7.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle provided for review. Under the cap, there a lighter cranberry smell, kind of like a diluted cranberry wine. The color is a dark ruby brown. There’s a minimal stream of bubbles feeding a a short-lived tan head. The taste is rather malty up front, particularly with the aromatic quality of a Belgian pilsner. Hops are light, letting the warm saison complexity in. This style is usually noted for a funky quality, but that’s mostly absent here. Instead there’s a minimal tartness that may be as much from the cranberry as anything else. There’s some sediment at the bottom of the bottle, so you should hold back the last few ounces of the bottle, then swirl it into your empty glass for a bite of yeastiness. The total package is a bit fruity, a bit spicy, decently carbonated. It should work best with a creamy dessert or cheese. But this would fit in at any part of a holiday.