In Spring 2016, I took an extended Colorado beercation, visiting breweries in Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins. I went on brewery tours in each city, but the Fort Collins leg featured a pilgrimmage of sorts to the source of the beers that sent me down the sour rabbit hole: La Folie, and Le Terroir.
The New Belgium brewery was pretty impressive. I had intended to go by Odell, just down the street, for a while before the tour at New Belgium, but Odell had some kind of beer event happening in their taproom that day. But New Belgium was cool, and the weather was beautiful, so I didn't mind spending extra time there. For an extra degree of authenticity, they even had a Belgian-style feather bowling lane.
There were many highlights on the tour, including a "Candelier", the statue of Saint Arnold, patron saint of brewers, wearing their GABF medals, but none sticks in my mind more than the "Foeder Forest."
These vessels age beers in the manner of Flemish breweries in the 19th century, and also not unlike Porter brewers in the 18th and 19th centuries. Their red and pale base beers respectively are called Oscar and Felix, referencing the Odd Couple. Beer from the different foeders are blended and then the beer is finished in different ways. For example, Felix with dry hops is sold as Le Terroir, the beer that started me on this journey.
After an extended visit to New Belgium, I visited Funkwerks, just down the street from New Belgium and Odell, and went on the their tour, too.
During the same trip, in downtown Denver, I ate dinner at an upscale burger restaurant and ordered another unforgettable sour beer: Russian River Supplication. It resembled a Flanders sour ale, with tart charries, finished in red wine barrels. It was so good, I had to order another immediately after. A rarity for me. I still have a couple of bottles of it in my beer cellar from a subsequent Colorado trip.
A Taste of Cantillion
I enjoyed Lambic, Gueuze, and other such beers, but had little opportunity to try different ones. One of the most prized brands in this space for me is Cantillon. I've only ever had a tiny taste of Cantillon on a couple of occasions.
I got to try Cantillon Framboise (Raspberry Lambic) at a beer share party that I ended up attending in October 2017. I was in Tulsa to take the BJCP Tasting Exam. I had spent the previous 10 months studying the beer styles, attempting to memorize the guidelines, and practicing to take the test. Finally, I arrived at a cabin in Tulsa to take it...
American Solera was started by Chase Healy, who previously also started Prairie Artisan Ales. American Solera was pretty hyped up at the time and I didn't have a chance to visit yet. The list of mixed fermentation sours was very impressive, but I also remember a really nice Pilsner with bright tasting Hallertau Blanc hops.
The old American Solera location was next to what was the Prairie Artisan Ales facility, they were nestled against the Arkansas River with a single road providing access. A road that crosses train tracks. After a while, a train pulls up and parks there. Not knowing how long it would take, they informed me and some other stranded patrons about a bottle share party happening at the old Prairie Artisan Ales facility next door.
Among the beers shared at this party, someone had a crowler of Central Standard Brewing's Wizard of Hops, CSB was still fairly new and did not can at the time. I felt like I was watching their hype stock rise in real time, appropriately I wore a CSB t-shirt that day, too.
As for the Cantillon Framboise, I remember it being impeccably well balanced, only the slightest hint of acetic character, never lingering on the palate. However, I only got to taste a little bit at the end of the bottle, carefully attempting to pour while leaving the dregs.
By the time I got out of there, the sun was going down. It was a much longer visit than intended, but very memorable.