New Belgium La Folie Grand Reserve: PX Nitro

Our iconic sour ale acidified in premium, Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks, infused with Tahitian vanilla beans and bottled on a gentle amount of nitro for a smooth and creamy presentation and texture.

Last year’s release of Geisha was the first ever cork-and-cage nitro beer. We’re back with another one this year as we continue to pioneer this bottling technique which is unusual for cork-and-cage beers, but also unusual for wood-aged sour beers. Lauren Limbach’s been experimenting with nitro sours for about five years now and we truly love the results we’ve been getting.

PX was matured in sherry barrels, which previously matured exquisite sherry made from Pedro Ximenez grapes. These barrels are considered some of the most expensive and highly sought-after in the industry. The vanilla beans come from Tahiti and sourced by our friends at Old Town Spice Shop here in Fort Collins. Lauren hand-split each bean and infused them with beer pulled from the sherry barrel, swirling the homemade concoction every day for four months before returning to the barrel prior to packaging. Wow.

The American sour. Pioneering. Now turning 21. A true American craft legacy story.

VISUAL
Dark cherry-wood red with a medium sheen and strong tan white crème and lacing.

AROMA
Cherries, vanilla, sherry, granny smith apples, figs, raisins, and berry jam initially with caramelized sugar and molasses overtones, moderate dark chocolate and root beer.

FLAVOR
Sweet initial flash with a sour middle and overall taste that sways back to a subtle sweetness, finishes with a substantial sour (but not bracing) linger.

MOUTHFEEL/BODY
Medium-full body, mouthwatering without being sharp; finishes with a very light oak astringency. The nitrogen gives the perception of fuller and smoother mouthfeel.