Bière De Saison - Damson
The Kernel Brewery in Bermondsey, Greater London, England 🏴
Farmhouse - Sour Saison Regular|
Score
7.31
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Malt – Maris Otter, wheat malt, oats
Yeast – house mixed culture
Our mixed culture fermentation saison contains two or three strains of commercial saison yeast, along with various wild and commercial yeast and bacteria: we’ve isolated brettanomyces strains from our barrels; we have grown up wild yeast collected from local fruit; we have blended in dregs from bottles of mixed fermentation beers that we have enjoyed; and we have added commercially available brettanomyces strains, 3 lactobacillus strains, and some pediococcus. Once the saison yeast’s initial fermentation has run its course, the beer undergoes a long secondary fermentation/conditioning phase as the wild yeast and bacteria start to make their impression.
The initial result is fresh, tart, lively and sometimes citric. It has a dry finish, a spritz of carbonation, the distinctive spiciness of the saison yeast, and a touch of lemon, grass and herbs, with a cleansing and slightly sour tang. As the beer ages, the brettanomyces adds more spices, fruits, a touch of horse and leather.
Some of this Biere de Saison becomes the base beer that we either blend and ferment or age in oak barrels or foeder. The beer can be dry-hopped or re-fermented with whole fruit, such as damsons, quince or apricots.
Expect a dry, effervescent and tart / sour beer alongside notes of our chosen additions.
Yeast – house mixed culture
Our mixed culture fermentation saison contains two or three strains of commercial saison yeast, along with various wild and commercial yeast and bacteria: we’ve isolated brettanomyces strains from our barrels; we have grown up wild yeast collected from local fruit; we have blended in dregs from bottles of mixed fermentation beers that we have enjoyed; and we have added commercially available brettanomyces strains, 3 lactobacillus strains, and some pediococcus. Once the saison yeast’s initial fermentation has run its course, the beer undergoes a long secondary fermentation/conditioning phase as the wild yeast and bacteria start to make their impression.
The initial result is fresh, tart, lively and sometimes citric. It has a dry finish, a spritz of carbonation, the distinctive spiciness of the saison yeast, and a touch of lemon, grass and herbs, with a cleansing and slightly sour tang. As the beer ages, the brettanomyces adds more spices, fruits, a touch of horse and leather.
Some of this Biere de Saison becomes the base beer that we either blend and ferment or age in oak barrels or foeder. The beer can be dry-hopped or re-fermented with whole fruit, such as damsons, quince or apricots.
Expect a dry, effervescent and tart / sour beer alongside notes of our chosen additions.
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7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
330ml bottle. Cloudy, copper-ish, dark red colour with average, fluffy, moderately lasting and lacing, white head. Mildly funky yeasty, herbal-spicy and slightly fruity aroma, notes of brine, mustard seed, hints of tarragon, a touch of dill, a touch of plum. Taste is tart-ish, tangy and fruity, slightly lactic, hints of brine, mustard seed, a touch of mild sauerkraut, plum, yoghurt. Watery texture, smooth, soft and silky palate, very fine, soft carbonation. Rich and complex, mild, balanced, well crafted - very good!
Tried
from Bottle
on 30 Jan 2022
at 20:43
6.9/10
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Appearance 4
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Watery ruby body and bad foam. Nice fruity citrus aroma, berries, soft wood barrel, a bit of beaujolais character. Taste is a wonderful fruit tartness with some soft grain and wood to bind it together, finishing dry. Very tasty, but the saison character could be more prominent.
Tried
on 15 Oct 2021
at 14:26
8.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 9
Bottle at home in Hackney - sourced from the brewery. Aged about a year in the bottle. Pours mostly clear ruby-red with a creamy, mostly white but slightly pink head. Lovely true damson notes, berries, raspberry seeds, mellow acidity, general berry tartness. Light bodied with fine to average carbonation. Quenching finish, more berry tartness, damson, cherry, raspberry, nips of lemony bite. Outstanding.
Tried
from Bottle
on 16 Jul 2021
at 21:51
6.9/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
330ml bottle – Pours a hazy pink-amber colour with a small almost white head. The aroma is yeasty, plums and damp straw. A moderately sweet and acidic taste, tart plums, saison yeast flavours with a drying tart finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 27 Dec 2020
at 12:08
7.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
On tap at MBCC Yellow Session. Pours a cloudy purple with small pinkish head. The aroma is plum skin, earth, yeast. Medium body, plum, berry, nice funk, dry finish, very good.
Tried
from Draft
on 22 Dec 2020
at 04:59
7.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
330 ml bottle, from Seven Cellars. ABV is 4.9%. Slightly hazy red colour, small off-white to pink head. Aroma of damsons, oak, farmhouse and lactic acid. The flavour is medium sour and distinctly fruity, notes of damsons, lemons and lactic acid.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Dec 2020
at 22:41
6.9/10
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Appearance 7
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Sample, thanks Yuri! Hazy reddish pour and a pinkish head. Aroma's: funk, brett, sour, fruit. Retronasal: sour, fruit, brett and funk more subdued. Flavour is sour, fruity. Light bodied. Long finish.
Tried
from Draft
at
Het Lagerhuys
on 15 Sep 2020
at 16:16
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
4/VIII/20 - 33cl bottle from Queens of Hop, shared @ Fred’s Social Distancing BBQ, BB: 21/III/21, bottled: 21/III/19 (2020-717)
Pretty clear deep ruby red beer, small creamy pink head, unstable, dissipates quickly, non adhesive. Aroma: very fruity, prunes, lots of cough syrup, bit oxidized, eucalyptus. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: bitter, soft acidity first, growing stronger the more you drink, dry, some ripe strawberries. Aftertaste: dry, cough syrup, acidic, some eucalyptus, herbal, more cough syrup, bitter berries, very interesting one!
Pretty clear deep ruby red beer, small creamy pink head, unstable, dissipates quickly, non adhesive. Aroma: very fruity, prunes, lots of cough syrup, bit oxidized, eucalyptus. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: bitter, soft acidity first, growing stronger the more you drink, dry, some ripe strawberries. Aftertaste: dry, cough syrup, acidic, some eucalyptus, herbal, more cough syrup, bitter berries, very interesting one!
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Aug 2020
at 18:40
8/10
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 May 2020
at 22:58