Alengrin (11675) reviewed Saison DT from Innova Brewery 7 years ago
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
The saison in this new and self-proclaimed 'innovative' series of Belgian craft beers, steinie bottle from the brewery (with hard to read label - like the others apparently). Initially very thick, loudly crackling, very mousy and foamy, egg-white head, regular in shape and lightly lacing, but fizzing away like the head on a glass of coke - yet fortunately settling as a steady, open ring eventually; cloudy apricot blonde robe with somewhat milky hue and a storm of tornado-like sparkling raging through the mist, but calming down after a while. Aroma initially has a lot of sharp carbon dioxide prickling the nostrils, but after this has largely escaped, I get impressions of freshly cut red apples, ripe pineapple, nectarine, withering dill, soapy coriander seed, sourdough, spoiled lime flesh, raw turnip juice, banana sorbet, cucumber, champagne, fresh thyme, bread crust, a touch of rotting Camembert cheese hinting at infection and a very volatile whiff of DMS, fortunately receding quickly. Sweet onset with crisp, sour edges, a little bit puckering in the end even, very fruity with notes of freshly cut apple, banana, ripe carambola, white grape and ripe yellow plum, lively carbonated yet managing to avoid harsh and painful stinging; thinly bready body soaked in this fruity sweet-and-sourness, leaving me wondering whether or not the sour aspect was intentional or not. It has a lightly drying effect in the end, with bready yeastiness lingering underneath a herbal, light hop bitterishness and - more outspokenly so - a herbal and soapy effect of the added spicing, which I assume includes, but is not limited to, coriander seed in this case, as I get hints of dill and thyme as well. Juicy finish, with fruity, even somewhat honeyish sweetness lingering all the way at the back. Interesting brew, showing some minor technical flaws and a certain background 'dirtiness', yet conceptually seemingly an attempt at connecting with the international 'farmhouse ale' interpretation of saison, so by no means a classical Belgian-style saison 'à la tradition'. Crisp, very fruity with an unexpected but not unpleasant, soft sourness to it, this is definitely very different from what I was expecting.
nathanvc (7053) reviewed Blackwell from Innova Brewery 7 years ago
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 6
24 February 2019. Wieze Bierfestival - cheers to Meeki, Ama Deke & the lovely Anke! Hazy dark brown with a quickly thinning, off-white head. Aroma of industrial butterscotch, candied banana, Coca-Cola, cookie dough, licorice, faint vanilla, alcohol. Taste is medium sugary sweet, notes of caramel, dough, licorice & some plastic, leading to a medium herbal bitter core with tea, spices, wood and early (wry) alcohol peeping through. Dryish, malty finish, vague herbal hops, more caramel, candy & rather wry brown rum-like alcohol. Light to medium body, syrupy texture, soft carbonation. I think a lot went wrong with both this Blackwell and the base Whitney beer. What's up with the overly sweet character, the light body at that ABV, and especially the lack of roasted bitterness? I hope other raters with more technical knowledge can shed light on this great mystery... On a sidenote, I don't think MaltMuse119 is a bonafide rater, that much is clear.
nathanvc (7053) reviewed Whitney from Innova Brewery 7 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 5.5
24 February 2019. Wieze Bierfestival - cheers to Meeki, Ama Deke & the lovely Anke! Hazy dark brown with a lasting, unstable, frothy, tan head; some lacing. Aroma of Coca-Cola candy, ripe plum, candied banana, tea leaves, peanuts, butterscotch, industrial feel. Taste is medium sugary sweet, notes of caramel, candy & Coca-Cola; this Cola effect stretches into the medium herbal bitter middle with tea leaves, earth, peanuts, vague licorice & cookie dough. Quite bland all in all, as the finish is rather short, malty, with vague herbal hops & some caramel, subtle dash of liqueur alcohol. Light to medium body, watery texture, soft carbonation. Too bland, and too sweet for what it aims to be... With great words come great expectations! What a coincidence, by the way, that the first rater here simply copies the commercial description...
nathanvc (7053) reviewed Saison DT from Innova Brewery 7 years ago
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
24 February 2019. Wieze Bierfestival - cheers to Meeki, Ama Deke & the lovely Anke! Hazy golden with a quickly thinning, frothy, off-white head. Aroma of wet straw, unripe banana, yellow apple, wheat, pepper, yeast, sourdough, faint brett, hay, cheese. Taste is medium funky sour, notes of hay, straw & green apple, bit yeasty & cheesy too; light spicy bitter core has pepper & grain on a bready malty base. Dryish, bit tart, grassy hoppy finish, lingering straw, unripe fruit & yeast. Medium body, oily texture, fizzy carbonation. Restrained as a Saison, drinkable but wouldn't recommend.
nathanvc (7053) reviewed Nova from Innova Brewery 7 years ago
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 4.5
24 February 2019. Wieze Bierfestival - cheers to Meeki, Ama Deke & the lovely Anke! Supposedly a New England IPA brewed with - if I remember correctly - curaçao and clove. I don't know if this has been done before, but it struck me as a weird choice. Anyway, it pours clear orange with a quickly thinning, frothy, white head; little lacing. Aroma consists mainly of ripe banana, clove & orange peel indeed, white bread, honey, overripe peach, white sugar. Taste is medium fruity sweet, lots of dried banana giving it an estery character, next to notes of peach & honey on a yeasty & 'white' bready malty base; light to medium spicy bitter middle brings clove, grass, orange peel, faint pepper, which results in a dryish, grassy hoppy finish, with more estery yeast, grain, honey, and even a rather weird dash of almost wry alcohol in the back. Medium body, slick texture, lively carbonation. Well, clove & orange peel are definitely noticeable here, but I think the end result misses the point of a New England IPA, leaning more towards a Hefeweizen or something, lacking in fruity aroma, juicy taste and 'noble' hop bitterness in the end. On a sidenote, although I had a pleasant, short chat with the brewers at the stand, I cannot help but notice the first rating here: the user only gives exorbitant ratings to the four Innova beers. If the brewer is involved, I'd say that's an unsporting practice - get your shit together!