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[expand]Total Score: 39/50
Very drinkable beer that I would recommend to accompany any number of dishes, from soup to salad to entree. Saisons are the chameleon of beers, going well with many foods. more >
[close]Total Score: 39/50
Aroma: Pilsner malt aroma with a hint of lactic sourness. There’s a light, peppery, spicy note. Noticeable alcohol aroma but no diacetyl or DMS. Light fruity esters reminiscent of apples and pears, but somewhat lower than expected for the style. No hop aroma. (9/12)
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Appearance: Clear but not bright, OK for this style. Color is light yellow to gold, light for a classic example of the style where some orange to amber color is characteristic. There is a white head with only fair head retention. (2/3)
Flavor: Pilsner maltiness with balancing hop bitterness and low, spicy hop flavor. Slight hint of acidity. Peppery phenols, soft alcohol, and light pear and apple-like esters. No DMS or diacetyl. The focus is on the phenols rather than the fruitiness. Finishes dry and balanced. (16/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium to light body. Minerally, chalky mouthfeel. Warming from alcohol. Smooth, with some lingering astringency. Carbonation is medium-low; expect higher level of carbonation for a saison. (4/5)
Overall Impression: Very drinkable beer that I would recommend to accompany any number of dishes, from soup to salad to entree. Saisons are the chameleon of beers, going well with many foods. The peppery phenols are right on target; however, the fruity esters, while pleasant, are somewhat underwhelming for the style. Higher fermentation temperatures and lower pitching rates might help accentuate the fruitiness. Complexity would be aided by the addition of Vienna or Munich malts. Still a refreshing, well-made beer. (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 37/50
At the same time both rich and refreshing, with a spritzy, dry yet quenching finish. Acidity starts low and becomes more pronounced with each sip, yet remains in the background. more >
[close]Total Score: 37/50
Aroma: Caramelized orange juice presentation of malt and ester mix; low pepper spice phenol with low herbal hop aroma. A hint of acidity comes forward as the beer warms a bit, with a note of yeast and a hint of sulfur. (8/12)
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Appearance: Straw yellow with brilliant clarity. Fluffy white foam of uneven bubbles forms, but does not persist; it leaves a light lace on the glass as it dissipates. A later pour is hazy with yeast roused from the bottom of the bottle. (3/3)
Flavor: Bready malt dominates the profile, mixed with sun-warmed peach and orange fruity esters; caramel notes like peach cobbler emerge with a touch of pepper phenol. A fairly assertive hop bitterness and herbal flavor come forward toward the finish, as alcohol flavor also becomes more evident, amplifying the pepper spice and hop bitterness that linger lightly on the tongue, subdued as an extended pleasant clean finish. (15/20)
Mouthfeel: Moderately light body, prickly carbonation with medium level alcohol warmth. Texture is not creamy or astringent, but the finish is somewhat dry and prickly, with a hint of acidic tang. (4/5)
Overall Impression: At the same time both rich and refreshing, with a spritzy, dry yet quenching finish. Acidity starts low and becomes more pronounced with each sip, yet remains in the background. Finishes on the dry side with a fairly pronounced bitterness, but still showcases the brewer’s skill with a unique spin on a once exclusively European style. Leaves me looking for the cheese and pear plate. (7/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 40/50
his is a nice interpretation of the style, except for the low carbonation. Boosting the CO2 to more typical levels would enhance all of the nice flavors and aromas and give it a more lively palate. more >
[close]Total Score: 40/50
Aroma: Moderately strong citrus and lemony notes from coriander make a bold opening statement. The malt is subtle, but I do pick up minty notes from the wheat. There are low levels of tropical fruit esters (mango, pineapple) that add to the complexity. Alcohol is evident, but is clean without any solvent notes. (10/12)
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Appearance: Straw color with a hint of orange. The beer is cloudy, but poor clarity is permissible in this style. The head retention is very low, which is not appropriate since this style is noted for a dense, rocky head. (1/3)
Flavor: The maltiness is subdued but the wheat does lend soft and silky supporting notes. Citrus, lemon, and pineapple flavors are assertive and complement moderately strong fruity and spicy notes from esters and alcohols. Coriander is evident, but in balance with everything else. The hop bitterness is low-medium and combines with the lemony tartness to produce a fairly dry finish. Nicely done. (17/20)
Mouthfeel: This is another area where the low carbonation adversely affects the beer. This style should be effervescent. There is a low astringency from the coriander, but it is not too distracting. The level of alcoholic warmth is appropriate. (3/5)
Overall Impression: This is a nice interpretation of the style, except for the low carbonation. Boosting the CO2 to more typical levels would enhance all of the nice flavors and aromas and give it a more lively palate. The balance and complexity are outstanding, and adding the alcohol to the mix makes this a dangerously drinkable beer. (9/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 41/50
Complex traditional flavors, well-balanced. Body a touch high and finish a touch full—makes it seem not quite as dry and attenuated as the best examples. more >
[close]Total Score: 41/50
Aroma: Moderate earthy/spicy hops, restrained esters initially. Some sulfur. Mild grainy notes. Moderate alcohol and phenolics follow. Fairly complex. Has an impression of dryness. Hops are most forward in the balance. Esters build as it warms, but still less than hops. Quite nice. (10/12)
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Appearance: Tall white head, good retention, frothy texture. Effervescent. Mostly clear. Very pale yellow color. (3/3)
Flavor: Complex spicy, phenolic, slightly tart flavor with moderate alcohol and bitterness, giving way to a dry finish. Moderate earthy, spicy hop flavor comes out mid-palate and grows into finish. Alcohol flavors are a touch high but OK. Apple and pear esters as it warms. Clean grainy malt base. Is there some wheat in here? Has a lot of moving parts, but it works together well. (16/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium body, a bit heavy. High carbonation; effervescent, prickly bubbles. Warming but not burning. A higher alcohol version like Moinette. (4/5)
Overall Impression: Complex traditional flavors, well-balanced. Body a touch high and finish a touch full—makes it seem not quite as dry and attenuated as the best examples. The higher gravity could have something to do with this impression, too. Esters a touch low, as is bitterness. But overall drinkability is outstanding. I keep getting different flavors with each sip. Fresh. Balance is slightly more malty than some examples. (8/10)
