750mL bottle, 2016 date (getting a little lazy with the bottling dates....), drunk 6/25/16.
Huge, snow white head showing fantastic retention tops a classic, golden-blonde-honey colored body with plentiful tiny bubbles and a high clarity.
Continuing the strong impression, the nose is shockingly aromatic yet still reserved and classy/charming. There’s no big oakiness and only a touch of white wine character, adding minerality and stone fruit. By far the best part of the nose is the very traditional saison yeast, creating yellow fruit esters, white pepper phenols and very light cellar impressions. Not exactly mimicking any of the classic houses, but still reserved and elegant in its own right (I guess it’s still closest to Dupont though without any rubber band and much less black pepper). Malts throw vast amounts of succulent honey and vanilla-cream to balance and there’s a faint woodiness lingering on the end as well. Wow.
The flavor continues with strong honey and vanilla-like maltiness and a pillowy-soft malt texture with tight carbonation. Neutral wood tannins add dryness and light wine notes add stonefruit and mineral as they do in the nose. Fruity esters are stronger in flavor, adding strong nectarine and moderate peach character, though it never comes across messy/hot/harsh. Just a shade too sweet overall, though it’s incredibly young. I expect this one to be absolutely divine in about 6 months, though I think it was a very small batch with bottles going fast. As is, it’s extremely impressive and makes me wonder why their basic saison renaud is such a letdown in comparison (or maybe I just need to try a recent batch).

Bottle shared at The Kernel during Nate’s Farewell Concert. So solid overall. Good grass and dough character. Pleasant sugar sweetness. Medium bodied with average carbonation. Light dryness. Just very, very nice.

I got the pleasure of trying this today at the brewery. Pours a slightly cloudy deep straw color with a thinnish white head that shows remarkable retention and moderate lace. Smells of apples, pears, grape tannin, hints of oak and vanilla with a slight bit of Belgian yeast esters. Taste is sweet and fruity with that yeasty funk in the background. Lots of the same fruit flavors from the aroma. Hints of oak and a bit of wine tannin add lots of complexity to this version. Medium body with a spirited level of carbonation and a sweet bubbly mouthfeel. I thought this version was fantastic.

Pours deep amber into a tulip. White head with excellent retention recedes leaving spot lacing to coat surface. Yeast and sour oak aromas. Crisp with sweet yeast and sour oak and a tart, lasting woody grape finish.