2 dollar pints at Sidedoor. Pretty nice, has the subtle enjoyability of a clean black ale, with the yeast depth of a saison. The currants and peppercorn complement it well. Certainly has a lot going on, but remains more drinkable than I would have assumed. The chocolate malt is the main flavor component. Subtle, unique belgian black ale more than black saison.

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating. Bat #X151. Pours slightly hazy deep golden yellow color with a 1-2 finger dense white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a light amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of lemon, orange, apricot, pear, apple, white grape, light banana, pepper, clove, wheat, biscuit, light honey, herbal, grass, light funk, and yeast earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast, earthy hops, and bready malt notes; with good strength. Taste of lemon, orange, apricot, pear, apple, white grape, light banana, pepper, clove, wheat, biscuit, light honey, herbal, grass, light funk, and yeast earthiness. Good amount of earthy yeast spiciness and herbal bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of lemon, orange, apricot, pear, apple, white grape, light banana, pepper, clove, wheat, biscuit, light honey, and herbal/yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice robustness and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast, earthy hops, and bready malt flavors; with a great malt/yeast/hop balance and no cloying sweetness after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a very smooth and fairly creamy/bready mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is a very nice wild saison style. All around good robustness, complexity, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, earthy hops, and bready malt flavors; and very smooth to sip on for the ABV. A bit heavier in body and malt flavor than I expected initially, but not an overwhelming amount. A very enjoyable offering.

750 ml bottle into tulip glass; no bottle dating, batch ES1. Very high carbonation upon opening. Pours hazy deep golden color with a 2 finger dense and fluffy white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass, with a good amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big tart lemon, pineapple, peach, apricot, mango, pear, apple, white grape, pepper, hay, straw, grass, light honey, cracker, bread, light musty funk, and herbal/yeast earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/spicy/funky yeast and moderate pale malt notes; with good strength. Taste of big tart lemon, pineapple, peach, mango, apricot, pear, apple, white grape, pepper, hay, straw, grass, light honey, cracker, bread, light musty funk, and herbal/yeast earthiness. Good amount of yeast spiciness and light fruity tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of lemon, pineapple, peach, mango, apricot, pear, apple, white grape, pepper, hay, straw, grass, light honey, cracker, bread, and herbal/yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy/funky yeast and moderate pale malt flavors; with a good malt/yeast balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a very smooth, crisp, and slightly bready mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is a very nice wild ale. All around good complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy/funky yeast and moderate pale malt flavors; and very smooth and crisp to drink. Seems to be more of a Belgian strong pale ale with strong Brett flavors, but is very enjoyable overall.

750ml bottle - label states 7% abv - yes, I’ve purchased another of their beers, despite being underwhelmed by them so far - I just can’t resist their name and minimalist labeling/marketing - anyway, one of the more saison-like black saisons I’ve had, but still verging into Belgian stout territory - black pour - pleasantly tart nose up front, that works well with some of he fruity notes of black cherry and plum - some chocolate, light roasty, and coffee as well, followed by spicy phenolics and medium strong tannic/red wine - pretty inviting nose, really - low carbonation - flavor is medium swee chocolate - moderate roasty malt, with strong dark malt bitterness in the finish - some tannic notes and acidity, but not as complex and balanced as the nose is - finishes like an overly bitter Belgian stout, but there is some spiciness and dark fruit lingering - needs work, but one of the better beers I’ve had from them.

500ml bottle - turbid amber - fizzy body and head - nose of raisin, plum, dark bread, damp leaves, basement yeastiness - body is a bit thin and watery - flavor is a bit tart and somewhat metallic up front - some bready maltiness follows - leafy bitterness, some nutty maltiness - watery and moderately acidic finish - nice aroma, but overall falls short - my third shot with this brewery and I’ve not been impressed with any.

500 ml bottle into snifter, 2014 vintage bottling. Pours fairly pitch black color with a 2 finger fairly dense and fluffy khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice dense foamy lacing clings around the glass, with a large amount of streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of chocolate, cocoa, coffee, toast, dark bread, raisin, plum, licorice, molasses, pepper, herbal, and yeast earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of roasted/bready malt, earthy hops, and fruity/spicy yeast notes; with solid strength. Taste of chocolate, cocoa, coffee, toast, dark bread, raisin, plum, licorice, molasses, pepper, herbal, light smoke/char, and yeast/roasted earthiness. Moderate amount of earthy hop/roasted bitterness on the peppery yeast spiciness on the finish; with lingering notes of chocolate, cocoa, coffee, toast, dark bread, raisin, plum, licorice, molasses, pepper, light smoke/char, and yeast/roasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of roast/bready malt, earthy hops, and fruity/spicy yeast flavors; with a great malt/yeast balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a very smooth, crisp, moderately creamy, and slightly sticky/chalky mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is a very nice Belgian style imperial stout. All around good balance, robustness, and complexity of roast/bready malt, earthy hops, and fruity/spicy yeast flavors; and very smooth and crisp to sip on for the big ABV. A very enjoyable offering.

Bottle. Pours a clear light gold with a touch of orange and a bubbly white head that dissipates nearly completely. Aroma has light tart fruits with a bit of earthy grains and some light funk. Flavor has tropical fruit with a light tartness and some earthy grain.