Le Terroir
New Belgium Brewing Company

I couldn't decide for a long time if I loved or hated this beer. It's just so different than anything I've had before... actually, no, it's really similar to two very dissimilar things I've had before (IPAs and sours). Some swigs feature an explosion of hops, while others are straight-up sour, and most are some crazy commingling of the two. Once I wrapped my brain around the dichotomy, I decided I loved it. The fruity notes in the hops provide a great layer on top of the fruity sour of the base beer. Will be seeking out more of this.

 

Amber, with a medium-sized, white head. Lemon, herbs, lactose, and some stone fruits in the aroma. Moderate sourness in taste, Notes of wood in aftertaste.

 

 

 

 

 

(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)

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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

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!