Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Co., Fort Collins, Colorado
Beer: Tart Lychee (Lips of Faith series)
Serving: 22 oz bottle
Glassware: New Belgium globe glass
Information: 7.5% ABV, 120410031 on “label”.
Style: American Wild Ale
Price: $9.99 / bottle
Availability: Limited Release
Cellaring: Under proper conditions, this beer can be cellared for extended periods.
Pairings: Braised Port Roast (recipe link)
Appearance
Densely hazy dirty apricot golden in color, Tart Lychee has a tall white head with good staying power and little dribbles of lace caked on the glass.
Smell
Sour, acidic oak bursts fourth with tingly floral hop attributes delicately lingering behind. A unique playful tropical fruitiness bounces off the sourdough bready malt as a sprinkle of light cinnamon wafts in on the back end.
Taste
Sweet but certainly not sugary fruit flavor hits the tongue first but is quickly abolished by bold tartness. Light acidity follows into the oak wood flavor but I’m hard-pressed to taste the cinnamon in here. The flavor is much more straight-forward; less depth.
Mouthfeel
The sweet and sour of Tart Lychee balances wonderful on the palate, keeping it really refreshing as it dries out the tongue. Medium-bodied and otherwise smooth, the tart, sour finish is a rewarding way to end each sip.
Overall
A refreshingly sour spring brew, Tart Lychee is far less deep than I had anticipated from a Lips of Faith series beer, but the oak and fruit come together nicely for a very drinkable beer. The cinnamon is lost somewhere in here but it makes little difference in the end. A good level of “sour power” at a good price point.
Score: 83 / 100 - Very Good
Cheers,
-Andy
Thanks for the review!
Of course! Cheers!