French Oak Saison
New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado, United States 🇺🇸
Farmhouse - Sour Saison Rotating Out of Production|
Score
6.96
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To understand "Belgian-style beer" is to understand Belgium's nuanced regions and historical past. To the north, we have Flanders, a region invaded and occupied by many foreign powers over hundreds of years, known for everything from white beer to oak-aged sour brown ales.
To the south, we have Wallonia, a region known for its rich farmland, industrial coalfields, French culture and farmhouse ales like Biere de Garde and saison. Our French Oak Saison pulls inspiration from both regions by marrying a dry, hop-forward Wallonia-style saison with a golden ale soured in French oak foeders for 15 to 18 months -- a method derived from Flanders. The rye and spelt grains in the saison contribute to a medium-light body while the Huell Melon and Tettnang hops give aromas of honeydew and white pepper.
The result is a rustic, goldenrod yellow saison offering pleasant lemon and white grape aromas and a bright, mouthwatering sourness with a clean, dry finish.
A true blending of inspirations.
To the south, we have Wallonia, a region known for its rich farmland, industrial coalfields, French culture and farmhouse ales like Biere de Garde and saison. Our French Oak Saison pulls inspiration from both regions by marrying a dry, hop-forward Wallonia-style saison with a golden ale soured in French oak foeders for 15 to 18 months -- a method derived from Flanders. The rye and spelt grains in the saison contribute to a medium-light body while the Huell Melon and Tettnang hops give aromas of honeydew and white pepper.
The result is a rustic, goldenrod yellow saison offering pleasant lemon and white grape aromas and a bright, mouthwatering sourness with a clean, dry finish.
A true blending of inspirations.
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6.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle. Slightly unclear golden body with a small, lacing white head. Mild, rather pleasant aroma of citric fruit, pale malt and wood. Flavor has a fine combination of malt, fruit and wood with a bit more discrete yeast than typical for the style. Medium body and OK aftertaste. Nothing really special going on, but it’s sure nice and easy drinkable with a very nice touch of wood.
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Mar 2025
at 05:23
6.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
From a 650ml bottle on 1/10/2018 (shared by Des during the NRL grand final - thanks). Pours a medium golden with a biggish white head. The nose is a bit vinous, herbal and yeasty. I'm not a big fan of either saisons or sours, so this actually went down a little bit better than expected. Perhaps a little sweeter and less dry than I was expecting, with some sweet fruitiness up front, followed by modest sour, tart, bretty, yeasty and spicy notes. Didn't really get any oak. Medium bodied with average carbonation. Just okay, and would not have again.
Tried
from Bottle
on 30 Sep 2018
at 23:39
6.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Not too traditional, but still decent. Don't pick up much of the oak. Aromas are grape must, caramel malt, yeast and a bit tart. Flavors are a fairly balanced sweet/bitter/tart. Tartness lingers into a long finish, Good body. Drinkable, but I won't look for this in the future.
Tried
on 21 Jul 2018
at 23:26
7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Bottle pour at Bert's. Got the bottom of the bottle. Smells very peachy fuzzy skins, helping soften the acetic from he barrel which is moderate. Soft light herbal Brett. Flavor is a bit more sour peach with less softness. Small portion is very nice.
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Jun 2018
at 21:41
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
KØLF 100218. Golden color with a white head. Aroma is vinous, white wine, yeast. Flavor is vinous, white wine, yeast, grapefruit, citrus, peaches, oranges. Easy drinkable beer.
Tried
on 14 Apr 2018
at 06:15
7.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Bottle, 22oz. A hazy golden colored beer with a lot of carbonation going on, topped by a white head. The aroma is mostly fruity, with a light funky touch. Hints of oak chiming in. Peach, orange and some grapefruit. Quite vinous actually, with a cider twist. The flavor has a light butterscotch hint, else it’s the same fruity, funky, vinous elements found in the aroma. Decent bitterness, and a more distinct oak touch in the finish. A quenching and tasteful beer, but nothing special going on. 180210
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Feb 2018
at 11:50
6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Flaske 500ml fra Vinmonopolet Tromsø - Sentrum. Veldig lys gylden. Høyt luftig kritthvitt skum som daler sakte. Litt lacing. Aroma av epler. Smaken lett syrlig frukt. Tørr ettersmak. På grensen til surøl.
Tried
on 24 Dec 2017
at 15:41
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Tap at CBM Osaka. Golden honey looking. Tart nose, grapefruit, honey malts, oak, apple vinegar. Medium tart, rich, citrus and acetic, grapes, apples, honey. Rich and tasty. Like this.
Tried
from Draft
on 22 Dec 2017
at 19:37
6.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
7-3-6-3-12
Bottle. Pours hazy yellow, with a big head receding to finger thickness. Aroma is tart yeasty notes of wood, hay, berries and grassy notes, as well as bretty farmhouse. Light to medium body, with average carbonation. Flavour is tart fruity yeast, with hay and green apples, as well as berries.
Bottle. Pours hazy yellow, with a big head receding to finger thickness. Aroma is tart yeasty notes of wood, hay, berries and grassy notes, as well as bretty farmhouse. Light to medium body, with average carbonation. Flavour is tart fruity yeast, with hay and green apples, as well as berries.
Tried
from Bottle
on 28 Oct 2017
at 12:14
6.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6
16.10.2017, 0,65l bottle @ home:
Nice fizzy-creamy mediumlasting head, slightly hazy. Aroma is slightly dry sour-ish floral, fruit stones, soda powder, hay, yeast, oak, mild vinegar, grain, flowers, paper, grass, grape juice, alcohol, old moss. Taste is slightly dry sour-ish mineraly, oak, sour grass, hay, minerals, sorrel, flowers, soda powder, paper, yeast, grape juice, alcohol, berry skin. Medium bitterness, slightly sour-ish floral mouthfeel. Fair enough.
Nice fizzy-creamy mediumlasting head, slightly hazy. Aroma is slightly dry sour-ish floral, fruit stones, soda powder, hay, yeast, oak, mild vinegar, grain, flowers, paper, grass, grape juice, alcohol, old moss. Taste is slightly dry sour-ish mineraly, oak, sour grass, hay, minerals, sorrel, flowers, soda powder, paper, yeast, grape juice, alcohol, berry skin. Medium bitterness, slightly sour-ish floral mouthfeel. Fair enough.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Oct 2017
at 16:10