New Belgium La Folie Grand Reserve PX

Floral, herbal hop aroma with low, cracker-like malt; slight orange notes. In the flavor, Wonderbread-crust biscuit malt nicely balanced by light touch of hop-bitterness. Light notes peach, orange, pear. Dry, clean finish. Very good drinkability.

Aroma: “Brown malt and dried dark fruit—currants and dried cherries. Light sour notes well integrated with the fruit notes plus a touch of coffee, unsweetened chocolate, and some dark caramel. Overall, earthy, woodsy, with some mushroom.” Flavor: “Sharp acidity up front that quickly gives way to complex dark malt character, with toasted bread crust and sweet biscuit and roasted coffee. The sweet and sour are well-balanced. Finish is a touch musty, with a dry woody character that adds a bit of definition.” Overall: “It’s like eating a thick piece of toasted sourdough bread with a healthy slathering of extra tart marmalade. Malt notes, fermentation esters/phenols, and acidity, all work in gorgeous harmony.”

Aroma: “Strong rich apricot aroma, reminiscent of apricot nectar. Very subtle floral hops in the background. Almost like a fruit cocktail. Sweet.” Flavor: “Apricot-dominant. Distinct apricot flavors that incorporate aspects of both flesh and skin. Slight floral and perfumy hops flavors help cut through some of the fruit sweetness, without lowering the overall impact of the fruit. Fruit notes are slightly acidic and crisp. More ‘beer’ character emerges in the flavor, so it’s not all fruit. Pretty well-balanced. Slightly tart finish.” Overall: “Fairly well-balanced beer that integrates the apricot well into the base beer. Nice apricot flavor and well-balanced in the finish. For such an intensely fruit-forward beer, it still manages to convey an endearing beer character that keeps it from being alcoholic fruit punch.”