Bière De Saison - Damson
(has 2 batches)
The Kernel Brewery in London, Greater London, England 🏴
Farmhouse - Sour Saison Regular|
Score
7.32
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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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8/10
A hazed pinkish red ale with a thin lacing white head. In aroma, sweet fruity biscuit malt with light Brett, light lactic notes, light ground cherry, l very nice and smooth. In mouth, a nice sweet fruity mix of raspberry jam, light plums, lactic acid notes, light Brett, very nice. On tap at L'Atalante.
Tried
from Draft
on 22 Jan 2023
at 19:11
7.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Keg at the Fell Bar, Kendal. Red with a barely-there white head. Yep, this is definitely a damson beer - damson is to the fore from the first sniff right through to the aftertaste. It's pretty tart - in the same way that damsons are. There's also a hint of raspberry, farmyard funk, wood and earth, but really all those other flavours play second fiddle to the damsons. It's a little one-dimensional then, but none the worse for it, and I very much enjoyed it. However, sadly it may have suffered by comparison with the excellent Cuppa Rosie from Fell that I'd had just before.
Tried
on 10 Oct 2022
at 15:20
6.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle 330ml @ home
Pours cloudy deep reddish golden with a pinkish off-white head. Aroma is tart with notes of malt, red berries, citrus and hint of barnyard and funk. Taste is light sweet and medium sour with a long dry, tart, plum, red berry, citrus and funky finish. Body is medium, texture is average, carbonation is soft to fizzy
Pours cloudy deep reddish golden with a pinkish off-white head. Aroma is tart with notes of malt, red berries, citrus and hint of barnyard and funk. Taste is light sweet and medium sour with a long dry, tart, plum, red berry, citrus and funky finish. Body is medium, texture is average, carbonation is soft to fizzy
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Jul 2022
at 18:24
5.2/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5
330ml bottle bought at Vinmonopolet Bergen Storsenter. Noisy pinkish head dissipating over a misty reddish body, spotty lacing. Moderate aromas of berry skins and plums. Berry-fruit to the taste character, raspberries and yeasty fruit. Woody. Prolonged ending. Dry and soft. Accepted, but really not my kind of good beer drinking. (Hotel room, Bergen 10.06.2022).
Tried
from Bottle
on 15 Jun 2022
at 12:34