8

Ok

7.6

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7.5

Can/ bottle at home shared at ZZT 24. Brown color, medium sized off-white head. Aroma and flavor is malts, a bit sweetish, soft roast, solid bitterness, malt bitter. Quite alright.

7.9

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Another one in an endless series of barrel aged Kees ales, this one on cognac barrels and apparently intended as a strong saison of sorts; thanks Hinke for sharing! Thick and frothy, egg-white, shred-lacing head on a misty chocolate brown, almost blackish beer with burgundy edges. Aroma of dried prunes, caramel sauce, baked banana, a whiff of cognac, ‘kramiek’, bitter chocolate, vanilla-exuding oak wood, fig compote, clove. Fruity onset, dark raisins and figs, vague dried banana, lively carbonated with full, oily mouthfeel; toffeeish, slightly chocolatey, brown-bready malts under a blanket of moderately tannic oakiness and warming cognac, the latter accentuating not only strength but sweetness as well; hops remain modest, in spite of a late leafy bitter accent. Excellent barrel aged ale for sure – not that I was expecting anything else from Kees Bubberman – but let us stay serious here: he may have used some or other saison yeast, sure, but this is by no means a saison, not even if you stretch its meaning to peripheral interpretations like ‘imperial saison’ or ‘dark saison’. I would not be surprised if Mr. Bubberman is actually mocking the Belgian saison hype here, by creating something at least not one single Belgian consumer would identify as such…

7.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

23/VII/24 - 75cl bottle @ Alengrin’s place, BB: XII/2026 (2024-591) Thanks to Hinke for sharing the bottle!

Clear dark brown beer, small creamy beige head, a little stable, a bit adhesive, leaving some lacing in the glass. Aroma: sweet impression, soft roast, lots of dried fruits. MF: soft carbon, medium body. Taste: sweet sugary start, caramel, dried fruits, a gentle roast, some cognac. Aftertaste: sweet touch, sugary, a bit oxidized, cognac, sugary, some banana, yeasty, more ripe banana, some chocolate, decent one. No idea why this is called a saison...

8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Bottle. Color: Clear dark copper, beige head. Aroma: Fruity Cognac. Taste: Spicy, sweetish, fruity Cognac. Smooth, a little creamy mouthfeel. Some caramel, almond, marzipan and vanilla. Boozy hints. Cognac is a bit overwhelming the Saison, but not disturbing. Over medium body, just below average carbonation. Over moderate sweet, light to moderate bitterness. Nice one, Kees!