Tag Archives: saison

ITHACA COLD FRONT BELGIAN-STYLE AMBER ALE

ITHACA COLD FRONTConflicted winter ’09 release closer to funky fungi-scented farmhouse ale than ‘saison yeast’-injected amber ale (with strangely off-colored tan-headed brown-bodied appearance). Leathery smoked salami snippet fades out rapidly as inadequate prune-date souring and perplexed brown sugared banana-clove trifle prove less fruity than Saison styling indicates. Leafy earthiness lambastes warbled spicing, resinous backdrop, and cigar ash hint.

VICTORY HELIOS

Pour slowly hazy golden summery saison or billowy foam will coat glass of moderate-bodied compost-scented Belgian-styled farmhouse ale. Fulsome carbolic spritz indulges black-peppered grassy-hopped bittering, nearly overwhelming candi-sugared lemony grapefruit tang glistening above creamy mildness and dry earthen floral nuance. Tart lemondrop finish lingers over tertiary peach, apricot, and green grape illusions.

Helios - Victory Brewing Company - Untappd

AVERY TWELVE SAISON ALE

Quite elaborate sunny-yellowed pearly-headed citric seasonal celebrates 12th anniversary by letting unripe juniper,blueberry, and green apple adjuncts inform early white ale effervescence. In turbid midst, aromatic eucalyptus-peppermint freshness picks up jasmine, lavender, and chamomile accents. For brisk finish, grapefruit rind and orange pith persevere.

FANTOME SAISON D’EREZEE – HIVER

Expressive hazily copper artisanal farmhouse ale brings bold 8% alcohol jab to initial Granny Smith apple tartness, secondary green grape souring, and tertiary prune-fig dryness. Earthen mineral-grained pomegranate interlude lamentably whisked away by leathery cork aridity and dank cellar acridity. Fantome, like many fine Old World Belgian breweries, enjoys experimenting within the expanding boundaries of beer styling.

YARDS SAISON BELGIAN STYLE ALE

Nondescript fizzy Seltzer lightweight needs better coriander-spiced orange peel thrust, deeper malt penetration. stiffer peppery hop sway, and tarter floral-dried lemon-apricot-grapefruit medley. Lazy, hazy, pale-toned session beer suffers further when horse-blanket mustiness lessens sweet banana nose and candied coriander-clove sensation. Belgian yeast influence indiscernible.

(BLAUGIES) DARBYSTE ALE

Brewed with complimentary (instead of dominant) fig juice, vinous viscous-coppered Belgian retains fluffy white head, clumped yeast sediment, and sharp cider tartness. Pungent grapefruit-dried tangerine-peach tang compels sulky sour grape acidity and cork-y herbal pinch to soak up honeyed malt sweetness. A bit too sudsy as an after dinner drink.