375 mL bottle from the brewery, freshly drunk on 5/19/15
Bright marigold-goldenrod body shows just a light haziness, leaving the sediment in the bottom. White head is large, initially and slowly recedes to cover.
Yes, this has saison in its name and commercial description (albeit Seaside Saison), and there are certainly saison elements here, as there are in most goses. This is certainly a gose, however. Very light sea salt in the nose is wrapped about delicate meyer lemon and touches of honey from the pils malt. Acidity is plentiful on the end, both a tart yogurt-like note and some white pepper-like spiciness. As it warms, an element of brine is certainly there, if you’re looking for it. Mostly like an oyster stout in the sense that you’d never know there were lobsters here, but I’d like to think it’s giving a bit of seawater to the nose. No alcohol or flaws.
Both salty and tart up front, which is a bit eye-opening at first, as the tartness is quite citric (heavy lemon). It softens considerably through the middle leaving light sea salt and lactic acid on the finish, mixed in with just enough honey-like maltiness to balance. Soft, nearly creamy texture with tight carbonation and moderate wateriness due to the low gravity and nature of the style. Takes on an almost chewy, wheat-like texture as well, upon more warming.
Split this small bottle with my girlfriend and we both sipped it, pondered it, finished it and then afterwards both looked up and said "Holy shit, that was good!" Definitely grows on you. The quintessential gose, for the most part, in my book, and the epitome of how I feel about this brewery. I’m angry I havent sought these guys out before; they’re making some of the best Belgian beer I’ve tried in a long while, which is no easy task.