Valentine's Ale | New Belgium Brewing

4.25/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

4/5  rDev +4.4%

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

3.04/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Growler from Total Wine filled 8/23, consumed yesterday. Here are my notes-

Poured into a cordial glass (my friend doesn't have much glassware)

Pours a murky blood orange ( redder in the middle, becomes more orange/brown towards the sides and top.) Not much foam to begin with, not even a ring of it left in the glass 60 seconds later. Moderate carbonation, mediocre lacing

Smells of raspberries, a bit of vinegar, spice, sweet malt, and a touch of alcohol. Not very complex, and this is giving it the benefit of the doubt. Raspberry dominates, pretty one dimensional.

Taste is with the nose, very mildly tart raspberry, a very sweet malt, and a touch of alcohol. As disappointing as the nose

Mouth is easily the most redeeming feature of the beer. While the sour is almost non existent, there's a medium body and an incredibly smooth finish. Easier to drink than palate

Overall...all I really have to say is I'm really glad I didn't pay the $20 for the growler. Maybe I need to have it fresh, but this stuff was incredibly disappointing. Don't buy this expecting it to be anywhere near the quality of La Folie. This beer is a definite miss, I can't believe it cost what it did

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3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

4/5  rDev +4.4%

3.25/5  rDev -15.1%

4/5  rDev +4.4%

4/5  rDev +4.4%

4/5  rDev +4.4%

4/5  rDev +4.4%

3.25/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap at bridge in stl poured into pint. It looks like cranberry juice with some head. Smells of sweet raspberry juice. Taste is sweet then bitter fruit juice. Not a fan. Its easy to drink and it tastes good but not my type of beer. While its a cool representation, its not for me.

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4.25/5  rDev +11%

4/5  rDev +4.4%

1/5  rDev -73.9%

4.5/5  rDev +17.5%

3/5  rDev -21.7%

3.25/5  rDev -15.1%

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

4/5  rDev +4.4%

4/5  rDev +4.4%

3.97/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Found this on-tap at the brewery in Fort Collins. It looks like it's been awhile since it has been reviewed and the beer seems to have been revised since the last release. If I remember correctly this one was 8+% ABV. Anywho, it poured a brilliant, clear, pink with a fizzly head of foam. Flavor is plenty spicy with some coriander, citrus, black pepper, and lavender. The fruit (pomegranate I believe) doesn't lend much to beer, except for the pink hue. The dryness is perfect and keeps this beer drinkable, despite the big ABV and array of flavors. Interesting and quite nice in 6oz increments.

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4/5  rDev +4.4%

4/5  rDev +4.4%