyably sour but still very well balanced and flavorful in all the right places. The cinnamon did a much better job than I expected that it would in this beer- not only is it not out-of-place, but it compliments the finish and adds a great amount of unique character to this beer. 4

(Mouthfeel) Carbonation is mild and airy with a dry, clean and tart acidic finish. Body is medium for the style and medium overall. Alcohol presence is low, pretty well overshadowed by the sourness of the fruit and yeast character. It has an enjoyable balance and carbonation presence. 4

(Overall) This is one of the best done wild ales that I've had. It's very accessible and not overly "wild" in flavor, but it still takes its chances with fruit and spice and still comes out on top. I hope that New Belgium considers bringing this ale back in the future. 4

New Belgium Brewing's
Lips of Faith Series: Tart Lychee
3.99/5.00

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 20:16:49 | More by Jadjunk

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

3.95/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Pours a very hazy, bright orange to golden color. Medium, very fizzy head that retains a short time, but laces fairly well. Little light gets through the hazy unfiltered body.

S- Fruity sourness hits the nose first. Somewhat acidic and seltzer-like. This tart and somewhat fruity scent goes throughout with hints of spices peeking in throughout.

T- Starts with a fruity sour note that is very short lived. Immediately moves into a more funky and grain-like flavor. Yeast notes are present and prominent in the middle, mixing with the grain flavors. Grains drown out most of the small amount of spice flavors detectable. Ends with a slight return to acidic sour, but mostly grainy flavor.

M- Light and highly carbonated, this has a predominantly seltzer-like feel. Not too harsh on the tongue for a sour beer. Fairly easy drinking.

Overall, I'm not too impressed with this beer, but it's not bad. It definitely displays a more fruit forward sour flavor that others, but I think that has faded with time in the bottle. If you can find it, try it, especially for the price.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 21:08:55 | More by boilermakerbrew

superspak

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 ounce bottle into signature globe glass, bottled on 4/10/2012. Pours slightly hazy golden amber color with a 1 finger fairly dense white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of big sour apple, lemon, pear, cherry, pineapple, pepper, clove, wheat, grass, hay, earth, oak, cinnamon, funk, and honey. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity, spicy, malty, and funky notes. Taste of sour apple, pear, lemon, cherry, pineapple, clove, hay, grass, wheat, oak, pepper, earth, light cinnamon, light funk, and light honey sweetness. Light fruity tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of tart light fruits, pineapple, clove, hay, grass, wheat, oak, earth, light funk, and light honey sweetness on the finish for a good bit. Damn nice flavor balance and complexity of fruity, spicy, malty, and funky notes; with zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a fairly slick and lightly acidic mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an excellent blended wild ale. Great complexity and balance of flavors; and very smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 06:44:18 | More by superspak

stephenjmoore

Maryland

3.65/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A- Honey colored body with a thin, bubbly white head. Body is very transparent, but not crystal clear.

S- Sour funk, sweet fruit, earthy spices.

T- Sour up front, sugary fruit in the middle, funky finish with dried fruit, cinnamon and strawberry.

M- Medium bodied, high carbonation, very dry, especially in the finish.

O- Not overly sour, somewhat sweet, not a ton of flavor, not getting much oak. A decent sour, but not memorable.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 01:31:26 | More by stephenjmoore

nickthegun12

Alabama

4.44/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

nice beer!!!

fast fading head with little lacing

sour smell with sweet undertones

taste is sweet then sour...very nicely balanced, i don't taste the cinnamon or anything that makes it sweet but sweetness is there

feel is dry and sour

overall i could drink this beer all day and night long!

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 01:25:31 | More by nickthegun12

merc7186

New York

3.71/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Bomber into snifter glass.

A: Hazy Golden Straw Hue, Passes Some Light, White Head Ring, Some Lacing

S: Grassy, Hay, Yeast

T: Apple, Apricots, Mild Hay

M: Average Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Bitter, Mildly Sweet

Overall, a pretty nice balance of sweetness and sourness for this beer...good not great.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 04:31:04 | More by merc7186

yemenmocha

Arizona

2.95/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Doing best to review to style here. Pours a pale honey color with slight haze, minimal head. Nose is somewhat timid, which was a surprise. Some candied fruits there. Palate offers a weird sour fruit with cinnamon flavor that leads to an off-putting aftertaste resembling a bile vomit taste that doesn't exactly evoke positive memories. Wish it wasn't there but I can't get past it. Maybe I let this beer warm too much.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 03:19:10 | More by yemenmocha

phishsihq

Colorado

4.15/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Three year old Wild Beer blended with lychee and a touch of Ceylon cinnamon.

Tart Lychee pours a hazy, straw color with a thin white head and minimal lace. Aromas of wild fruit, cinnamon, funk, and a bit of wheat create an interesting nose, maybe the lychee has something to do with that. Tart and sour cherry-like flavors dominate on the palate, with hints of woodiness and cinnamon faint but present. Medium bodied with a moderate level of carbonation. This one will make you pucker up just a bit!

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 02:21:29 | More by phishsihq

JEdmund

Kansas

4.53/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Marmalade orange color, not much head formation, hazy

Awesome aroma! Fruity, tart, funky—just great and a unique smell. Not sure how much the lychee is adding as I’m not sure I’ve ever eaten one before.

Taste is…wow. Second time having this beer and it still blows my mind as much as it did the first time. Awesome sour flavor, bret funk, fruit, slight chalk (not bad), and a bit of honey malt sweetness in the finish. Perfect mouthfeel with an airy fullness from ample carbonation. Bone dry finish makes this an easy one to drink.

Tart Lychee stands out in my mind as probably my favorite beer from 2012. Nothing made me perk up and take notice quite like this one did. It’s really an enjoyable, exceptional ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 14:25:52 | More by JEdmund

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a hazy golden color ale with a medium size foamy head with light retention and minimal lacing. Aroma of sour and tart notes with light lychee notes. Taste is mostly dominated by tart and lightly sour notes with some fruity ester and light lychee taste. The cinnamon is quite subtle but kind of cut through the sour notes. Body is about average with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Interesting beer though not something I would like to have on a regular basis.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 20:23:22 | More by Phyl21ca

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

had a goblet at Tilia in Linden Hills. Basically, this was a balanced, tart American wild ale, but not a terribly interesting sour beer. There's a light, yet cloying sweet note from the fruit, but otherwise there's a peppery citrus-like sour tang under smooth, sweet doughy malts. I wouldn't order another goblet on tap, but I'd consider picking up a bomber to cellar for a couple years. I don't mean to undersell what's clearly a tasty sour ale, but it's not on par with a good gueuze.

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2012 22:50:59 | More by tempest

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a tumbler at Firkin.

Getting a second shot at this beer thanks to Solidarity. This stuff pours a lightly hazy pale straw topped by a finger of cream-white foam. The nose comprises brown sugar, cinnamon, a berry-like fruitiness that I assume to be lychee, and some red apple skin. The taste holds notes of that same tart lychee (how thoroughly appropriate), light apple cider, and a pleasant abundance of cinnamon. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a slick feel. Overall, an enjoyable brew, one that went surprisingly well with the Firkin's always delicious smoked salmon wrapped around goat cheese. Just sayin'...

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2012 23:00:50 | More by TMoney2591

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a Dogfish snifter...I've been looking forward to this one for quite awhile!

A- pours a hazy yellow with a half finger white head....beer itself is ugly, but the head is solid enough for a wild

S- the lychee is at the forefront in the aroma, with some of the cinnamon sneaking through. There is a huge vinous character to the beer as I'd expect, and it blends very well with the lychee

T- the taste is....very mild. The lychee blends pretty well with the cinnamon, and the sour isn't puckering....reminds me more of a berliner weisse actually. Tart, as opposed to sour

M- medium bodied on the thick side, which is a little offputting and odd considering the style and flavor of the beer

O- this was good, but it wasn't great....disappointed in this. I expected a lot, given how much I loved Le Terroir and love La Folie. Instead, this was like Clutch or Kick....good, not great

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 22:55:18 | More by bigfnjoe

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.83/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a snifter at City Beer Store.

A: Murky matte yellow.

S: Brett, sweet fruit.

T: Malty, smooth, sweet-tart. A bit of funky yeast and some fruit. Dead ish yeast leads you out for a flattish finish.

M: puckery. Pleasant.

O: a good beer, but a stellar one.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2012 00:27:19 | More by AgentMunky

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a light to medium orange color, nice head in the beginning drops down rather quickly, no lacing and mild carbonation.

S - Light sour funk, lemons, green apple, sour white grapes.

T - Light oak, tart sour white grapes (coming from the lychee I presume since I've never personally tried one of these things), tart green apples, sour funk, light barnyard (weird description but can't describe it any different. The cinnamon is nowhere to be found.

M - Light medium body, puckering, gentle carbonation, and the sourness makes your mouth water like crazy. The lychee fruit (aka "white grapes" for my description) lingers and coats the mouth.

O - Tart, sour, and puckering.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 02:35:35 | More by jzeilinger

jmarsh123

Indiana

3.43/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours hazy light orange with a small white head dissipating nearly immediately. Little lacing.

Tart apple and lemon along with a generic berry aroma that from my limited experience with the fruit is probably lychee. A little bit of an earthy funk as well.

Lychee, apple and lemon in the flavor as well. Funkiness is a bit subdued and some oak makes it's presence. Definitely tart although perhaps a bit too much brett as it distracts from the fruit flavors a bit. Finishes dry.

Medium body and carbonation. Dry tart finish.

I enjoyed it, but as far as sours go, it's nothing special. Not sure why Bloomington never got any of this since we usually get all the other lof series, but glad I got to try it.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 17:41:20 | More by jmarsh123

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.43/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

About 3 oz. out of 22 oz. poured into a tasting snifter.

A: Pours a cloudy golden color. Not much head, which isn't surprising given the serving size, but the retention of what head there is isn't very impressive.

S: Quite a bit of cinnamon in general, to the point where it wins out over the tropical fruit notes and mild tartness. Decent enough.

T: The flavor is more balanced. The cinnamon takes a back seat behind a more pleasant wall of light sourness and tropical fruits. Kind of sweet, but very enjoyable.

M: Drier than its initial sweet nature would indicate. The finish gradually builds a touch of tartness in conjunction with the dryness to help balance the sweetness. It's very well carbonated, as well.

O: I want more tartness, but it's still pretty damn good. A nice beer to drink in warm weather.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 01:19:55 | More by ThisWangsChung

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.28/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks ward for finding and sending for this bottle
The beer pours a hazy golden yellow with a thin white head that dissipates. The nose is slightly tart and fruity. I may not have known it was made with lychees based on smell alone, but it's definitely reminiscent of the sweet peeled grape-looking Asian delicacy. Kowledge is power. The beer tastes slightly of lychee, but has potent yeast flavor and a spicy tartness. I would have liked more of the characteristic lychee sweetness and a touch more body, but overall this beer is very tasty and worth the effort to eventually find.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 23:24:50 | More by ThePorterSorter

suspect

New York

3.28/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

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

A: Hazy golden yellow color. Aggressive pour leads to a sticky, foamy 2 finger pure white head. Lacing is consistently spotty.

S: Nose is decent if not overwhelming. Hay, grass, lemon, orange zest, a small bit of funk lead to a pretty nice nose but I really had to go searching for it.

T: Not as "tart" as the name lead me on to be. Brings a nice balanced approach to the flavor but it's pretty underwhleming altogether as a sour.

M: Okay feel...does't make me pucker like I want my sours to do.

O: Pretty average sour. Certainly not anything to write home about.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 01:32:53 | More by suspect

Auracom

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at MSCM. 12 oz. served in a snifter on September 9th, 2012.

A - Look almost exactly like The Bruery's Mother Funker. Super hazy peach coloring with absolutely no head, retention, or lacing.

S - Lychee fruit, which is softly sweet. Underneath is light spice, mango, banana, and honey baked bread.

T - Mild tartness, tangy lychee citrus, light vinegar acidity, sweet almost papaya like fruit flavor.

M - Light body, light to moderate carbonation, semi-dry finish.

D - The tanginess of this is unique and would make me revisit. Overall quite refreshing.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2012 15:44:16 | More by Auracom

flagmantho

Washington

4.18/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 22oz bomber into a tulip.

Appearance: medium golden hue with a light haze and a moderate effervescence. Head is a finger of frothy white foam. Not much in the way of retention or lace, but not bad.

Smell: sweet and fruity aroma with a two-tone tartness: a deep sour component combined with a light, evanescent piquancy which I think makes for an intriguing aroma. I really enjoy it.

Taste: starts off with a tartness and a kind of Brett-style funkiness, which fades into a fruity middle ground. Finishes with a broader sour character. Not as quite as intriguing as the aroma, but really quite good indeed.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a good level of carbonation and a nice, big creaminess. Great job.

Overall: massively drinkable wild ale. I'm not always a fan of New Belgium, but this bad boy, weird as it is, really suits my taste. Dig it.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 01:42:25 | More by flagmantho

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.9/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cheers to Goblinmunkey7 for sharing this beer

Appearance: Pale, golden orange/peach color - fizzy white head, keeps a nice, creamy ring, leaves some nice streaks of lacing

Smell: Very weird, even for the usually-weird American Wile Ale style - very fruity - tropical, floral, and sweet, which I guess must be lychee (honestly, I've never had lychee) - oak and cinnamon - a light, sour tartness underneath the fruit and oak

Taste: Fruity and lightly sour - tropical fruit everywhere, lightly sweet, kind of tastes like a watermelon rind - tart, with some acidic sourness - oak and cinnamon appears at the back of the tongue; both flavors are pretty subdued, which works - lightly sweet

Mouthfeel: Medium body, nicely carbonated, smooth, nicely dry

Overall: Good, not fantastic

This has some interesting ingredients (oak, lychee, cinnamon), yet it actually seems to lack complexity. It's good, but not the best of the Lips of Faith series. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 00:49:09 | More by angrybabboon

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Hazy bright straw gold. Head is bright-white and drops to a bubbly collar and ultra-thin lace almost instantly. Moderate carbonation.

Smell: Funky fruity hay. Bright pseudo-citrus fused with a minor melon and fleshy pear/peach, which I assume is lychee. Mild undercurrent of cinnamon. A bit of sweet spice. Citric sour with a nice layer of yeasty funk. Some minor touches of oak add a mild earthiness that smooths out some of the brighter edges. Lemons and a touch of pale malt. Almost like a mild tropical cobbler. Some bready streusel.

Taste: Powdery yeast. Oak and cinnamon jump over the fruit. Mealy and tropical citrus. Lychee is weird fruit. Cinnamon is more sweet than spicy. Some nice pale malts. Layers of musty grass. Earthy in small measure. Weirdness. Oaky fruit. Underripe peach. Vaguely tropical. Minor citric sour. Pie crust.

Mouthfeel: Lighter side of medium. Carbonation is bubbly without being high. Incredibly clean.

Overall: Incredibly odd fruit. One of a kind.

Lacks some of the depth of other Lips of Faith beers, but it has a unique quality. Punch up the funk/sour and this would be crazy good.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 00:44:21 | More by Goblinmunkey7

gatornation

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz pour on tap

A- slight hazes golden sunshine color with a 1 finger head good lacing

S-tart smell of cherries and citrus with spices like cinnamon and allspice a touch of oak and earth

T- fruits forward of cherries and pineapple and other white fruits spice and oak in the background with earthy musty tastes

M- low/medium carbonation with tart and acidic fruit a little dry

O- good job a nice wild ale delicious on tap its dry tart and slightly sour

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2012 21:15:29 | More by gatornation