Valley Malt BSA (2012-)
Notch Brewing in Salem, Massachusetts, United States 🇺🇸
Brewed at/by: Ipswich Ale BreweryFarmhouse - Saison Special Out of Production
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Score
6.79
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Under the Brewers Supporting Agriculture (BSA) program, brewers buy shares of their barely crops at the beginning of the season from Western Mass farmers. Notch was proud to be one of the first brewers to participate in this program, and the Valley Malt BSA is the result of this year's barley crop. The BSA is an American Farmhouse Ale that displays the character of a Belgian Saison, yet with US hops and New England grains. Each year the beer is slightly different, depending on the growing conditions of that season.
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6.9/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Draught at Lord Hobo on 2/23/14
Clear orange-golden body has just a touch of chill haze. White head atop is small and shows moderate to moderately low retention.
Sweet, lightly toasty and creamy-like malts in the nose are joined by soft Belgian yeast esters and floral, very mildly spicy hops. Peach and starfruit moreso than banana and orange, which is a nice change of pace.
The flavor has more maltiness than a typical Belgian saison of this strength, but the flavor is bready, sweet angel food cake and mixed well with the soft, lightly fruity esters. Lightly herbal/spicy hoppiness in the background helps clear the palate on the finish and prepare for the next sip of this very drinkable beer. More citrus as it warms and some light caramel malt sweetness. Carbonation is a little unfocused; rather large-bubbled and loose, but it certainly helps accentuates the malt, which is delicious. And it’s not like the beer is overly sweet or anything, just more malt forward/focused than your typical farmhouse ale. A nice change of pace and still very drinkable.
Clear orange-golden body has just a touch of chill haze. White head atop is small and shows moderate to moderately low retention.
Sweet, lightly toasty and creamy-like malts in the nose are joined by soft Belgian yeast esters and floral, very mildly spicy hops. Peach and starfruit moreso than banana and orange, which is a nice change of pace.
The flavor has more maltiness than a typical Belgian saison of this strength, but the flavor is bready, sweet angel food cake and mixed well with the soft, lightly fruity esters. Lightly herbal/spicy hoppiness in the background helps clear the palate on the finish and prepare for the next sip of this very drinkable beer. More citrus as it warms and some light caramel malt sweetness. Carbonation is a little unfocused; rather large-bubbled and loose, but it certainly helps accentuates the malt, which is delicious. And it’s not like the beer is overly sweet or anything, just more malt forward/focused than your typical farmhouse ale. A nice change of pace and still very drinkable.
Tried
on 04 Mar 2014
at 12:06
7/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Pours clear gold into a Sam glass. Bright white head with good retention recedes to coat surface. Sweet tropical fruit and yeast aromas. Soft with sourdough and tropical fruits front to back. Abrupt sour marshmallow finish.
Tried
on 06 Nov 2012
at 15:52