Part of “Expressionist Collection,” unenticing blend (tart Flanders Red with sour saison) lacks distinct Belgian farmhouse styling. Mushy mix combines sweet orange-peeled coriander blur, lightly peppered citric hop spicing and murky lemon-candied tartness. Wayward mandarin orange, curacao orange and green apple undertones fail to capture attention.
On tap at Ambulance Brew House, sessionable light-bodied farmhouse ale spreads rustic barnyard funk across herbal lemondrop-candied tartness, pilsner-malted mineral graining and light grassy hop bittering. Salted white peppercorn respite brings prickly nose tingle.
On tap at Ambulance Brew House, intricately designed moderate-bodied Swiss saison allows sour yellow fruiting to pick up gueuze-like lactobacillus acidity and brettanomyces funk. Lemon-pitted navel orange rot receives ultra-dry barnyard leathering and earthen mineral rusticity. Vinous white grape pucker enjoins bitter green apple and cranberry conflux at champagne-sparkled peppered citrus finish.
On tap at Ambulance Brew House, uniquely soft-toned farmhouse ale loads white peppercorn herbage, kaffir lime tartness and mild coriander spicing into subtle citrus zest. Lemon-rotted souring initially overrides floral grapefruit-orange tang and lacquered wood drift. Thereafter, wispy mandarin orange, curacao orange and orange blossom illusions add ephemeral niceties.
On tap at Ambulance Brew House, respectable Italian saison (a.k.a. New Morning) drops farmhouse-dried minerality into lightly herbal-spiced citric tartness. Honeyed lemon souring leads the way before subtle green-peppered ginger, coriander and chamomile adjuncts affect the fruited midst. Tertiary orange marmalade, curacao orange, tangerine, green grape and gooseberry illusions pick up herbal tea nuance. Parched hay, horse blanket and wild oats acridity deepens ultra-dry template.
On tap at Taphouse Grille – Wayne, chameleonic strong saison (7.8% ABV) blends advertised tangerine-peach tartness into wood-dried hop grouting and peppery herbal spicing, picking up passive cologne muskiness. After a few sips, sweet banana bubblegum illusions come forward to contrast its deepening orange rind bittering. Desiccated wheat, rye and spelt grained spine wavers and a hint of lemongrass, perhaps, seeps beneath the busy medium body.
Imprecise farmhouse ale tosses raw-honeyed orange rot and yellow grapefruit souring at soapy grained murk. Off-putting molded fruitiness and dank hop astringency lower appeal. Phenol carbolic fizz depletes zesty lemon rind wisp.
Approachable saison moderation softens white-wined Chardonnay buttering with light grapefruit-orange tartness, lemon-rotted champagne grape souring, lilting lemongrass liming and floral-hopped pleasantries (layered above a biscuity malt base). French saison yeast offers ascending lactobacillus acidity to dry earthen bottom.
“Rustic” fluorescent-yellowed Wallonian saison packs dank barnyard graining into succulent citric intrigue. Musky alfalfa, hay and raw wheat inundate effervescent lemon-seeded yellow grapefruit, clementine and navel orange fruiting as well as white-wined Sauvignon Blanc tartness and salty lime bite. White-peppered Belgian yeast funk and latent lemongrass-gooseberry-peppercorn undertones increase complexity. Tertiary pineapple, peach, mango, nectar and kiwi tropicalia found beneath salient citrus acidity.
On tap at Dog & Cask, hybridized draft-only “urban farmhouse ale” burrows funky-fruited Belgian saison yeast into bold Americanized piney hop bittering. Softly creamed crystal malts contrast lemon-rotted orange souring and grapefruit-peeled tartness. In the backdrop, musty herbal nuances dance across earthen amber grains, providing ample support for the dry honey-spiced citrus finish.
On tap at Growler & Gill, limited edition draft-only ’14 saison offers expectant sour-fruited tartness to light white peppered herbage and raw vanilla bittering. Pale malted dryness picks up earthen fungi nip.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, musky spring saison brings white-peppered sour fruiting to dry pale-malted acridity. Moldy orange, rotted lemon, bruised grapefruit, green apple, clementine and champagne grape illusions desiccated by musty barnyard leathering. Soured orange tartness wins out by busy finish.