Le Terroir | New Belgium Brewing
Brewed by:
New Belgium Brewing
Colorado, United States
newbelgium.com
Style: American Wild Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.50%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
A sour beer barrel-aged for two years and then dry-hopped with Amarillo and Cascade hops for 8 days.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 10-23-2005
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 2,402 | Reviews: 502
3.82/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
4.02/5 rDev -5.6%
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 woddiness 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.
679 characters
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 woddiness 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.
679 characters
4.19/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.65/5 rDev -14.3%
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.
582 characters
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.
582 characters
3.74/5 rDev -12.2%
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.
187 characters
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.
187 characters
4.33/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Delicious bold flavor just the right level of sour for my taste
63 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Delicious bold flavor just the right level of sour for my taste
63 characters
4.25/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.06/5 rDev -4.7%
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.
467 characters
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.
467 characters
4.24/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.57/5 rDev +7.3%
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!!
1,530 characters
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!!
1,530 characters
4.65/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.23/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.9/5 rDev -8.5%
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.
814 characters
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.
814 characters
4.1/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.29/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.63/5 rDev -14.8%
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.
190 characters
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.
190 characters
4.17/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.45/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.74/5 rDev +11.3%
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.
1,786 characters
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.
1,786 characters
Le Terroir from New Belgium Brewing
4.26
out of 5
based on 2,402 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25