Twisted Spoke 15th Anniversary
New Belgium Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats:
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- American Wild Ale
- ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 97
- Avg:
- 4.45 | pDev: 8.09%
- Reviews:
- 46
- Ratings:
- From:
- New Belgium Brewing Company
- Colorado, United States
- Avail:
- Retired (no longer brewed)
- Wants
- 351
- Gots
- 24
SCORE
97
World-Class
97
World-Class
Notes:
"65% Ale aged in a wood barrel, 14% ale with cherries added and ale, 21% ale brewed with Coriander and 100% Aged in apple flavored whiskey barrels." The beer was hand-bottled August 26, 2010.
Reviews: 46
| Ratings: 104
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5/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Written from memory years after I rates this beer...
I consumed this after it was aged for about 2 years. It was a perfect sour all around. What brewers attempt and some accomplish is making a great beer. It took multiple great beers to make this bottle. And the blending was spot on to make it everything you want for this style. I think aging the entire blend in apple flavored whiskey barrels had a lot to do with it. Nice apple pucker. But not a Jolly Rancher. More of an actual tart apple sitting in some good whiskey. The most flavorful sour I have had to date.
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look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Written from memory years after I rates this beer...
I consumed this after it was aged for about 2 years. It was a perfect sour all around. What brewers attempt and some accomplish is making a great beer. It took multiple great beers to make this bottle. And the blending was spot on to make it everything you want for this style. I think aging the entire blend in apple flavored whiskey barrels had a lot to do with it. Nice apple pucker. But not a Jolly Rancher. More of an actual tart apple sitting in some good whiskey. The most flavorful sour I have had to date.
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3.88/5 rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750 mL bottle poured into a snifter.
Appearance - Deep reddish brown body. Nice white head.
Smell - Malty aroma. Musty red wine aroma. A little bit of cherry. Oak.
Taste - Lots of dark fruit. Oak is strong. Cherry. Red wine sourness. Musty finish. A little bit of that whiskey flavor back there.
Mouthfeel - High carbonation. Not all that sour. Medium body, but carbonation makes it seem lighter.
Overall - I wasn't enthused at first, but it improved as I drank it.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750 mL bottle poured into a snifter.
Appearance - Deep reddish brown body. Nice white head.
Smell - Malty aroma. Musty red wine aroma. A little bit of cherry. Oak.
Taste - Lots of dark fruit. Oak is strong. Cherry. Red wine sourness. Musty finish. A little bit of that whiskey flavor back there.
Mouthfeel - High carbonation. Not all that sour. Medium body, but carbonation makes it seem lighter.
Overall - I wasn't enthused at first, but it improved as I drank it.
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3.7/5 rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Review from notes. Consumed 3-26-11 at my first epic Philly tasting side-by-side with NB Falling Rock 10th and Bottleworks 10th. Thank you, Dan! This was #3 of the three for me (by a fair margin).
L - Little bit of a gusher but not much. Rich mahogany that is nearly clear - looks supple and rich.
S - Light and a bit hard to pull out of the glass. Not too acetic, the brown beer base has light cherry, a dusting of coriander, a small scoop of red cherries, perhaps some peach pie, and ethanol whiffs that are presumably reminiscent of apple whiskey.
T - Acetic acid, light cherries, brown oak, like vanilla, stone fruit. Coriander is noticeable, yet the apple whiskey seems to make the otherwise nice finish just fall off.
M - Smooth, silky, and soft, the beer is properly full to yield a palate that is completely covered in flavor, yet the carbonation is a bit lacking (perhaps because of the slight gushing).
O - Not bad, but I find the small amount of apple whiskey to clash with the base beer and bring down the experience. It also had a tough time competing against the other beautiful NB wales. I am very curious to try this again to see if it has come together more nicely, as I drank this very shortly after it was first released.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Review from notes. Consumed 3-26-11 at my first epic Philly tasting side-by-side with NB Falling Rock 10th and Bottleworks 10th. Thank you, Dan! This was #3 of the three for me (by a fair margin).
L - Little bit of a gusher but not much. Rich mahogany that is nearly clear - looks supple and rich.
S - Light and a bit hard to pull out of the glass. Not too acetic, the brown beer base has light cherry, a dusting of coriander, a small scoop of red cherries, perhaps some peach pie, and ethanol whiffs that are presumably reminiscent of apple whiskey.
T - Acetic acid, light cherries, brown oak, like vanilla, stone fruit. Coriander is noticeable, yet the apple whiskey seems to make the otherwise nice finish just fall off.
M - Smooth, silky, and soft, the beer is properly full to yield a palate that is completely covered in flavor, yet the carbonation is a bit lacking (perhaps because of the slight gushing).
O - Not bad, but I find the small amount of apple whiskey to clash with the base beer and bring down the experience. It also had a tough time competing against the other beautiful NB wales. I am very curious to try this again to see if it has come together more nicely, as I drank this very shortly after it was first released.
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4.4/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Opened at TN whales tasting 3/16/2013. Thanks to CurtisMcArthur for sharing this, been wanting to try it for years.
Pours a ruby red color, very pretty, small head that fades pretty quickly.
Smells pretty tart, some ketchup and apple, maybe other fruit, brown sugar mixed with acidity.
Taste is more tart, really pretty sharp, apples again but also raspberry/cherry and other fruit come out more than in the nose. Some ketchupy character again, pretty acidic...not so far off stylistically from a Flanders red.
Great mouthfeel, good carb and also smooth and creamy, pretty sharp bite from acidity but that doesn't bother me, reminiscent of c&c la folie.
Great beer but no better than c&c la Folie and probably not quite as good, not worth the extra effort to trade for probably.
8.8/10
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Opened at TN whales tasting 3/16/2013. Thanks to CurtisMcArthur for sharing this, been wanting to try it for years.
Pours a ruby red color, very pretty, small head that fades pretty quickly.
Smells pretty tart, some ketchup and apple, maybe other fruit, brown sugar mixed with acidity.
Taste is more tart, really pretty sharp, apples again but also raspberry/cherry and other fruit come out more than in the nose. Some ketchupy character again, pretty acidic...not so far off stylistically from a Flanders red.
Great mouthfeel, good carb and also smooth and creamy, pretty sharp bite from acidity but that doesn't bother me, reminiscent of c&c la folie.
Great beer but no better than c&c la Folie and probably not quite as good, not worth the extra effort to trade for probably.
8.8/10
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4.06/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Snifter, reviewed from notes. Thanks for sharing, Russ.
Pours a clean amber color with a small near white head that quickly faded into a thin collar. The nose is more sugary than I was expecting and reminds me of Pez candy – in a good way. I get notes of sugary sweet red fruits and peaches on the nose. The taste is sugary as well with notes of red fruits, fruit punch, apple juice, cranberry juice, and a hint of caramel and spice. Overall the flavors are very acid and tart, with a good dose of lemony citrus as well. Booze is low and lends a touch of woody barrel quality. Mouthfeel is dry, carbonation is frothy and bubbles up on my palate, and the body is just on the full side of medium. Overall enjoyable albeit unique. A real treat, thanks again Russ.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Snifter, reviewed from notes. Thanks for sharing, Russ.
Pours a clean amber color with a small near white head that quickly faded into a thin collar. The nose is more sugary than I was expecting and reminds me of Pez candy – in a good way. I get notes of sugary sweet red fruits and peaches on the nose. The taste is sugary as well with notes of red fruits, fruit punch, apple juice, cranberry juice, and a hint of caramel and spice. Overall the flavors are very acid and tart, with a good dose of lemony citrus as well. Booze is low and lends a touch of woody barrel quality. Mouthfeel is dry, carbonation is frothy and bubbles up on my palate, and the body is just on the full side of medium. Overall enjoyable albeit unique. A real treat, thanks again Russ.
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4.25/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
thanks to cory for this one
pour was a dark brown, hints of reddish cherry. some white head that i can barely remember, must have dissipated quickly.
sour brown ale, ripe cherry, and some sweet malt. very flanders or oud bruin
bit more complex flavor. still had that sour brown dominating base but there was a legit presence of cherry and a distinct barrel aging characteristic. seeing that this was aged in apple whiskey barrels, it makes sense. never picked up the coriander though.
pretty full body, tart, and dry
this was good, probably one of the best NB beers i have had.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
thanks to cory for this one
pour was a dark brown, hints of reddish cherry. some white head that i can barely remember, must have dissipated quickly.
sour brown ale, ripe cherry, and some sweet malt. very flanders or oud bruin
bit more complex flavor. still had that sour brown dominating base but there was a legit presence of cherry and a distinct barrel aging characteristic. seeing that this was aged in apple whiskey barrels, it makes sense. never picked up the coriander though.
pretty full body, tart, and dry
this was good, probably one of the best NB beers i have had.
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4.29/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Thanks, Adam and Anna!
A: Pours a clear maroon body with quickly-vanishing off-white foam. The bottle gushes slowly.
S: Cherry, oak, vanilla, brown sugar, apple cider -- this is evidently closer to the Flanders Red end of the sour spectrum.
T: Tastes much like the nose suggests. It has a sweet-and-sour interplay of cherry and assorted skins, vanilla, brown sugar, apples, and oak with a lactic finish that gradually segues into a mild acetic burn, which is thankfully undercut by the sweetness. This reminds me of Wanderer without as much bourbon.
M: Good body; medium heft, appropriate carbonation.
O: I'd trade it for a Partridge.
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look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Thanks, Adam and Anna!
A: Pours a clear maroon body with quickly-vanishing off-white foam. The bottle gushes slowly.
S: Cherry, oak, vanilla, brown sugar, apple cider -- this is evidently closer to the Flanders Red end of the sour spectrum.
T: Tastes much like the nose suggests. It has a sweet-and-sour interplay of cherry and assorted skins, vanilla, brown sugar, apples, and oak with a lactic finish that gradually segues into a mild acetic burn, which is thankfully undercut by the sweetness. This reminds me of Wanderer without as much bourbon.
M: Good body; medium heft, appropriate carbonation.
O: I'd trade it for a Partridge.
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4.39/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bottle pour at Woodshop 7 held at Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in Long Beach, CA.
Bottle # 0609.
Pours a murky dark brown with a foamy dark khaki head that fades to nothing. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is sour, tart, and funky with some malty and cherry aromas. Taste is much the same with an acidic quality on the finish. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer that is smells and tastes awesome and is super easy to drink.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bottle pour at Woodshop 7 held at Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in Long Beach, CA.
Bottle # 0609.
Pours a murky dark brown with a foamy dark khaki head that fades to nothing. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is sour, tart, and funky with some malty and cherry aromas. Taste is much the same with an acidic quality on the finish. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer that is smells and tastes awesome and is super easy to drink.
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4.47/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Shared at the sour and wild ales tasting on April 14, 2012.
The beer is russet brown with hints of crimson and a white head. The aroma is fantastic, offering cherries, booze, oak, funk, sweet berries, tart fruits. The flavor is equally as complex. Bourbon emerges more in the flavor than in the aroma, gaining strength as the beer warms. A fine balance of tart and sweet, favoring tartness, as it should be. A myriad of tastes linger on the palate, concluding with a light acetic bite. Overall, I thought this was an awesome beer. I would relish the opportunity to try it again.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Shared at the sour and wild ales tasting on April 14, 2012.
The beer is russet brown with hints of crimson and a white head. The aroma is fantastic, offering cherries, booze, oak, funk, sweet berries, tart fruits. The flavor is equally as complex. Bourbon emerges more in the flavor than in the aroma, gaining strength as the beer warms. A fine balance of tart and sweet, favoring tartness, as it should be. A myriad of tastes linger on the palate, concluding with a light acetic bite. Overall, I thought this was an awesome beer. I would relish the opportunity to try it again.
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4.25/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
From 04/14/12 notes. Big thanks to Huhzubendah
for sharing this one; thanks Matt!
a - Pours a somewhat clear amber red color with one inch of white head and moderate carbonation. Looks great.
s - Smells of sweet dark fruits, sour cherries, oak, bourbon, and some roasted notes. Really nice mix of sweet and sour fruits, I like it a lot.
t - Tastes of bourbon, sweet dark fruits, sour cherries, fruity malts, oak, roasted notes, toasted notes. A lot more bourbon than the nose, which takes away from some of the fruit. A step down from the nose for me.
m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Pretty easy to drink.
o - Overall a really nice beer. I loved the nose and the sweet/sour mix, though I wish the bourbon hadn't dominated the taste as much. Still a great beer and glad I got to try it; worth seeking out.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
From 04/14/12 notes. Big thanks to Huhzubendah
for sharing this one; thanks Matt!
a - Pours a somewhat clear amber red color with one inch of white head and moderate carbonation. Looks great.
s - Smells of sweet dark fruits, sour cherries, oak, bourbon, and some roasted notes. Really nice mix of sweet and sour fruits, I like it a lot.
t - Tastes of bourbon, sweet dark fruits, sour cherries, fruity malts, oak, roasted notes, toasted notes. A lot more bourbon than the nose, which takes away from some of the fruit. A step down from the nose for me.
m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Pretty easy to drink.
o - Overall a really nice beer. I loved the nose and the sweet/sour mix, though I wish the bourbon hadn't dominated the taste as much. Still a great beer and glad I got to try it; worth seeking out.
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4.35/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Thanks goes to the other Matt for this rarity shared recently, poured into a New Belgium glass. I know how to drink a beer.
Beer is brown and hazy with nice head, tan bubbles, some lacing. Moderate retention.
Aroma is lactic, acetic, mild liquor, oaky, interesting.
Beer is light in body, very good overall a strong beer with great body and a nice finish, oaky, alcohol, roast, lactic tartness with a nice creamy body. I'd have it again if that were possible.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Thanks goes to the other Matt for this rarity shared recently, poured into a New Belgium glass. I know how to drink a beer.
Beer is brown and hazy with nice head, tan bubbles, some lacing. Moderate retention.
Aroma is lactic, acetic, mild liquor, oaky, interesting.
Beer is light in body, very good overall a strong beer with great body and a nice finish, oaky, alcohol, roast, lactic tartness with a nice creamy body. I'd have it again if that were possible.
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4.03/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
KickInTheChalice made this tasting possible.... Blake is a badass... You can always consider me an "anytime trader". Shared with some folks at a Whale tasting in SLC. Pours a clear orange/red with a fantastic white head... crusty lacing for the entire glass.
The nose is a bit fruity with some cherries and a distinct vanilla component... apple?... mild funk and only hints of the coming acidity.
Flavor again only shows a bit of funk... but it is pretty damn sour... still it seem sweet at times.. oaky cherry vanilla... the finish lingers with apple and whiskey... the cherries just hang on forever... a bit acetic, but no where near La Folie territory... warmer temperatures help blend the massive complexities...
Medium bodied with lively carbonation
Very nice brew for sure.... I wish NB would do something like this as a Lips of Faith ;-)
Thanks again Blake for an incredible trade.
4.5/4/4/4/4
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
KickInTheChalice made this tasting possible.... Blake is a badass... You can always consider me an "anytime trader". Shared with some folks at a Whale tasting in SLC. Pours a clear orange/red with a fantastic white head... crusty lacing for the entire glass.
The nose is a bit fruity with some cherries and a distinct vanilla component... apple?... mild funk and only hints of the coming acidity.
Flavor again only shows a bit of funk... but it is pretty damn sour... still it seem sweet at times.. oaky cherry vanilla... the finish lingers with apple and whiskey... the cherries just hang on forever... a bit acetic, but no where near La Folie territory... warmer temperatures help blend the massive complexities...
Medium bodied with lively carbonation
Very nice brew for sure.... I wish NB would do something like this as a Lips of Faith ;-)
Thanks again Blake for an incredible trade.
4.5/4/4/4/4
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4/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Kevin for sharing this one!
Pours a beige head. Color is an amber gold.
Aroma: A lot of sweetness and spices. Very oaky. Peach and cherry. Hard time picking out the brandy flavors. A bit of vanilla. Pie crust and bready malts.
Taste: A lot of sour and acidity with vinegar. Cherry tartness. Vanilla and wood. Again, no brandy notes, but I do get a sweetness that may be coming from the -bals. Grape skins.
Mouthfeel: Tart and sour. Light bodied with a lower amount of carbonation even though the bottle popped nicely. Ends really dry.
Overall, a really solid beer, but a little over hyped. It was tasty and I definitely enjoyed my glass. Solid flavors all around.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Kevin for sharing this one!
Pours a beige head. Color is an amber gold.
Aroma: A lot of sweetness and spices. Very oaky. Peach and cherry. Hard time picking out the brandy flavors. A bit of vanilla. Pie crust and bready malts.
Taste: A lot of sour and acidity with vinegar. Cherry tartness. Vanilla and wood. Again, no brandy notes, but I do get a sweetness that may be coming from the -bals. Grape skins.
Mouthfeel: Tart and sour. Light bodied with a lower amount of carbonation even though the bottle popped nicely. Ends really dry.
Overall, a really solid beer, but a little over hyped. It was tasty and I definitely enjoyed my glass. Solid flavors all around.
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4.5/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottle poured into a mini brandy snifter, sharred with many BA's at the Darkness Eve tasting. Thanks Kevin for sharing this gem.
Bottle # 0094
A- Pours a thin bubbly white head that dissipates to nothing, the color is amber red/brown, slight cloudy, nice looking sour.
S- Aroma is fantastic, cherries, sour funk, sour apple, nice oak characteristics, really nice aroma.
T- Wow really tart and sour, nice and puckering on the palate, cherries, sour apple, really nice, some oak, love the different layers that come out, pretty complex, vinegar, lemon.
M- Medium mouth feel, puckering, tart, dry finish.
O- This beer was very impressive, loved the different layers that came out, very complex and delicious.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottle poured into a mini brandy snifter, sharred with many BA's at the Darkness Eve tasting. Thanks Kevin for sharing this gem.
Bottle # 0094
A- Pours a thin bubbly white head that dissipates to nothing, the color is amber red/brown, slight cloudy, nice looking sour.
S- Aroma is fantastic, cherries, sour funk, sour apple, nice oak characteristics, really nice aroma.
T- Wow really tart and sour, nice and puckering on the palate, cherries, sour apple, really nice, some oak, love the different layers that come out, pretty complex, vinegar, lemon.
M- Medium mouth feel, puckering, tart, dry finish.
O- This beer was very impressive, loved the different layers that came out, very complex and delicious.
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4.16/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bottle. #94. Popp loudly but doesn’t gush at all. Pours a copper red color with a light tan head. Great head retention. Sour apple, pear, white grape, and some sour acetone notes in the nose. Some oak as well. Apple cider, caramel, with a nice sourness that builds up nicely. The malt backbone is really nice as it stands up to the sour flavors. Some lemon notes as well. Overall, a very tasty beer.
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look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bottle. #94. Popp loudly but doesn’t gush at all. Pours a copper red color with a light tan head. Great head retention. Sour apple, pear, white grape, and some sour acetone notes in the nose. Some oak as well. Apple cider, caramel, with a nice sourness that builds up nicely. The malt backbone is really nice as it stands up to the sour flavors. Some lemon notes as well. Overall, a very tasty beer.
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4.42/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bottle. Thanks Spence for sharing! Pours a hazy ruby brown with some thick white lace. Great nose of apples, cherries, vinegar, some sweeter funk, oak. Flavor is similar, maybe a little more complex than the regular La Folie or just different. Either way, I really enjoyed this.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bottle. Thanks Spence for sharing! Pours a hazy ruby brown with some thick white lace. Great nose of apples, cherries, vinegar, some sweeter funk, oak. Flavor is similar, maybe a little more complex than the regular La Folie or just different. Either way, I really enjoyed this.
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4.45/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Cloudy copper amber with a little head. A touch of mustiness and fruity aroma and flavor...lemon zest, kumquat, light peach-pear, honey, light white wine, apple. Moderate carbonation...very flavorful. Very drinkable with subtle oak and a touch of sweet & sour tartness, perhaps from the Transatlantic Kriek addition.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Cloudy copper amber with a little head. A touch of mustiness and fruity aroma and flavor...lemon zest, kumquat, light peach-pear, honey, light white wine, apple. Moderate carbonation...very flavorful. Very drinkable with subtle oak and a touch of sweet & sour tartness, perhaps from the Transatlantic Kriek addition.
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4.2/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours brick red, huge pop, bit of a gusher. Nose is red fruits, fairly mild and nicely balanced with something reminiscent of classic Jolly Pumpkin funk. Mouth is red berry, apple, pleasant sourness, funk. Highly acidic going down, burning even, but doesn't really impact the flavor. As I expected this was too acidic, but not yet to the level of the old La Folie bottles. That will be the death of these c&c New Belgium bottles. Still, very nicely balanced a pleasant apple and spice quality, well rounded.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours brick red, huge pop, bit of a gusher. Nose is red fruits, fairly mild and nicely balanced with something reminiscent of classic Jolly Pumpkin funk. Mouth is red berry, apple, pleasant sourness, funk. Highly acidic going down, burning even, but doesn't really impact the flavor. As I expected this was too acidic, but not yet to the level of the old La Folie bottles. That will be the death of these c&c New Belgium bottles. Still, very nicely balanced a pleasant apple and spice quality, well rounded.
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4/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Matt for sending me this beer.
A: The pour is a dark amber color with a huge khaki head.
S: The nose opens up with tart fruits, particularly lemons and a bit of cherries. There is quite a bit of apple, which I presume is from the apple whiskey barrels. A surprisingly mild vinegar aroma. Also, a bit of wood and vanilla.
T: Both tart and sweet apples really make up a lot of the flavor. There is a moderate vinegar note but still a fair bit of lactic acid and lemon. A light funk in the form of grass and quite a bit of oak and whiskey. There is a bit of vanilla, too.
M: The body is medium and the carbonation is toward the high side.
O: A very different kind of wild ale. Sour, nowhere near as much as La Folie (or some of the variants). Certainly good, though.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Matt for sending me this beer.
A: The pour is a dark amber color with a huge khaki head.
S: The nose opens up with tart fruits, particularly lemons and a bit of cherries. There is quite a bit of apple, which I presume is from the apple whiskey barrels. A surprisingly mild vinegar aroma. Also, a bit of wood and vanilla.
T: Both tart and sweet apples really make up a lot of the flavor. There is a moderate vinegar note but still a fair bit of lactic acid and lemon. A light funk in the form of grass and quite a bit of oak and whiskey. There is a bit of vanilla, too.
M: The body is medium and the carbonation is toward the high side.
O: A very different kind of wild ale. Sour, nowhere near as much as La Folie (or some of the variants). Certainly good, though.
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5/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Endless thanks to Todd Leopold of Leopold Bros. Distillery for this amazing treat!
Pour is hazy strawberry/amber with an incredible effervescence. Even though the bottle rested for almost 24 hours before I removed the cork very slowly, it still shot out, and, unfortunately I lost a bit this precious nectar when it overflowed.
The nose and flavor mirrored each other, and were very complex. Featured were esters of barnyard funk, horse blanket, apples, grapes, cherries, limes, currants, figs, and dates all overlayed with a remarkable sour tartness.
The finish is very dry which allows the aforementioned flavors to continue to bloom in the mouth for quite awhile, and also makes the next sip irresistibly compelling.
Overall, this is very reminiscent of RR's Consecration, if it had been blended with Compunction, although I love it even more than either of those.
Wow squared, New Belgium, you knocked this one right out of the Park!
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look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Endless thanks to Todd Leopold of Leopold Bros. Distillery for this amazing treat!
Pour is hazy strawberry/amber with an incredible effervescence. Even though the bottle rested for almost 24 hours before I removed the cork very slowly, it still shot out, and, unfortunately I lost a bit this precious nectar when it overflowed.
The nose and flavor mirrored each other, and were very complex. Featured were esters of barnyard funk, horse blanket, apples, grapes, cherries, limes, currants, figs, and dates all overlayed with a remarkable sour tartness.
The finish is very dry which allows the aforementioned flavors to continue to bloom in the mouth for quite awhile, and also makes the next sip irresistibly compelling.
Overall, this is very reminiscent of RR's Consecration, if it had been blended with Compunction, although I love it even more than either of those.
Wow squared, New Belgium, you knocked this one right out of the Park!
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4.92/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
cannot thank mike enough this one with me. one i never thought i would get ahold of finally finds its way into my hands. split and poured into a tasting glass. Glad to have shared this with myself at my nightly tastings in my living room with my wife and my cat.
golden yellow color. A little white head on top, maybe a quarter of an inch but it stayed on top for damn near the entire session, really looked quite nice I have to admit. Light rings of lace on the side of the glass and a really nice and very bright color to it.
Beautiful. Like a funky masterpiece. Loads of tart apple notes, hints of sour grapes, lots of fruit all over the place. Bright, with a touch of light citrus notes bouncing around as well. Very well put together I have to admit. Really am like where this one is going. As I let it warm it opens up even more. So bright and complex, yet simple. Huge tart and sour notes just pucker your lips and leave you in amazement of the flavor you are experiencing. It was like that times ten. I was floored. Clean, crisp, super funky and tart, I was beyond impressed here. One of the best tasting beers, let alone sour beers that I have ever come across. It was really that damn good. Say what you will, but wow. Nice long drawn out close to it really lets that flavors absorb on the palate and that taste, which wonderful sour taste just will not fade and hangs in your mouth forever. Not much else I can say, but wow.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
cannot thank mike enough this one with me. one i never thought i would get ahold of finally finds its way into my hands. split and poured into a tasting glass. Glad to have shared this with myself at my nightly tastings in my living room with my wife and my cat.
golden yellow color. A little white head on top, maybe a quarter of an inch but it stayed on top for damn near the entire session, really looked quite nice I have to admit. Light rings of lace on the side of the glass and a really nice and very bright color to it.
Beautiful. Like a funky masterpiece. Loads of tart apple notes, hints of sour grapes, lots of fruit all over the place. Bright, with a touch of light citrus notes bouncing around as well. Very well put together I have to admit. Really am like where this one is going. As I let it warm it opens up even more. So bright and complex, yet simple. Huge tart and sour notes just pucker your lips and leave you in amazement of the flavor you are experiencing. It was like that times ten. I was floored. Clean, crisp, super funky and tart, I was beyond impressed here. One of the best tasting beers, let alone sour beers that I have ever come across. It was really that damn good. Say what you will, but wow. Nice long drawn out close to it really lets that flavors absorb on the palate and that taste, which wonderful sour taste just will not fade and hangs in your mouth forever. Not much else I can say, but wow.
1,437 characters
4.35/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This one was courtesy of my boy backfat, thanks Dave! It pours a cloudy dark brown in color with ruby highlights. It smelled of sour.cherries, soured cabernet, oak and soured pinot. Despite the lack of adjectives this one is great. It is very well rounded and isn't too intense in a single facet. It was preceded by an '09 Cascade Vlad and the Vlad was put to shame. It features the ultimate bouquet of sour. It was soft, yet sour and not overly so. I love this one and it was quite the treat.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This one was courtesy of my boy backfat, thanks Dave! It pours a cloudy dark brown in color with ruby highlights. It smelled of sour.cherries, soured cabernet, oak and soured pinot. Despite the lack of adjectives this one is great. It is very well rounded and isn't too intense in a single facet. It was preceded by an '09 Cascade Vlad and the Vlad was put to shame. It features the ultimate bouquet of sour. It was soft, yet sour and not overly so. I love this one and it was quite the treat.
493 characters
4.47/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A- Bright ruby red color, but not dark. Still has translucent qualities. nice white lacing with some residual head retention.
S- Smells like lacto and bready yeast. Great nose to it, reminds me of oude tart. Has some good complexity to it with over-doing it.
T- Awesome. sour, tart with a very dry finish. Get a little of apple at the back end. really awesome taste, just like the nose, nothing is over-barring. Drys very quickly but gives a good quick sours tart punch.
M- Very light body, nice and soft on the palate. drys out quick leaving the mouth asking for more.
O- Great beer, stoked i got to try this. Best New belgium beer yet.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A- Bright ruby red color, but not dark. Still has translucent qualities. nice white lacing with some residual head retention.
S- Smells like lacto and bready yeast. Great nose to it, reminds me of oude tart. Has some good complexity to it with over-doing it.
T- Awesome. sour, tart with a very dry finish. Get a little of apple at the back end. really awesome taste, just like the nose, nothing is over-barring. Drys very quickly but gives a good quick sours tart punch.
M- Very light body, nice and soft on the palate. drys out quick leaving the mouth asking for more.
O- Great beer, stoked i got to try this. Best New belgium beer yet.
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4.44/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to Dave for bringing over a bottle. Very excited to try this one.
Poured into a Drie Fonteinen tumbler. A thin, white, head fades to a thin ring. The body reveals a cloudy, amber-brown hue. Almost no lacing.
Sweet cherries, apples and grapes on the nose. Light acidity. Oak barrels come through nicely. Fruity.
Liquid caramel apple flows over the tongue, followed by a wave of sour, acidic, cherries. Grapes, apples, fruity throughout. Good oak presence with a hint of vanilla. I love the caramel apple notes. Quite tasty, but very acidic.
Mouthfeel has good carbonation (lively) and lots of jaw clenching sourness. A really good sour kick all the way through. Not a beer I would drink on a day to day basis due to the sourness level, but tasty once in awhile. Light alcohol presence.
Overall, this is my first C&C beer from New Belgium and I'm pretty impressed. Solid aroma and the flavor is delicious with the sour caramel apple notes. I'd maybe like to see the sour acidity dialed down a bit, but I'm not really complaining. Love the barrel treatment on this one.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to Dave for bringing over a bottle. Very excited to try this one.
Poured into a Drie Fonteinen tumbler. A thin, white, head fades to a thin ring. The body reveals a cloudy, amber-brown hue. Almost no lacing.
Sweet cherries, apples and grapes on the nose. Light acidity. Oak barrels come through nicely. Fruity.
Liquid caramel apple flows over the tongue, followed by a wave of sour, acidic, cherries. Grapes, apples, fruity throughout. Good oak presence with a hint of vanilla. I love the caramel apple notes. Quite tasty, but very acidic.
Mouthfeel has good carbonation (lively) and lots of jaw clenching sourness. A really good sour kick all the way through. Not a beer I would drink on a day to day basis due to the sourness level, but tasty once in awhile. Light alcohol presence.
Overall, this is my first C&C beer from New Belgium and I'm pretty impressed. Solid aroma and the flavor is delicious with the sour caramel apple notes. I'd maybe like to see the sour acidity dialed down a bit, but I'm not really complaining. Love the barrel treatment on this one.
1,078 characters
4.47/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4/30/2011
An extremely generous extra received from Masterski, thanks a lot Alex. Poured into a snifter.
A: Cork opens with an energetic pop. The body is transparent reddish orange and the head is a three inch mass of cavernous sea foam. Great retention and scattered lacing.
S: Moderately acetic, with light cherries and a big apple aroma. Whiskey integrates with notes of oak and a touch of vanilla. Light wet leather notes and a slight musty character with light tannins. Killer nose.
T: Moderate acetic acidity with evident oak and tannins. Apple is prominent and it accompanies cherry and earth. Moderate lactic sourness with a light tartness. Nice flavor. Finish is dry and acetic with notes of oak, lingering cherry, and apple with a touch of whiskey.
A: Medium body with spritzy carbonation. Mouthfeel is dry, sticky, tannic, and moderately acidic.
Overall: I really enjoyed this. A unique and well made sour. Recommended.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4/30/2011
An extremely generous extra received from Masterski, thanks a lot Alex. Poured into a snifter.
A: Cork opens with an energetic pop. The body is transparent reddish orange and the head is a three inch mass of cavernous sea foam. Great retention and scattered lacing.
S: Moderately acetic, with light cherries and a big apple aroma. Whiskey integrates with notes of oak and a touch of vanilla. Light wet leather notes and a slight musty character with light tannins. Killer nose.
T: Moderate acetic acidity with evident oak and tannins. Apple is prominent and it accompanies cherry and earth. Moderate lactic sourness with a light tartness. Nice flavor. Finish is dry and acetic with notes of oak, lingering cherry, and apple with a touch of whiskey.
A: Medium body with spritzy carbonation. Mouthfeel is dry, sticky, tannic, and moderately acidic.
Overall: I really enjoyed this. A unique and well made sour. Recommended.
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Twisted Spoke 15th Anniversary from New Belgium Brewing Company
Beer rating:
97 out of
100 with
104 ratings
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