6.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Deep golden coloured. Sweetish, medium bodied, bitter. Good beer, but perhaps unexciting.
Tried
on 09 Jan 2002
at 09:07
7/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Dark brown. Medium to full bodied, nutty, dry, big roasty flavour. .........
Tried
on 09 Jan 2002
at 08:57
7/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Dark brown; Aroma of dark chocolate, hazelnuts, rich coffee; the palate combines rich cappucino with pralines, leaf hops, a hint of cinnamon and an old woodiness that reminded me of those dilapidated wooden fences you see around farmer's fields. The finish is long, roasty and quite dry (I think I would have preferred the finish to be a little sweeter myself). All in all, an impressive seasonal offereing, and a good replacement for the departed Taylor & Bate Porter (RIP).
Tried
on 08 Dec 2001
at 11:59
3/10
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Appearance 4
Aroma 2
Flavor 3
Texture 4
Overall 3
This really isn't made for Black Oak fans I don't think. Some crispness, and perhaps a little more flavour and body than I originally gave it credit for, but I'm not going to pass up the Nut Brown for this.
Tried
on 20 Oct 2001
at 21:33
6.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Quenching, full body. Subtle spiciness. Refreshing. At first it was quite bitter but five or six months later this has really ’rounded’ into form.
2004: Not ready yet, but I got some anyway. I’ll ignore the flatness and yeastiness, not bother with numbers and just say that it seems very refined and fruity, only lightly spicy, and definitely sweeter than the 2001 edition. Too bad I won’t be around to try it when it’s ready...or will I? I got a couple bottles in the mail and it’s a totally different animal after nine months. Very dry, yeasty, a little funky...proper saison.
2004: Not ready yet, but I got some anyway. I’ll ignore the flatness and yeastiness, not bother with numbers and just say that it seems very refined and fruity, only lightly spicy, and definitely sweeter than the 2001 edition. Too bad I won’t be around to try it when it’s ready...or will I? I got a couple bottles in the mail and it’s a totally different animal after nine months. Very dry, yeasty, a little funky...proper saison.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Oct 2001
at 21:31
7/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
I used to say that this beer had potential if they would get the malt extracted properly. Well, Ken from the brewery told me to try it again. Yup, they've got it right now. There is a lot more chocolate and toasted malt flavour now. A subtle nuttiness as well, and it really plays off the hops well (previously I felt it was overhopped). The finish is dry, almost smokey, and with good length. Well worth a pint or two.
Tried
on 13 Oct 2001
at 11:05
4.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 4
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 4.5
A very confused beer. Not enough malt (these guys really have trouble with the whole mashing thing), an excess of crystal malt and just no sense of what it wants to be when it grows up.
Tried
on 20 May 2001
at 10:50