New Belgium La Folie

Tasting Notes

La Folie pours with a sharp, vinegary aroma layered over dark fruit — sour cherry, plum, and a hint of oak from the wooden foeder aging. On the palate it's assertively tart, almost bracing, with notes of dark cherry, balsamic, and a leathery, earthy undertone. The body is medium, slightly thin from the prolonged souring process, with no residual sweetness to soften the acidity. The finish is dry and lingering, with a tannic bite from the wood that keeps it honest.

About the Brewery

New Belgium is based in Fort Collins, Colorado, founded in 1991, and is one of the defining craft breweries of the American West. They're best known for Fat Tire Amber Ale, but their wood-cellar sour program — anchored by foeder-aged beers like La Folie — has earned them serious respect among sour beer enthusiasts. The brewery is employee-owned and has long been noted for its commitment to sustainability alongside its brewing ambitions.

Food Pairings

The beer's intense acidity and dark fruit character make it a strong match for aged hard cheeses like Gouda or Manchego, where the fat cuts the sourness cleanly. Charcuterie — particularly cured pork like prosciutto or soppressata — mirrors the balsamic, umami depth in the beer. Duck confit works well because the richness of the meat provides ballast against the tartness. A dark chocolate dessert with minimal sweetness echoes the beer's bitter, roasted undertones without fighting the acidity.

Style Guide

Flanders Oud Bruin is a Belgian sour brown ale defined by restrained but present acidity, dark malt character, and flavors of dried fruit, chocolate, and vinegar. It originated in East Flanders, Belgium, with producers like Liefmans setting the template, and is aged in tanks or barrels to develop lactic sourness over months or years. It differs from Flanders Red Ale — its closest neighbor — by leaning darker, maltier, and slightly less aggressively acidic, though the line between the two is genuinely blurry in practice.