Cool Springs Wines & Spirits' Featured Beer
New Belgium Lips of Faith Le Terroir
New Belgium Brewing Company was started in 1991 and continues to be on top of their American Craft Brew game. Starting with Fat Tire and moving all the way through their entire line to their Lips of Faith series. New Belgium Brewing is known for being employee owned, very sustainable as a brewery, and for being environmentally friendly. New Belgium is the first Brewery in America that is wind powered which is paving the way for more breweries and micro-distilleries looking to become more environmentally sound.
New Belgium Le Terroir is what I will be focusing on this week. This Dry Hopped Sour Ale has made its way into my "favorites" list and will be there for a while. Le Terroir is a French term meaning 'Of the Earth' used to reference the environmental conditions that affect the brew. The wooden barrels age the sour beer in varying temperatures, humidity and vibrations. Add in another variable by dry-hopping with peachy, mango-like Amarillo hops and the brew will turn out different every time it is brewed.
New Belgium Le Terroir pours a hazy golden color with a big white head that leaves some lace. The aroma is abounding with pineapple and orange fruitiness with some earthy wildflowers and hay, and some funky barnyard and horse-like aromas. A bit of booze is sneaking around in the background of the bouquet but overall aroma has alot of citrus notes . The flavor is fruity and sour with a great pineapple character as well. The beer is very tart and lemony, maintaining it's puckering sourness throughout whith a mild sweetness mid palate. There are some earthy and woody flavors that work well with the citrus rind that is playing it's part very well. Mouthfeel is big and bold and compliments the sourness in an elegant way. Finishes dry and leaving you wanting more. 99 points ratebeer.com
Featured Beer Archives