Rock Star Blend
New Belgium Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

to me, this beer has always sort of been ahead of the style, unique but also genre defining in a lot of ways, especially for american made versions. this is a review of the second blend, part 2, which apparently is less vessels combined than last year, which i did not get to taste. fun of these two staple pubs to get together for this, and cool of new belgium to let it happen. its amazing, and tastes very little like the la folie i remember, although thats 100% of its contents. its way more tangy, way more mature, still acidic, but not caustic like the bottles can be. it has way better carbonation, and a lot more nuance. i get tart cherry and plum and raisin and lemon rind and vinegar and roast. its layered beautifully, slowly dries in the finish, and leaves a lasting memory. i need to have another bottle of la folie, see if its just in my memory, but this is astoundingly good, blew my expectations away. complex and impressive, as good as new belgium can do i think, and its a high bar to aim for.

 

On tap at Falling Rock and served in a tulip. Dark ruby color, looks sort of like La Folie, maybe a bit lighter, almost no head at all. Aroma is like vinegar and indicates a sour flavor coming down the pike. Flavor is nice and sour, fruits, my cousin said it had almost a barleywine like flavor but I did not taste that at all. Overall it was not quite as sour as La Folie but it certainly was reminiscent. Good beer.

 

 

 

 

On tap at falling rock in Denver. Poured into tulip (their tulips rock by the way).
Brown amber no head...aromas of super lactic cherry.
Taste is really nice. ..caramel and a hint of chocolate play with the cherry and wood. Perfectly tart without being vinegar and couldn't be drier. Really a nice brew. .lucky to try it and glad I did. The flavor shines in this brew...unique and yet satisfying and familiar. Nice work. I wish I had a foedor. ..

8oz pour at Falling Rock in Denver, CO. Poured into an unlabeled snifter today, 1/18/2014

Pours a dark mahogany-ruby body, nice one finger white head with great retention and lacing.

Smells tart as heck. Lots of vinegar, some tart cherries. But very acidic, this beer. Kind of one dimensional but enjoyable.

Flavor is currants, cherries and a crapload of vinegar. Some lactate as we'll. very interesting and dang sour- 9/10 sour for sure.

Medium bodied, well carbonated and a bit custardy. Nice and drinkable just the same. Aftertaste is currants, straight up.

Very cool and unique blend on the parts of Falling Rock and Star. One of the sourest beers I've ever had.