La Folie
New Belgium Brewing Company

La FolieLa Folie
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From:
New Belgium Brewing Company
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
Flanders Oud Bruin
Ranked #3
ABV:
7%
Score:
94
Ranked #1,927
Avg:
4.25 | pDev: 10.12%
Reviews:
1,100
Ratings:
4,106
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 04, 2024
Added:
Sep 22, 2002
Wants:
  625
Gots:
  993
Flemish Sour Brown Ale fermented in stainless then transferred to barrels for 1-4 years of aging then blended to taste.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by superspak:
Photo of superspak
Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina

4.32/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 ounce bottle into signature globe glass; 2013 vintage, bottled 12/2/2012. Pours crystal clear dark ruby red color with a 1-2 finger dense khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big sour cherry, cranberry, green apple, raisin, plum, red wine vinegar, caramel, brown bread, hay, straw, grass, leather, toasted oak, musty funk, and yeast earthiness. Fantastic aromas with great complexity and balance of fruity/funky/lactic yeast, dark malt, and oak notes; with good strength. Taste of sour cherry, green apple, cranberry, raisin, plum, red wine vinegar, caramel, brown bread, hay, straw, grass, leather, toasted oak, musty funk, and yeast earthiness. Good amount of fruity/earthy tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of sour cherry, green apple, cranberry, raisin, plum, red wine vinegar, hay, straw, grass, leather, toasted oak, musty funk, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a while. Fantastic complexity and balance of fruity/funky/lactic yeast, dark malt, and oak barrel flavors; with an awesome malt/acidity balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, crisp, and moderately acidic mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is well hidden with only a slight warming present after the finish. Overall this is an outstanding Flanders brown ale. All around awesome complexity and balance of fruity/funky/lactic yeast, dark malt, and oak barrel flavors; and very smooth and crisp to drink even with the moderate acidity. A highly enjoyable offering.
Aug 02, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.21 by Rodya-CA from California

Mar 04, 2024
Photo of dcotom
Reviewed by dcotom from Iowa

4.18/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On tap at George's Local, Cedar Falls, IA; served in a "snulip" glass. Deep garnet-tinged brown in color, with a thin off-white head. Dark-bready malt backbone provides a backdrop for the notes of sour berries and cherries, with a little mild funk. Good carbonation, medium bodied, and a slightly woody finish with some tartness lingering on the palate. Outstanding beer, highly recommended.
Dec 24, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by dd53grif from Michigan

Nov 29, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by Nyoder

Nov 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.44 by Justinbshelton from Alabama

Nov 12, 2023
 
Rated: 4.48 by Stev2822

Jun 18, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by Phoodcritic from Michigan

May 28, 2023
 
Rated: 4.52 by TinFang from California

Jan 15, 2023
Photo of Radome
Reviewed by Radome from Florida

4.21/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Tasted from a 500 ml corked bottle in a red wine glass.

L - Beautiful ruby red color and very clear. Light tan head fades quickly to a thick ring around the glass and a few wisps on the surface. Swirling the beer reveals light lacing and "legs" on the glass like a strong wine shows.

S - Nose is an interesting blend of sweet brown ale with red wine and berry notes, and a sharp, acidic note with some barnyard funk at a low level.

T - The barnyard funk and sour acidity dominate the flavors, but is some depth that reveals other flavors. I get blackberry jam and oak, but the base of Flemish brown ale is not detectable to me.

F - Thin body with low carbonation. Hops bitterness is not detectable because the acidic sourness is so strong it masks any other sensation on the tongue. It also give a sharp bite in the throat. Alcohol presence is also drowned out by the acid, except for some esters detectable in the finish.

O - This is an unabashedly funky and sour beer, but totally over the top compared to the Belgian versions of Flemish Brown I've had. Still, this does have delicate touches that make it more than just a sour monster.
Dec 26, 2022
Photo of TheBrewDude52
Rated by TheBrewDude52

3.6/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
balanced, a little apple taste.
Nov 29, 2022
Photo of NCSapiens
Reviewed by NCSapiens from Indiana

4.13/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Straight down the middle sour. Funky apple, vinegar, oak and cherry. Good carbonation and finishes dry. Earthy with barnyard grass, malt, oak barrel vanilla, spicy caramel malt, red wine, hay, and grape. Sour but not overly so. The finish has a brown ale malty bluntness. I went to college in Boulder but this is my first time having this beer. I see why it it is an American classic of searching for European greatness.
Nov 27, 2022
 
Rated: 4.06 by not2quick from Missouri

Nov 23, 2022
Photo of GratefulBeerGuy
Reviewed by GratefulBeerGuy from New Hampshire

3.96/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
La Folie

New Belgium Brewing Company

Sour-Flanders Oud Bruin

The classic sour. Produced way before it was mainstream popular. This aged sour had tangy apple, metallic sharp earthy funk, cherries and amber malt aspects. The French barrel flavor and feel is very mellow and provides an excellent subtle depth.

4.00
Oct 30, 2022
 
Rated: 4.47 by Rhetion from Florida

Oct 02, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by clm9 from North Carolina

Sep 18, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by Cuervo_PCB from Florida

Aug 14, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by LAM01833 from Massachusetts

Jul 31, 2022
 
Rated: 4.24 by McSeal from Connecticut

Jul 04, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by bpfrush from Wisconsin

Jun 22, 2022
La Folie from New Belgium Brewing Company
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 4106 ratings