Le Terroir
New Belgium Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats:
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- American Wild Ale
Ranked #89 - ABV:
- 7.5%
- Score:
- 96
Ranked #664 - Avg:
- 4.32 | pDev: 9.26%
- Reviews:
- 513
- Ratings:
- From:
- New Belgium Brewing Company
- Colorado, United States
- Avail:
- Rotating
- Wants
- 486
- Gots
- 476
SCORE
96
World-Class
96
World-Class
Notes:
A sour beer barrel-aged for two years and then dry-hopped with Amarillo and Cascade hops for 8 days.
Reviews: 513
| Ratings: 2,458
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4.47/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Big fan of this for the style.
Pours yellows gold with nice white head.
Smell is lemony and a little funk. Maybe some Brett
Flavor is crisp, slightly tart, and the citrus lemony rind. Really delicious and drinkable.
I really enjoyed this beer and would buy again and again.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Big fan of this for the style.
Pours yellows gold with nice white head.
Smell is lemony and a little funk. Maybe some Brett
Flavor is crisp, slightly tart, and the citrus lemony rind. Really delicious and drinkable.
I really enjoyed this beer and would buy again and again.
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4.39/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Dry-hopped with Amarillo and strata for this one.
Amanzingly fruity with pineapple notes all over the place.
The sourness is there but clean and to the point. The fruitiness gains complexity in the flavour profile.
Nice.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Dry-hopped with Amarillo and strata for this one.
Amanzingly fruity with pineapple notes all over the place.
The sourness is there but clean and to the point. The fruitiness gains complexity in the flavour profile.
Nice.
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4/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Copper and moderately cloudy with lots of fine but will carbonation, and two fingers of yellowish head.
It smells acidic and of dry nectarines, lemons, and pear skin.
Extremely acidic with lemon juice, unsweetened vitamin c and nectarine skins.
Medium acidic, bone dry body with moderate fine bubbled carbonation.
I got this in San Diego California today, May 31, 2019 and I’m drinking it here. I was so good glad to find this one.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Copper and moderately cloudy with lots of fine but will carbonation, and two fingers of yellowish head.
It smells acidic and of dry nectarines, lemons, and pear skin.
Extremely acidic with lemon juice, unsweetened vitamin c and nectarine skins.
Medium acidic, bone dry body with moderate fine bubbled carbonation.
I got this in San Diego California today, May 31, 2019 and I’m drinking it here. I was so good glad to find this one.
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4.19/5 rDev -3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Unknown year, poured on tap during ACBW, assume it's the latest
Pours murky med. yellow gold w a thin white cap that leaves some decent lacing
Smell is soured, bready and sweet, like pineapple upside cake w notes of currants and cherry skin
Taste is similar with a pearskin tartness to start followed by a lightly toasted cracker and citrus midway, finish is a dry grapefruit
Light crisp body with a slightly slick feel, moderate to decent carbonation
Overall a well put together beer, NB excells w this series
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Unknown year, poured on tap during ACBW, assume it's the latest
Pours murky med. yellow gold w a thin white cap that leaves some decent lacing
Smell is soured, bready and sweet, like pineapple upside cake w notes of currants and cherry skin
Taste is similar with a pearskin tartness to start followed by a lightly toasted cracker and citrus midway, finish is a dry grapefruit
Light crisp body with a slightly slick feel, moderate to decent carbonation
Overall a well put together beer, NB excells w this series
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4.17/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
22oz 2016 bottle poured into a chalice boasts a nearly clear gold-flecked yellowish-orange body with active bubbles forming a whispy borealis of tiny bubbles and leaves the glass clean.
Aromas include oak, peach, funk, rope, and wet wool blanket. Flavors match with sour tartness that isn't overly puckery.
Mouthfeel is light and dry.
Overall a nice crisp sour.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
22oz 2016 bottle poured into a chalice boasts a nearly clear gold-flecked yellowish-orange body with active bubbles forming a whispy borealis of tiny bubbles and leaves the glass clean.
Aromas include oak, peach, funk, rope, and wet wool blanket. Flavors match with sour tartness that isn't overly puckery.
Mouthfeel is light and dry.
Overall a nice crisp sour.
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4.35/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from 22oz bottle into glass. 2015 bottling.
Slightly cloudy, deep gold, with a dash of orange, colored body. Pours with a fizzy white head which reduces down to scattered islands and ring. Each pour brings back the bubbly head. Minimal lacing.
Tart aroma of peach and lemon. Just a bit of grassy funk. Also has a whiff of oak barrel.
Taste is tart with lemon and sour with peach and mango. Backed with a little oak barrel.
Dry mouth feel. Good carbonation.
Good balance of fruity and tart components. Some sourness but not totally puckering. Body gets more cloudy as pours get to the end of the bottle. The hops with the fruity flavors help to balance the overall experience of this tart and sour beer. Well done.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from 22oz bottle into glass. 2015 bottling.
Slightly cloudy, deep gold, with a dash of orange, colored body. Pours with a fizzy white head which reduces down to scattered islands and ring. Each pour brings back the bubbly head. Minimal lacing.
Tart aroma of peach and lemon. Just a bit of grassy funk. Also has a whiff of oak barrel.
Taste is tart with lemon and sour with peach and mango. Backed with a little oak barrel.
Dry mouth feel. Good carbonation.
Good balance of fruity and tart components. Some sourness but not totally puckering. Body gets more cloudy as pours get to the end of the bottle. The hops with the fruity flavors help to balance the overall experience of this tart and sour beer. Well done.
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4.88/5 rDev +13%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
On tap at the Fort Collins brewery. I had wanted to try this for nearly a decade, but never come across a bottle.
The pour is pretty. The aroma is aggressively tart but well-balanced and beery with firm nodes of lactic acid and Belgian yeast. The flavor is dense but quite impressively smooth, extreme brett up front moving into a rich, yeasty middle and a finish that's a perfect balance between dry, sour, and spicy.
This is a goddamn masterpiece, easily one--if not THE--best American-brewed Belgian I've ever had. That it debuted in 2005 is an incredible feat--even today, where it's quite easy to be fatigued by the number of US sours, Le Terroir stands in a class of its own.
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look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
On tap at the Fort Collins brewery. I had wanted to try this for nearly a decade, but never come across a bottle.
The pour is pretty. The aroma is aggressively tart but well-balanced and beery with firm nodes of lactic acid and Belgian yeast. The flavor is dense but quite impressively smooth, extreme brett up front moving into a rich, yeasty middle and a finish that's a perfect balance between dry, sour, and spicy.
This is a goddamn masterpiece, easily one--if not THE--best American-brewed Belgian I've ever had. That it debuted in 2005 is an incredible feat--even today, where it's quite easy to be fatigued by the number of US sours, Le Terroir stands in a class of its own.
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4.35/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2015 Bottling.
A - A dark golden copper body, with light orange highlights, a moderate off white head, and lots of small bubble lacing.
S - Strong hit of acidity, a hint of wildness, and fruit notes of lemon zest and mango.
T - Follows the nose, but with a stronger fruit overtone over a tart sour core. The woodiness is present, and makes clear the wild aging element. That said, there is only a little barnyard, and the grass notes are also well receded. The candied mango and peach elements are the strongest residual of the hopping. Pretty tasty.
M - Decent carbonation, strong tartness and a mild pucker on the close.
O - Delicious with a couple years on it. A well integrated sour that I need to try again soon.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2015 Bottling.
A - A dark golden copper body, with light orange highlights, a moderate off white head, and lots of small bubble lacing.
S - Strong hit of acidity, a hint of wildness, and fruit notes of lemon zest and mango.
T - Follows the nose, but with a stronger fruit overtone over a tart sour core. The woodiness is present, and makes clear the wild aging element. That said, there is only a little barnyard, and the grass notes are also well receded. The candied mango and peach elements are the strongest residual of the hopping. Pretty tasty.
M - Decent carbonation, strong tartness and a mild pucker on the close.
O - Delicious with a couple years on it. A well integrated sour that I need to try again soon.
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4.33/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a Hazy golden orange color. Quick review in SD toronado bar.
Ample hop character on the nose. Very citrusy paired with floral hop notes and lactic qualities.
Tess reminds me of a hopped fruit popsicle. Dynamic range of stone fruit character or mixed with tropical fruit. The hop character does come into play near the finish, with a low to moderate Hop bitterness.
Overall, this is A okay beer. For those who love IPAs and sours, This is right up your alley. However, if you don’t like hop character in your beer, you may not like this beer. It gets a 86/100.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a Hazy golden orange color. Quick review in SD toronado bar.
Ample hop character on the nose. Very citrusy paired with floral hop notes and lactic qualities.
Tess reminds me of a hopped fruit popsicle. Dynamic range of stone fruit character or mixed with tropical fruit. The hop character does come into play near the finish, with a low to moderate Hop bitterness.
Overall, this is A okay beer. For those who love IPAs and sours, This is right up your alley. However, if you don’t like hop character in your beer, you may not like this beer. It gets a 86/100.
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4.32/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A: Pours a golden orange color with 2 fingers of head that fades down to a decent cap
S: A good mix of funk, citrus, tropical fruit, and oak start things off. Very fruity with plenty of funk. Some nice complexity going on
T: Starts off with a lot of funk and acetic acid notes and slowly goes into the fruitiness, both citrusy and tropical. Oak provides a nice backbone and really comes out towards the end. Again, really nice complexities going on throughout. Finishes with lingering acidity, fruity notes, and oak
M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. On the drier and more acidic side
O: An incredible dry-hopped sour that gains even more complexity from the foeders. A great sipper because of the different layers and complexities going on. Definitely worth checking out for any sour lover
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A: Pours a golden orange color with 2 fingers of head that fades down to a decent cap
S: A good mix of funk, citrus, tropical fruit, and oak start things off. Very fruity with plenty of funk. Some nice complexity going on
T: Starts off with a lot of funk and acetic acid notes and slowly goes into the fruitiness, both citrusy and tropical. Oak provides a nice backbone and really comes out towards the end. Again, really nice complexities going on throughout. Finishes with lingering acidity, fruity notes, and oak
M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. On the drier and more acidic side
O: An incredible dry-hopped sour that gains even more complexity from the foeders. A great sipper because of the different layers and complexities going on. Definitely worth checking out for any sour lover
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4.02/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22oz bottle into a chalice. 2016 Vintage
somewhat hazy apricot colored body, which clears as the drink progresses. 3/4" thick creamy/foamy head leaving decent enough lacing initially, before dissipating about 1/3 of the way through.
aromas a subtle, faint fruit, very faint spice, somewhat saisony.
Sour is the main taste, but not mouthpuckeringly so. faintly vinegary and tart. Was dry-hopped, but this aspect seems to have faded away. not getting any woodiness from the 2 year aging. However, this beer stands on it's own merits as a good tasting sour ale.
Closer to full than medium on the mouth, sour on the finish.
Overall, an enjoyable beer on a warm humid evening.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22oz bottle into a chalice. 2016 Vintage
somewhat hazy apricot colored body, which clears as the drink progresses. 3/4" thick creamy/foamy head leaving decent enough lacing initially, before dissipating about 1/3 of the way through.
aromas a subtle, faint fruit, very faint spice, somewhat saisony.
Sour is the main taste, but not mouthpuckeringly so. faintly vinegary and tart. Was dry-hopped, but this aspect seems to have faded away. not getting any woodiness from the 2 year aging. However, this beer stands on it's own merits as a good tasting sour ale.
Closer to full than medium on the mouth, sour on the finish.
Overall, an enjoyable beer on a warm humid evening.
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3.65/5 rDev -15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Hazy golden appearance with quickly disappearing cap.
Scent of apricots and a citrus tartness over mild sweet malt.
Taste starts tart then gets tarter. My palate had to adjust before I could get past the tartness to find other things. Unsuccessfully I might add. Malt is still present in the scent but is just overwhelmed by the sour tartness as to remain hidden. Oddly enough the tart flavor is pleasant and rewarding in it's own right but it is dominant.
Texture is light medium with balancing carbonation.
Overall it's a well made, interesting brew that pulls no punches.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Hazy golden appearance with quickly disappearing cap.
Scent of apricots and a citrus tartness over mild sweet malt.
Taste starts tart then gets tarter. My palate had to adjust before I could get past the tartness to find other things. Unsuccessfully I might add. Malt is still present in the scent but is just overwhelmed by the sour tartness as to remain hidden. Oddly enough the tart flavor is pleasant and rewarding in it's own right but it is dominant.
Texture is light medium with balancing carbonation.
Overall it's a well made, interesting brew that pulls no punches.
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3.74/5 rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Bottle. Never had one before. Tasted better than it smelled. Pretty impressive for a big boy like NB to drop a beer like this. Hits the marks. Pretty good. Woody, tangy, well represented.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Bottle. Never had one before. Tasted better than it smelled. Pretty impressive for a big boy like NB to drop a beer like this. Hits the marks. Pretty good. Woody, tangy, well represented.
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4.06/5 rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Smell: this is big stone fruit pear apricot peaches sweet apples blackberry sweet malt a hint of tartness
Taste: tons of stone upfront peach pear apricot middle of the mouth more fruit apple blackberries some malt sweetness the beer finishes with a little bit of vinager and lemon tartness
Feel: medium body really nice carbonation. Moderately dry finish.
Overall: really fruity with a hint of tartness a really good beer espically for how readily available it is.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Smell: this is big stone fruit pear apricot peaches sweet apples blackberry sweet malt a hint of tartness
Taste: tons of stone upfront peach pear apricot middle of the mouth more fruit apple blackberries some malt sweetness the beer finishes with a little bit of vinager and lemon tartness
Feel: medium body really nice carbonation. Moderately dry finish.
Overall: really fruity with a hint of tartness a really good beer espically for how readily available it is.
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4.57/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2016 bomber " of the earth"
A clear golden hued amber color. Very lively appearance for a beer aged two years. Thanks wild yeast! A nice white tower of foam coverage remains high. It takes a bit of time to spread out and practically dissapear, but leaving some pretty sticky lace behind. The second pour makes the liquid nearly opaque and very hazy. Big floatie, yeastie bits swirl around, And I mean, big bits....large floaties.
The aroma is very unique and delightful. Sour , tart and tangy smelling yeast, abundent fruity and earthy hop tones and an extra earthy-funk that is peppery, herbal and kinda spicy. Very strong nose!!
This is the most SOUR dominant flavor I've had since my first Supplication (Russian River). The wild yeast is super sour and tart!! A woody tasting malt from the foeders. Big earth and wild fruity notes from the Amarillo hops, peach and mango, starfruit and lemmons come to mind....obviously this is a very complex creation.
The feel is crisp and sharp to start, light to medium bodied that rolls off the palate in a very dry way. The tangy bite is pretty sharp with an intense dryness that is rather excellent.
The three major aspects to the extreme flavor profile are the big, sour wild yeast, Amarillo fruity and earthy punch of the dry hopping and the wooden cask aging flavor's that are subtle but provide just another level of complexity. Together, these aspects make for a very balanced and harmonious concoction. Bonus points fir making such a radical beer so damn easy to drink!!
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2016 bomber " of the earth"
A clear golden hued amber color. Very lively appearance for a beer aged two years. Thanks wild yeast! A nice white tower of foam coverage remains high. It takes a bit of time to spread out and practically dissapear, but leaving some pretty sticky lace behind. The second pour makes the liquid nearly opaque and very hazy. Big floatie, yeastie bits swirl around, And I mean, big bits....large floaties.
The aroma is very unique and delightful. Sour , tart and tangy smelling yeast, abundent fruity and earthy hop tones and an extra earthy-funk that is peppery, herbal and kinda spicy. Very strong nose!!
This is the most SOUR dominant flavor I've had since my first Supplication (Russian River). The wild yeast is super sour and tart!! A woody tasting malt from the foeders. Big earth and wild fruity notes from the Amarillo hops, peach and mango, starfruit and lemmons come to mind....obviously this is a very complex creation.
The feel is crisp and sharp to start, light to medium bodied that rolls off the palate in a very dry way. The tangy bite is pretty sharp with an intense dryness that is rather excellent.
The three major aspects to the extreme flavor profile are the big, sour wild yeast, Amarillo fruity and earthy punch of the dry hopping and the wooden cask aging flavor's that are subtle but provide just another level of complexity. Together, these aspects make for a very balanced and harmonious concoction. Bonus points fir making such a radical beer so damn easy to drink!!
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3.9/5 rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Earthy, spicy, hoppy, tart. First thing comes to mind after enjoying this bottle - this is the most hopped up sour I've ever had. The piney, spicy, grassy and lemony-citrus notes absolutely explode out of this bottle. Pours a fizzy, amber hue with a moderate light head that disappears into the fizz. You already know I thought the aroma was all hops up front; lemon, green apple and cedar on the back-end. Taste is piney, grassy, spicy, fresh cut/slightly acidic citrus, green apple, sour lemon and cedar. I specifically say cedar because of the spiciness in my mouth, although that could be from the hops. Either way - there's some spiciness to the body. Very tart, very crisp and very dry. Heavy-handed on both the hops and sourness makes this beer stand out and will ultimately determine how you feel about it.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Earthy, spicy, hoppy, tart. First thing comes to mind after enjoying this bottle - this is the most hopped up sour I've ever had. The piney, spicy, grassy and lemony-citrus notes absolutely explode out of this bottle. Pours a fizzy, amber hue with a moderate light head that disappears into the fizz. You already know I thought the aroma was all hops up front; lemon, green apple and cedar on the back-end. Taste is piney, grassy, spicy, fresh cut/slightly acidic citrus, green apple, sour lemon and cedar. I specifically say cedar because of the spiciness in my mouth, although that could be from the hops. Either way - there's some spiciness to the body. Very tart, very crisp and very dry. Heavy-handed on both the hops and sourness makes this beer stand out and will ultimately determine how you feel about it.
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3.63/5 rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
On tap at Bonds Tavern in West Orange. Pours a golden, effervescent hue with moderate frothing. Tart, funky aroma replete with hints of citrus and grapefruit. Similar overall flavor profile.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
On tap at Bonds Tavern in West Orange. Pours a golden, effervescent hue with moderate frothing. Tart, funky aroma replete with hints of citrus and grapefruit. Similar overall flavor profile.
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4.74/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Drank from a 1 pint, 6fl.oz bottle purchased at Pemberton Farms, Cambridge, MA
2016
Served in a tulip
The hazy, peachy amber liquid was topped by a finger-tall head of fizzy white froth that quickly fell to a lasting bubbly collar. Minimal streaky lacing stuck along the glass.
The aroma was amazingly complex. Terrific melding of big oaky and fruity notes. The dry hopping really came through strong. I definitely picked up some bright tropical fruits. Mango and passionfruit for sure. Some peach too. Moderately tart and Bretty. A dry, white wine-like quality was also noticeable. Overall, really interesting and unique for the style.
Like the nose, the flavor profile had a ton going on. Oaky barrel notes came through big time on the front end. The woodiness would give almost any Gueuze a run for its money. Tart Bretty notes kicked in next. Good dose of lemony tartness and wheatiness too. Fruity, dry hop notes appeared in the center. Loads of tropical fruit flavor. Passionfruit was most apparent. Touch of sweetness. Like the nose, very well balanced. More dry, oaky tannins and acidity on the back end and in the finish.
The mouthfeel was lighter bodied. Creamy, slick and smooth on the palate. The liquid contained a fine, frothy effervescence.
These days, I find that many of the highly praised, domestically produced wild ales are overwhelming sour and rather one dimensional. Le Terroir was amazingly well balanced and dangerously quaffable, yet also super interesting and complex. With its intense oak character and dry hop notes akin to something one might find in a top-tier New England-style IPA, this beer's various components melded together beautifully. The folks at New Belgium Brewery have restored my faith that American wild ales can still be fun to drink.
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look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Drank from a 1 pint, 6fl.oz bottle purchased at Pemberton Farms, Cambridge, MA
2016
Served in a tulip
The hazy, peachy amber liquid was topped by a finger-tall head of fizzy white froth that quickly fell to a lasting bubbly collar. Minimal streaky lacing stuck along the glass.
The aroma was amazingly complex. Terrific melding of big oaky and fruity notes. The dry hopping really came through strong. I definitely picked up some bright tropical fruits. Mango and passionfruit for sure. Some peach too. Moderately tart and Bretty. A dry, white wine-like quality was also noticeable. Overall, really interesting and unique for the style.
Like the nose, the flavor profile had a ton going on. Oaky barrel notes came through big time on the front end. The woodiness would give almost any Gueuze a run for its money. Tart Bretty notes kicked in next. Good dose of lemony tartness and wheatiness too. Fruity, dry hop notes appeared in the center. Loads of tropical fruit flavor. Passionfruit was most apparent. Touch of sweetness. Like the nose, very well balanced. More dry, oaky tannins and acidity on the back end and in the finish.
The mouthfeel was lighter bodied. Creamy, slick and smooth on the palate. The liquid contained a fine, frothy effervescence.
These days, I find that many of the highly praised, domestically produced wild ales are overwhelming sour and rather one dimensional. Le Terroir was amazingly well balanced and dangerously quaffable, yet also super interesting and complex. With its intense oak character and dry hop notes akin to something one might find in a top-tier New England-style IPA, this beer's various components melded together beautifully. The folks at New Belgium Brewery have restored my faith that American wild ales can still be fun to drink.
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3.98/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Look: Pours rust colored with a small white head, a very pretty beer.
Smell: Fruity, some orange rind, tangerine, cherry
Taste: Fruit and citrusy hops, nice tartness
Feel: higher in carbonation
Overall: This is a nice aged sour, lots of fruity flavors, citrusy hops, and sourness.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Look: Pours rust colored with a small white head, a very pretty beer.
Smell: Fruity, some orange rind, tangerine, cherry
Taste: Fruit and citrusy hops, nice tartness
Feel: higher in carbonation
Overall: This is a nice aged sour, lots of fruity flavors, citrusy hops, and sourness.
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3.96/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Hazy reddish orange with no head. Smells sour with citrus rind. Tastes sour with citrus and tropical hops. Mouthfeel has a sour bite along with crisp carbonation. Overall, an interesting sour, unusual because of its combination of an aged sour with fresh hop tropical tastes.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Hazy reddish orange with no head. Smells sour with citrus rind. Tastes sour with citrus and tropical hops. Mouthfeel has a sour bite along with crisp carbonation. Overall, an interesting sour, unusual because of its combination of an aged sour with fresh hop tropical tastes.
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4.44/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Great Sour. Pick up a 2016 drinking in february 2017. Pick up in Mass so it has traveled a long way from Colorado.
Look: Slightly cloudy light orange. Head disappears very fast.
Smell: Citrus, resin, a little oak, soft lactic acid.
Taste: Starting out a little sharp breaking into a smooth sweetness followed by a touch of bitterness. Citrus/tropical fruit come through
Feel: Mild carbonation supports the thin body. Very smooth
Overall: Awesome sour, giving the dregs to my sour !
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Great Sour. Pick up a 2016 drinking in february 2017. Pick up in Mass so it has traveled a long way from Colorado.
Look: Slightly cloudy light orange. Head disappears very fast.
Smell: Citrus, resin, a little oak, soft lactic acid.
Taste: Starting out a little sharp breaking into a smooth sweetness followed by a touch of bitterness. Citrus/tropical fruit come through
Feel: Mild carbonation supports the thin body. Very smooth
Overall: Awesome sour, giving the dregs to my sour !
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4.02/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Look: It pours light golden with a bit of orange. The is a white head that doesn't have very good head retention.
Smell: It has an earthly aroma with wood mixed in. There are some mango aromas that complement the earth and wood. There is a subtle sourness around the nose as well.
Taste: It is moderately sour with mango and peaches complement by the wood and earthly elements. There are also oranges in the background notes.
Feel: It has a moderate feel. The beer causes a certain tart puckering to it that is pleasant and not overdone. The tart finish is rather long lasting.
Overall, this is a fruity sour ale with peaches and mango taking center stage with a complex combination of the wood and earthly elements into a pleasant sour/tart finish.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Look: It pours light golden with a bit of orange. The is a white head that doesn't have very good head retention.
Smell: It has an earthly aroma with wood mixed in. There are some mango aromas that complement the earth and wood. There is a subtle sourness around the nose as well.
Taste: It is moderately sour with mango and peaches complement by the wood and earthly elements. There are also oranges in the background notes.
Feel: It has a moderate feel. The beer causes a certain tart puckering to it that is pleasant and not overdone. The tart finish is rather long lasting.
Overall, this is a fruity sour ale with peaches and mango taking center stage with a complex combination of the wood and earthly elements into a pleasant sour/tart finish.
757 characters
4.26/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Love this. Not normally a sour guy, but this one hits all the right marks. Beautiful pour, hazy orange with a thin film of a head that coats the glass. Fruity aroma (apricots and peaches), taste is full on tart. Dry and tingle finish
233 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Love this. Not normally a sour guy, but this one hits all the right marks. Beautiful pour, hazy orange with a thin film of a head that coats the glass. Fruity aroma (apricots and peaches), taste is full on tart. Dry and tingle finish
233 characters
4.27/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at the Red Rabbit.
Holy Smokes what a nice aroma. A nice soft fruity burst that doesn't necessarily foretell of tartness of the flavor. Fruit in both aroma and taste leaves the image in my mind of of soft yellow fruit such as peach and apricot. A good streak of tart in the taste leaving little room for any sweetness. A good enough softness on the carbonation. Really blended well with my mix of food. Couldn't stop putting my nose in the glass to take another whiff.
482 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at the Red Rabbit.
Holy Smokes what a nice aroma. A nice soft fruity burst that doesn't necessarily foretell of tartness of the flavor. Fruit in both aroma and taste leaves the image in my mind of of soft yellow fruit such as peach and apricot. A good streak of tart in the taste leaving little room for any sweetness. A good enough softness on the carbonation. Really blended well with my mix of food. Couldn't stop putting my nose in the glass to take another whiff.
482 characters
4.4/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Reviewed from notes. Poured from a bomber into a Tampa Bay Brewing Company snifter.
A: Burnished gold and fairly clear - just some chill haze. Streams of carbonation bubbles running up the sides and a one-finger white head lingers for awhile.
S: Bright citrus and mango hops, musty farmhouse funk and lactic tart. A touch of lemony citric acid, Brettanomyces funk and cracker malts.
T: Big citrus - lemon and grapefruit - up front and lactic acid that's lightly tart. Brett musk and citrus flavors, citrus hop bitterness, and a malt bill that's just barely there. Some juicy pink grapefruit comes on at the end and lingers with hop bitterness and lactic tartness at the end - both of which are fairly mild but seems to fit well.
M: Medium to light body but not watery. Carbonation sensation on the low side but far from flat. Low alcohol presence.
O: A very nice beer. I could easily drink this all night - which, as much as I like sours, is something I couldn't say about most of the style. Quite good – a session sour.
1,027 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Reviewed from notes. Poured from a bomber into a Tampa Bay Brewing Company snifter.
A: Burnished gold and fairly clear - just some chill haze. Streams of carbonation bubbles running up the sides and a one-finger white head lingers for awhile.
S: Bright citrus and mango hops, musty farmhouse funk and lactic tart. A touch of lemony citric acid, Brettanomyces funk and cracker malts.
T: Big citrus - lemon and grapefruit - up front and lactic acid that's lightly tart. Brett musk and citrus flavors, citrus hop bitterness, and a malt bill that's just barely there. Some juicy pink grapefruit comes on at the end and lingers with hop bitterness and lactic tartness at the end - both of which are fairly mild but seems to fit well.
M: Medium to light body but not watery. Carbonation sensation on the low side but far from flat. Low alcohol presence.
O: A very nice beer. I could easily drink this all night - which, as much as I like sours, is something I couldn't say about most of the style. Quite good – a session sour.
1,027 characters
Le Terroir from New Belgium Brewing Company
Beer rating:
96 out of
100 with
2458 ratings
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