Pleasingly moderate saison brings misty orange-peeled coriander sweetness to herbal white-peppered hop pep, light floral wisp and dry barnyard leathering. Zesty lemon spritz enlivens banana tartness and grape esters as well as subtle grapefruit-orange-pineapple conflux at soapy finish.
Lovely floral-herbal spicing buttresses lingered sweet ‘n sour citrus tang with “lavender, marjoram and bay leaf” adjuncts as well as chamomile, thyme, basil, saffron and fennel illusions above dry rye malting for culinary delight. Sugared lemon, key lime, mandarin orange and peach tones brighten the surface while nutmeg hints further sweeten lustrous saison.
On tap at Ambulance, vinous saison promotes bacterial Wild-Sour Ale styling as mouth-puckering lemon salting dries out above orange-soured peach and apricot tartness. Lemony seltzer fizz adds nose-tingling carbolic spritz. A pretty compelling semi-hybrid.
On tap at Ambulance, easygoing orange blossom-honeyed saison (a collaboration between Florida’s Saint Somewhere and Texas-based Jester King) lets sour lemony grapefruit tartness override subtle floral perfumed hop bittering and dry straw-grained acridity. Wispy peppercorn pungency affects fading honeyed citrus finish.
On tap at Barcade – Jersey City, thrillingly ‘harmonious’ 2016 Smuttynose/ Barcade collaboration arguably the best saison ever devised. Luscious candi-sugared vanilla bean sweetness uploaded alongside tingly cinnamon spicing and wispy Italian plum adjunct provides beautiful contrast to stylish citric tartness. Tangy grapefruit, orange and tangerine briskness outdo lemon meringue and lime sorbet tartness above crystalline water base.
On tap at River Of Beer, simple moderation works well as a low-alcohol table beer, but its jasmine-flowered grains of paradise adjunct loses luster as white-peppered lemon wisp tingles the tongue ever so gently above light pale malt spicing.
On tap at Dogfish Head – Rehoboth Beach, soft-toned saison brings honey-spiced yuzu fruiting (kaffir-limed mandarin orange souring and lemony Ichang papeda tartness) to subtle white-peppered Saaz hop herbage and oats-flaked pilsner malting. Carbolic lemon spritz gets arid.
On tap at Craft House, stylistically sweeter saison leans on sugar-spiced crystal malts more than conforming dry citric souring, rustic barnyard funk and herbal hop dewiness. Easygoing appeal furthered by soft-tongued Seltzer spritz, coriander-backed lemony orange tang and mild lemongrass snips for appealing moderate body.
“Rustic” saison brings stylish citric-soured farmhouse yeast funk to buttery French-breaded sourdough bottom, picking up dry herbal swerve. Sour-candied lemon pittance, coriander-spiced mandarin orange snip and white pinot grigio nuance waver beside barnyard hay-straw acridity.
Casual sour ale crossover offers spontaneous brettanomyces-cultured saison yeast affectations to yellow-fruited floral spicing. White-peppered lemon and pineapple-candied tartness contrasts less effective cardamom-coriander spicing over mineral water cleansing.
On tap at Brew City Grill, dry saison lets light cranberry adjunct fade into oblivion as fizzy salt-watered lemon zest, tart lime acidity and tannic green grape esters go sour above musty minerality, dissolving any true cranberry influence.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, Napa Valley-barreled red wine esters positively affect tart saison yeast fruiting and desiccated barnyard acridity of nifty offshoot. Lemony yellow grape acidity, puckered orange juicing and zippy apple cider bite receive sedate black peppering beneath vinous Cabernet Sauvignon influence.
