New Belgium Lips of Faith (Erics Sour Peach Ale)

RERATE: On tap at NBB brewhouse 2 while talking with Peter Bouckaert on 9/26/2006 - Still a beautiful beer, I appreciate it even more now. Seems to have a more sour character than before, and it is even better than it was... This is beer art. This beer inspires me. // ORIGINAL RATE: A couple of pints on tap at the brewery with alaskanwarren at the AHA membership drive (found my tasting notes after 6 long months!). Beer pours with the beautiful color and glow of clover honey with a touch of rustcolor mixed in, a clear low carbonation. The aroma contains honey, tartness/acidity, heather, and some peachy goodness. A soft caressing sweetness and tartness, balanced beautifully. Peachy with green-apple crispness and honey puts a smile on my face. More approachable that the also-fantastic Le Terroir. How good was it? I wish I had a keg or three. Please brew it again! Probably my favorite effort from New Belgium brewery. Eric Salazar has my thanks!

Pour is clear orangey amber with a dense tan head...smell is woody and sour with hints of peach and yeasty funk...amazing nose...taste is slightly sour with lots of wood flavor...hints of peach, but not overly so...tremendous dry mouthfeel, but seems very wet at the same time...what a tremendous tremendous beer...

On tap at the brewery. Eric’s ale pours golden honey-like with a white head. Aroma is fantastic, lots of honey and some peach in there. Reminded me more of mead than it did of beer. Flavor is nothing like mead. It was a somewhat peach-like and more approachable version of Le Terroir. Finish was fantastically smooth. Citrusy and somewhat peach-like on the aftertaste. Overall I’d say this is one of, if not the, favorite sour ale I’ve ever gotten to enjoy. And definitely my favorite new belgium beer. Thanks Eric!

Served by Eric himself at the Falling Rock in Denver! Shiny copper pour with a small cap of fine white bubbles. High frequency floral aroma, mint caramel, peach pic, all wrapped up in a clean, bright tartness. A sip begins with a tart cedar wash that fits every corner of my mouth with flavor. Just under-ripe peaches. Dry, tart, profoundly refreshing finish. The impression of a full body with the riot of flavors, but still incredibly delicate and light. This is utterly fantastic. The most original and well-executed beer I’ve tasted in ages. I want my own keg of this.

On tap at the Toronado. I actually thought that this is a little better than the La Folie even. Yellow with a white head. Rings of white lacing form. At first sip, you scream out "What the hell IS this?" Sure, it’s sour, but it’s an interesting acid flavor. Quinine and benzene emerge as the dominant carcinogens in this brew. The battery acid of this is slightly better buffered than in the La Folie. Still, it certainly tastes like something poisonous and I’m certain that no wild animal would drink it. Outstanding experience. UPDATE 10/18/7: New Belgium tasing at the Max & Joe’s Tavern. Gold in color with a thin white head. Half was aged 2 years in oak, then blended with peach concentrate. The hops used were 10 years old according to Eric! This puppy started out at 17°P original gravity. This is fruity, but not sour. Slightly peachy, slightly sour. This is the only beer in the Lips of Faith series to be brewed a second time. This is not sweet at all and not over the top in any department, just perfectly blended. Has a very dry finish like a white wine. The non-sweet peach flavor blasts you like a peach bomb.