New Belgium Love

Draft at Sheffield’s. Pours a hazy gold with film of white bubbles. Nose is very nice. Funky and clean at the same time. Rich Lacto notes with apricot and cherry as well. On taste, I’m glad this wasn’t mixed. Excellent sourness that isn’t compromised by bitterness. Minimal grain notes. A step up from Le Terroir for me. Absolutely fantastic.

Full snifter pour at Sheffields (Chicago, IL). Pours a nice glowing orange gold, fiery, a small white head dies to the corners and clings, highly hazy. Aromas are wet wood, brettanomyces, hay and barnyard funk are dominant, with a light maltiness, faint tartness. Raw, grainy. Initial is a nice light tartness that glides on the palate, brett funk less dominant, grainy cereal, light tartness. A bit light bodied, but still sticks to the palate. Nice, lighter, I can see why NB uses this as their BA base beer. Tartness comes on a little further in, stronger, a better coat, citrus acidity, light wet woodish type notes? This was good, albeit fairly light overall. Still, I’d drink this a lot. Cheers.

FOBAB- 2009- pours ahazy dark orange with a small white head. notes of tart sour lemons, earth, grapefruit, and oak. really nice tartness and is quite good. nice dryness. coats the mouth. AWesome

FoBAB 09. Pours a hazed orange with a soapy white head. Barnyard nose with ashy wood that seems to fade after a couple minutes. What remains is interesting, odd, and the best parts of barnyard notes. Funky earthy, doughy bread malts with citrus, and oak. Full rich and tart. Citrus earthy leathery fruits. The citrus funk and oak are really interesting. Reminds me of LaFolie but with more punch. The blending of LaFolie certainly mellows some of these funky fruity flavors. Awesome, I love this beer.

Tap at Sheffields night before Fobab... Pours a golden murky orange brown with a quickly dissipating soapy head... Aroma is very gueuze like with a good degree of funkiness, must, old socks, and cheese. Very solid nose with lighter cherry notes but the funk dominates... Smooth flavors of Belgian like gueuze with mild funk qualities lemony citrus and very light on the cherries. So much less acidic and biting than tart lychee. Drinks very well and quite good actually.

Labeled Love Barrel #3 at sour fest. Pours a hazy sunset orange. Nose is the obvious oak, nice summer fruits and stone fruits. Taste is fantastic, lots of fruits, peaches, lemon, strawberry, pineapple and grapefruit with a strong sour punch. Oak adds an earthiness that keeps it from being too fruity and balances well.

On tap at Stone Sourfest 09. Hazy orange pour. Sour and tart aroma, with some lemon and other citrus. Flavor is a lot of tartness up front, then follows up with a great funk.

Love barrel #13 on tap at Beachwood. Appears darker gold, verging on tangerine orange. Aroa is of lemon and other firm citrusy tart flavors. There is some funk that creates a wonderful swirl of sour flavors. Flavor strikes the palate clear, with sharp acidity. Citrus peel notes might be what keeps Love tasting bright, and almost “hoppy.” Finishes dry, with distinct funky notes. This was my favorite sour on the night!