Le Terroir
New Belgium Brewing Company

Le TerroirLe Terroir
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From:
New Belgium Brewing Company
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
Ranked #125
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
95
Ranked #1,377
Avg:
4.29 | pDev: 9.32%
Reviews:
520
Ratings:
2,489
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 26, 2023
Added:
Oct 23, 2005
Wants:
  499
Gots:
  475
A sour beer barrel-aged for two years and then dry-hopped with Amarillo and Cascade hops for 8 days.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Crunkle:
Photo of Crunkle
Rated by Crunkle from Texas

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

Feb 02, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.25 by Nyoder

Nov 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.51 by Jacob313 from Michigan

Sep 01, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by PaleAleWalt from New York

Aug 04, 2023
Photo of Bouleboubier
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

4.49/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
(375 ml cork/cage bottle, 6% abv, 61504:28 220818K11T, dry-hopped with Amarillo and Idaho 7; purchased off shelf at Beer Peddlers yesterday... decanted into a teku)

L: clear, sunbeam-yellow hued liquid; near two-finger high cottony white foam builds on the pour and gracefully recedes into a tight, steady cap... as the sips ebb and flow, some thin, frosty bands of lace stick

S: exquisite blend of diaper funk and fresh flower arrangements, hints of fruity marshmallow and peach skin; white wine and berry notes emerge as the foam falls... I could sniff this for days... by the end, before first sip, a peach yogurt scent takes hold

T: considering the aroma journey, I wasn't expecting quite this dry of a base... following a pithy, floral, vinous first contact, peach yogurt briefly flashes, passing with a tart tail, finishing with the fruity essences panning out to the sides of the palate, ultimately leaving a lightly-crackery aftertaste which gradually gets more mineral and leafy, the center opening up and airing out, exposing a lasting spectre of the funky barrel/woody character... that's just the first, palate-attuning sip... second sip on, its delicate notes of fruity breakfast cereal dancing atop outdoorsy, wet-meadow earthiness and a lightly acidic, lightly nutty-yeasty foreground... dry as a mf... I hesitate to say it slightly reminds me of a gueuze, but, it does

F: what can I say?... it coats and caresses my palate with the sultry mist of a summer fling... soft, rosy warmth stoked at the back of the palate... dry, swift, moist feathery-light; on point, effortless

O: again, I hesitate to say... but I believe I enjoyed this more than any RR bottles I've had over the years, which inevitably is going to now make me go back and try a bunch of them... the hop choices here seem astute, but it's a bit difficult to sort out the origin (hops or bugs) of the subtle nuances... my first Le Terroir; good stuff, and it won't be the last (2154)
Jul 05, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by carolinabeerguy from North Carolina

Jan 04, 2023
 
Rated: 3 by blackcloud from Alaska

Nov 03, 2022
 
Rated: 3.88 by brandoneast from Texas

Sep 17, 2022
 
Rated: 3.97 by beefbucket from Missouri

Jul 14, 2022
 
Rated: 4.1 by Hawkfish from Washington

Jun 05, 2022
Photo of drdiesel9483
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio

4.29/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Look - clear copper with non stop bubbles with a nice last white head with a really thick rimming and great lacing
Smell - earthy tart lemon orange
Taste - tart but not overly tart with a citrus lemon orange and still a slight grainy earthy slight floral
Feel - creamy medium full body with a very light carb
Overall - really tasty beer
Overall - really tasty even after being aged
May 08, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by scottyshades from Florida

Apr 29, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by drstalker from Illinois

Feb 10, 2022
 
Rated: 4.59 by TWStandley from Massachusetts

Dec 21, 2021
Photo of Julianjarvis13
Reviewed by Julianjarvis13

4.94/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This is a superb beer. Probably the best beer I've ever drank. The balance is perfect with superb complexity and depth. The initial sour notes fade to a rich full sweet centre finishing clean and sour
Sep 25, 2021
Photo of StJamesGate
Reviewed by StJamesGate from New York

4.26/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Deep amber with white film; lemon zest and jasmine nose; lemon sorbet, chalk, cheese rind, tangerine comeback; dry + clean.

4 4.25 4.25 4 4.5

Best match of citrusy sourness + citrussy hops ever. Bright + clean. So sessionable. MOAR!
Aug 12, 2021
 
Rated: 4.41 by M4CDO from Massachusetts

Jun 06, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by BeerRay from Rhode Island

Apr 05, 2021
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
While I've had 73 ales in this style, I understate the situation and say that I am no fan for Wilds. Of the first 200 Wilds listed by their number of ratings, I've had 22 and only 1 did I rate above the average.

Le Terroir is the second.

Since I am such a sour-puss, I should like sour ales. Only rarely is that pairing made.

But this review is supposed to be about Le Terroir. It Looks better than the competition who often look confused and few are foamy. Terroir Smells like tart fruit. And it Tastes that way; yet its sweet and sour combo has this rare drying sensation that continues. Best yet, it does not interfere with my meal of soup and spinach. Too many Wilds overpower. Terroir stays within itself and treats food as a friend.

I suppose that comes from hiring Rodenbach's brewmaster and the mark he left.
I've made my micro-review of New Belgium elsewhere and admire the founders who cut their workers into the deal who, in turn, sold the company to a big brand manager. I hope they made the right decision and the creativity of Le Terroir continues.

This is my second addition to purposefully climbing Beer of Fame, now @ 163. A Votre Sante' !
Mar 21, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by kdown from California

Mar 20, 2021
Le Terroir from New Belgium Brewing Company
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 2489 ratings