La Folie is New Belgium’s answer to the Flanders red tradition, aged in giant French oak foeders the brewery calls Foeders, the same equipment used for the style in Belgium. It was one of the first widely distributed American takes on sour brown ale, and it remains one of the more traditional-tasting American examples, sharper and drier than most domestic competitors.
New Belgium La Folie at a glance
| Style | American wild ale (Flanders red style) |
| ABV | Around 7% |
| Calories | Around 210 per 12 fl oz |
| Origin | New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA |
| Ingredients | Pale, Munich, C-80, Chocolate and Special W malts, Nugget hops, mixed culture |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Gluten free | No, contains barley |
| Typical price | Around $10 to $16 for a 750ml bottle |
How it tastes, by the numbers
La Folie leans sharper and more lambic-like than most American sour browns, with real oak character.
The full review
It pours a deep mahogany, translucent with a light brown, creamy head. The aroma carries cherry, plum, caramel and oak alongside a slight earthy funk, with a clean apple cider vinegar twang and hints of raspberry seed.
On the palate it is sharp and sour, full of green apple, cherry and plum-skin flavours, with earthy funk, a touch of coffee and dark caramel adding depth. The mouthfeel puckers noticeably before settling into a smooth, dry finish.
It is one of the more convincing American attempts at capturing genuine lambic-adjacent sourness rather than just adding fruit to a sour base, which explains why it has stayed a benchmark American sour brown for well over a decade.
One of the few widely distributed American sours that genuinely earns the comparison to Belgian Flanders red.
- Wide US distribution for a beer this traditional in style
- Real oak-aged complexity rather than shortcuts
- Sharp, well-balanced sourness that holds up to Belgian originals
- Sharper and more puckering than Duchesse de Bourgogne or other sweeter Flanders red
- Vintage variation means some batches land more sour than others
- Not as widely available as it once was outside the US
Who it is for
American craft beer fans who want to taste a homegrown take on Flanders red that takes the tradition seriously rather than treating it as a novelty.
New Belgium La Folie FAQs
What does New Belgium La Folie taste like?
Cherry, plum, caramel and oak aromas, with a sharp, sour palate of green apple, cherry and plum skin, plus earthy funk and a smooth, dry finish.
How strong is New Belgium La Folie?
Around 7% ABV, though it has varied slightly between roughly 6 and 7% across vintages.
Is La Folie the same as Flanders red ale?
It is an American interpretation of the style, aged in French oak foeders similar to traditional Flanders red producers, though it is usually classified as an American wild ale.
Is New Belgium La Folie gluten free?
No, it is brewed from a blend of pale, Munich, and specialty malts.
How long is La Folie aged?
It is aged in large oak foeders for an extended period before blending, though New Belgium does not publish an exact timeframe for every batch.
Where is New Belgium La Folie brewed?
In Fort Collins, Colorado, at New Belgium Brewing’s main facility.
Where to find it
Available at well-stocked craft beer retailers across the US; international availability is more limited.
The verdict
New Belgium La Folie is one of the most convincing American takes on Flanders red, sharp, oak-aged and genuinely complex rather than a novelty sour. A confident four out of five.
