On tap at Poor Henry’s, wild brettanomyces yeast provides sour white-wined champagne sparkle to tart Somerset apple juicing and subtle white-peppered piney hop bittering of English saison. Mild orange-rotted yellow grapefruit souring and zesty pineapple tang fill out the backend.
Dainty farmhouse-styled ale brings subtle tangerine-clementine tang and sweet ‘n sour lemon juicing to delicate pale malt stead. Crisply clean carbolic spritz nearly hides estery grape tartness, kaffir lime tingle and mild melon snip at the zesty citric finish.
On tap at Ambulance, soft-toned saison offers sour citric splurge to mineral-watered crisping, grassy hop bittering and wafting floral perfuming. Herbaceous lemon zest crowds the middle, but thin yellow-fruited finish lacks resolve.
On tap at Ambulance, tart beige-hazed farmhouse ale utilizes Red Jacket apple cider to complement leathery horse-blanketed hay dryness and spelt grained earthiness. Yet its white-peppered green apple tartness steals the show midway, receiving a lightly acidic limestone parch and lemon-fizzed coriander salting. Very interesting and never too demanding for softer palates.
Smoothly rustic moderation brings tingly lemon zest to wheat-flaked honey malts, salty hop astringency and peppery yeast musk. Herbal lemongrass and basil notions recede below silken grapefruit pith bittering at earthen midst. Lemon rind, pineapple and apricot illusions provide tertiary relief.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, excellent collaboration between broad-minded Kansas City brewer and Belgian-inspired New York mainstay, Ommegang, utilizes unique house yeast from blended batches. Lemony orange rind sedation, brisk yellow grapefruit tartness and white grape tannins spiced up by white-peppered grassy hops. Pink peppercorn pep enlivens honeyed grain base.
Uniquely hybridized Oklahoman saison drops subtle brettanomyces acidity onto citric-candied tartness and white wine yeast tannins. Lemony grapefruit-pineapple-mango fruiting as well as astringent black-peppered Saaz hop spicing override cane-sugared banana, clove and coriander reminder caressing soft wheat-flaked spine.
Mysterious rye-spiced farmhouse ale loads barnyard leathering and light brettanomyces acidity upon tannic black gape souring. Sharp hop char deepens earthen rye toasting at the back end. Wispy sour tropical fruiting and teasing green raisin smidgen fail to rise above ashen charcoal acridity inundating mossy dry-fruited finish.
On tap at Blue Ribbon Tavern, soft-tongued saison brings lemony orange rot to herbaceous white-peppered hop zip and light crystal malted spicing. Silken French saison yeast adds champagne sparkle to wheat-honeyed tangerine, peach, apricot and banana snips. Minty evergreen freshness serenades zesty citrus finish.
Stylistically expansive and well-balanced French-styled saison brings subtle pear juicing to musky lemon tartness, zesty orange briskness, vinous white grape esters and wavered cider nip. Parched straw, hay and barnyard leathering affects earthen bottom, contrasting its passive sweet side, where cotton-candied vanilla, butterscotch and banana bubblegum illusions abound. Funky saison yeast affects subtle white-peppered floral dusting of pyrus-influenced farmhouse ale.
Uncommon saison puts a challenging spin on basic farmhouse ale. Best described as a liquified green salad intermingling delicate vegetable intricacies with pleasant citric effervescence, its refreshingly water-based cucumber cleanliness rises above celery-seeded green peppercorn remnants. A moderate Saaz hop bittering and sour lemon twist contrast the light green-peppered cucumber sweetness. Marvelous balance and complexity for such a unique offshoot.
Bordering on a lactic sour ale, this pliable farmhouse ale brings dry earthen musk to sour green and yellow grape tartness as well as advertised cinnamon-sticked vanilla bean subtlety. Vinous white-wined Pinot Gris follow-up picks up bubbly champagne fizz above peppery hop spicing.
