Tag Archives: saison

SOUTHERN TIER IMPERIAL CHERRY SAISON

Complacent golden-bronzed candi-sugared Belgian-styled saison (aged with French oak staves) retains abstract spicy fruiting, dismal acidic souring, and cork-y residue. Submerged oak-aged cherry tartness puckers tenuous dry hop bittering to unstable cereal-grained base. Indirect lemony orange-peeled grapefruit modesty lacks aggression. Distant cranberry, banana, and clove illusions fall away as cotton-candied cherry jubilee illusion beckons.

DUPONT SAISON FARMHOUSE ALE

Tersely alcoholic bottle-conditioned summer-fruited treasure with cork setup flaunts heavy carbonation, champagne head, cloudy pale body, aromatic floral hops, and rustic barley-oats base. Billowy fizz overtaken by soured tangerine-quince-peach rhapsody, deepening orange rind influx and leathery horsehide snip. Honeysuckle-tinged burgundy finish remains dry, silky, and elegant. Distinguished drinkers will find it nice for sipping after dinner.

THIRIEZ AMBER FARMHOUSE ALE

Highly carbolic fizz-crackling gossamer-like pearl-headed moderate body leaves ample lace along glass siding. Spritzy lemon zest, fuzzy apricot-nectarine tang, and spiced Granny Smith apple tartness fade into raw wheat-chaffed spine. Dank barnyard waft permeates mildewed yeast imprint, sopping up rising banana-butterscotch swirl, sparse raisin-fig dryness, and distant cardamom-coriander-cinnamon spicing.

FANTOME BRISE-BONBONS

Well balanced copper-hazed beige-headed barnyard-wafted artisan farmhouse saison (with vigorous 8% alcohol punch and viscous yeast sediment) places dry coriander spicing atop white peppered herbal hop must, sour apple tartness, and mineral-grained respite. Compromised lemony orange bittering recedes at buttery candi-sugared finish. Dank earthen fungi continuity will turn off less adventurous drinkers.

THIRIEZ BLONDE FARMHOUSE ALE

Fine straw-hazed yeast-viscous Saison-styled farmhouse ale may ‘waft’ between cereal grained pilsner and funky Dutch lager, but its kaffir lime piquancy, precocious wildflower-honeysuckle mirage, and remedial tropical fruiting tell the story. Dry-hopped earthen barnyard bottom gains footing atop herbal thyme-rosemary-geranium sequence until acetous grapefruit rind, yellow grape skin, and apple-pear confluence overcome effervescent lemon meringue fizz, picking up candi-sugared butterscotch sweetness along the way. Quite approachable and easygoing when given chance to breathe.

THIRIEZ XXTRA GOLDEN FARMHOUSE ALE

Prickly dry-hopped Saison-styled farmhouse ale varies only a tad from brewers’ less resinous Blonde. Green-bottled pearly-headed yellow-clouded medium body with meringue head opens extremely carbolic. But as piney rough edge and waning leathery horse blanket waft soften, zesty lemony orange rind bittering slips into summery tangerine-melon-banana tropicalia, accruing orange blossom honey luster. Herbaceous ginger-thyme-clove schism and floral illusions stir up earthen balsam base, enhancing grassy hop constancy. Buttery white wine finish receives minor ester-y grape mustiness countering slim marshmallow sweetness.

(OMMEGANG) HENNEPIN BELGIAN-STYLE ALE

Though made in the States,  minty farmhouse ale (with fluffy eggshell head, cloudy amber hue, flowery spiced hop fragrance and white wine appeal) definitely succeeds as first-rate Belgian-derived knockoff. Yellow grape esters contrast sugary banana riffs as earthen mustiness conveniently hides metallic alkaline esters. Also in the mix, sweet coriander-allspice-ginger melange, lemon meringue tartness, sweet orange peel tang and mild peppercorn jab add further complexity to voluptuously fruited vanilla creamed effervescence.

ALLAGASH INTERLUDE 2005

Stimulating oak-barreled Saison-styled celebrator retains ester-y white grape expectancy, red wine sweetness, and cork-y horse blanket musk. Sly mandarin orange dryness thins out tangerine-peach-strawberry tang and unripe banana stint before acetous candied tartness fades to pleasingly pithy Merlot finish. Faint peppery spicing and herbal-geranium tinge scatter about.

FANTOME SAISON ALE

Effervescent amber-clouded herbal ‘Saison’ maintains green apple pucker, tannic white grape souring, white peach tartness, and curacao orange pleasantry typical of many established dry Belgians. Leathery barnyard waft picks up floral lavender-tulip hints tucked inside clove-coriander-cinnamon midst. Fresh artisanal water flow and polite cider-y champagne finish cleanse palate much like sorbet. Won’t scare away women and children.