6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Bottle - Perfumy, salty and tropical fruit. Pale gold with a thin head. Perfumy and sweet, very little tartness or salt. The perfumy nose and flavour just isn’t right for this style.
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 May 2014
at 16:43
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Bottle drunk 4/6/14
White head tops a slightly-hazed golden body. Retention is moderate to low.
Tons of coriander and white pepper-like notes in the nose with a fair amount of citrus. Kind of like sugar coated lemons. Just a brief touch of lactic character, mostly drowned out by the citrus and coriander. Hint of bubblegum, some vanilla. Medium strength overall, with no flaws.
Juicy, wet, expansive in the mouth with a sugary, not quite as attenuated as it should be flavor of vanilla and honey. Lots of grassiness from the coriander and whatever spices were used. Some dry, saltiness and faint acidity/tartness with an almost tangerine-like finish that is still just a tad too sweet. Not a bad stab at the style, and it’s certainly drinkable, but as Cisco is oft to do, they’ve got too much else going on (citrus, herbs, spices). Very simple, could use a good deal more tartness.
White head tops a slightly-hazed golden body. Retention is moderate to low.
Tons of coriander and white pepper-like notes in the nose with a fair amount of citrus. Kind of like sugar coated lemons. Just a brief touch of lactic character, mostly drowned out by the citrus and coriander. Hint of bubblegum, some vanilla. Medium strength overall, with no flaws.
Juicy, wet, expansive in the mouth with a sugary, not quite as attenuated as it should be flavor of vanilla and honey. Lots of grassiness from the coriander and whatever spices were used. Some dry, saltiness and faint acidity/tartness with an almost tangerine-like finish that is still just a tad too sweet. Not a bad stab at the style, and it’s certainly drinkable, but as Cisco is oft to do, they’ve got too much else going on (citrus, herbs, spices). Very simple, could use a good deal more tartness.
Tried
from Bottle
on 18 Apr 2014
at 11:15
4.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 4.5
Winter 2013/2014 bottle, drunk 4/6/14
Clear, auburn-mahogany body is topped by a fair amount of light beige head that recedes slowly to cover.
Hard crystal malts, some pepper and bitter, slightly pine-laden hops in the nose leave little room for much nuance or livliness. Some slight breadiness and stale, pre-oxidative notes are quite prevalent. No alcohol, but it’s not the cleanest of noses despite what has to be a pretty high filtration level.
Flavor is equally uninspiring. Hard, lifeless crystal malts are scratchy, dry and the spritzy carbonation is too aggressive and yet not tight at all. Some odd pine resin, with little actual hop flavor and light licorice/black pepper on the finish. Bitter, astringent and with these terribly hard, scratchy malts and no suppleness/sweetness whatsoever. Heavily lifeless feeling, no doubt thanks to the filtration.
The disparity between Cisco’s 12oz bottles and their 750mL bottle line is laughable.
Clear, auburn-mahogany body is topped by a fair amount of light beige head that recedes slowly to cover.
Hard crystal malts, some pepper and bitter, slightly pine-laden hops in the nose leave little room for much nuance or livliness. Some slight breadiness and stale, pre-oxidative notes are quite prevalent. No alcohol, but it’s not the cleanest of noses despite what has to be a pretty high filtration level.
Flavor is equally uninspiring. Hard, lifeless crystal malts are scratchy, dry and the spritzy carbonation is too aggressive and yet not tight at all. Some odd pine resin, with little actual hop flavor and light licorice/black pepper on the finish. Bitter, astringent and with these terribly hard, scratchy malts and no suppleness/sweetness whatsoever. Heavily lifeless feeling, no doubt thanks to the filtration.
The disparity between Cisco’s 12oz bottles and their 750mL bottle line is laughable.
Tried
from Bottle
on 15 Apr 2014
at 09:52
6/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5
Draught at EBF, 3/22/14
Large, frothy white head is well-retained atop a hazy, goldenrod colored body.
Oddly enough, the spices in the flavor don’t come off quite as strong in the nose. Belgian yeast esters produce peach, orange, apricot and such, while a vanilla-like sweetness completes the aroma. Certainly some coriander and rosemary-like herbal notes adding dryness and pepper.
Lovely palate, with a medium body, some moderate sweetness but more than enough tart acidity to balance. Creamy, almost thick texture at times.
Perfumey hops from the nose combine with plentiful herbal notes to add quite a bit of complexity, but at this point, the spices are too dominant. Hopefully some of the critters continue to build up and help balance all of this spiciness. Didn’t realize the spice character dosent fade like hoppiness, but upon opening my 1996 Saison de Pipaix, I was surprised to find just as much ginger, coriander and even orange peel as I remembered from younger bottles. Anyhow, well-brewed beer, maybe a touch sweet, just too much spice. Certainly not the biggest offender I’ve had but I have very little tolerance for overspiced saisons....
Large, frothy white head is well-retained atop a hazy, goldenrod colored body.
Oddly enough, the spices in the flavor don’t come off quite as strong in the nose. Belgian yeast esters produce peach, orange, apricot and such, while a vanilla-like sweetness completes the aroma. Certainly some coriander and rosemary-like herbal notes adding dryness and pepper.
Lovely palate, with a medium body, some moderate sweetness but more than enough tart acidity to balance. Creamy, almost thick texture at times.
Perfumey hops from the nose combine with plentiful herbal notes to add quite a bit of complexity, but at this point, the spices are too dominant. Hopefully some of the critters continue to build up and help balance all of this spiciness. Didn’t realize the spice character dosent fade like hoppiness, but upon opening my 1996 Saison de Pipaix, I was surprised to find just as much ginger, coriander and even orange peel as I remembered from younger bottles. Anyhow, well-brewed beer, maybe a touch sweet, just too much spice. Certainly not the biggest offender I’ve had but I have very little tolerance for overspiced saisons....
Tried
from Bottle
on 30 Mar 2014
at 16:01
8.6/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 8.5
2013 bottle, unoaked drunk 3/14/14
Light amber body still shows a touch of haze despite leaving it in the fridge for a week. Light beige head is full, fluffy and retained strongly down to the last drop.
"Cisco character" in the nose, somewhat tough to describe but it’s a bit rustic and lightly earthy. Medium mats in the nose show very light caramel and dry brown bread while the spicy hoppiness is fresh, quite bitter and seems to remind me of strisselspalt or something along those lines. As clean as possible with a medium-high strength of aroma.
Dry, but not grainy malts in the mouth provide light caramel, bread and just a touch of toastiness that segues in to a bitter, somewhat grassy hop spiciness that balances the malt perfectly and adds just enough flavor and bitterness without disrupting drinkability.
Very tight, engaging carbonation for a lager (bottle conditioned lagers are pretty phenomenal when they are done well) and the supple maltiness makes for a perfect texture; refreshing yet full in the mouth. Bitterness dries things and clears the palate, leaving herbal spiciness, dry hay and grass and light black pepper. Clean again in the flavor, and no alcohol noted. Exceptional. One of the better lagers I’ve had in a while and it’s so refreshing to see them do a more traditional take on the style instead of an IPL or Sour lager or Brett dunkel or Imperial Pilsner. Cheers to Cisco, these guys are really cementing themselves as the one of the best in New England. Very adept at brewing many different styles well.
As an addendum, I can certainly see how the oak would bring this beer down. Hopefully we can get Ernest and TAR a bottle of the unoaked stuff.
Light amber body still shows a touch of haze despite leaving it in the fridge for a week. Light beige head is full, fluffy and retained strongly down to the last drop.
"Cisco character" in the nose, somewhat tough to describe but it’s a bit rustic and lightly earthy. Medium mats in the nose show very light caramel and dry brown bread while the spicy hoppiness is fresh, quite bitter and seems to remind me of strisselspalt or something along those lines. As clean as possible with a medium-high strength of aroma.
Dry, but not grainy malts in the mouth provide light caramel, bread and just a touch of toastiness that segues in to a bitter, somewhat grassy hop spiciness that balances the malt perfectly and adds just enough flavor and bitterness without disrupting drinkability.
Very tight, engaging carbonation for a lager (bottle conditioned lagers are pretty phenomenal when they are done well) and the supple maltiness makes for a perfect texture; refreshing yet full in the mouth. Bitterness dries things and clears the palate, leaving herbal spiciness, dry hay and grass and light black pepper. Clean again in the flavor, and no alcohol noted. Exceptional. One of the better lagers I’ve had in a while and it’s so refreshing to see them do a more traditional take on the style instead of an IPL or Sour lager or Brett dunkel or Imperial Pilsner. Cheers to Cisco, these guys are really cementing themselves as the one of the best in New England. Very adept at brewing many different styles well.
As an addendum, I can certainly see how the oak would bring this beer down. Hopefully we can get Ernest and TAR a bottle of the unoaked stuff.
Tried
from Bottle
on 14 Mar 2014
at 13:20
4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 4
Flavor 2
Texture 6
Overall 3
Funny how some beers, for me, just miss their mark. This was one. Poured a very clear golden with a persistent white head. Smells of pine and hibiscus. Tastes of salt, pine and a little soap. Not a good beer. If this was the Reserve what in the world did the regular taste like. Blah!
Tried
on 11 Mar 2014
at 19:38
6.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
On tap at the Cisco Brew Pub, Boston Logan Airport. A strange luminous grapefruit colour with a soft white head; aroma of cream soda with a dash of lime; soft grainy textrure with a sweet citrus taste; the finish is rather thin and dry, but has some lingering sweet lemonade. A refreshing wheat beer.
Tried
from Draft
on 07 Mar 2014
at 02:14
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
On tap at the Cisco Brew Pub, Boston Logan Airport. An attractive copper colour with a ring of cream head that laced the glass nicely; spicy malt aroma; smooth with a caramel taste; and a dry finish with a touch of spice. Warming and satisfying.
Tried
from Draft
on 07 Mar 2014
at 02:10
8.6/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 8.5
2013 bottle drunk on 2/23/14
Dark black cherry-brownish-red body pours bright, leaving the sediment behind and a large beige head is slow to recede.
Beautifully aromatic nose is full of all kinds of tart acids. From acetic to lactic with plenty of malic fruit acids as well. Oak character and vanilla are light but notable and some lightly sweet caramel malts round out the aroma providing just a touch of sweet balance. Black pepper and cherry pit dryness linger on nicely. No alcohol or flaws. Every bit as true and authentic as the best Belgian krieks.
Tart acids and a near wine-like fruitiness wash over the palate carried on by tight, ample carbonation with a slick, lightly oily mouthfeel. Sourness builds and continues to dry the palate until a quick shot of sweet, caramel and vanilla-like maltiness softens things on the finish before more cherry meat and pit flavor lingers on. Nicely sour rendition, but the malt and barrel character are neither overdone or lacking, either. Plentiful, authentic cherries are icing on the cake. The Woods series is definitely the real deal.
Dark black cherry-brownish-red body pours bright, leaving the sediment behind and a large beige head is slow to recede.
Beautifully aromatic nose is full of all kinds of tart acids. From acetic to lactic with plenty of malic fruit acids as well. Oak character and vanilla are light but notable and some lightly sweet caramel malts round out the aroma providing just a touch of sweet balance. Black pepper and cherry pit dryness linger on nicely. No alcohol or flaws. Every bit as true and authentic as the best Belgian krieks.
Tart acids and a near wine-like fruitiness wash over the palate carried on by tight, ample carbonation with a slick, lightly oily mouthfeel. Sourness builds and continues to dry the palate until a quick shot of sweet, caramel and vanilla-like maltiness softens things on the finish before more cherry meat and pit flavor lingers on. Nicely sour rendition, but the malt and barrel character are neither overdone or lacking, either. Plentiful, authentic cherries are icing on the cake. The Woods series is definitely the real deal.
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Mar 2014
at 13:14
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Rich deep dark brown coloured body with a single centimetre tall tan head and a nice bit of suspended particles/yeast noticeable. Aroma of pit fruits, strong toasted malt, nuts, earth, caramel and quite a bit of toffee - nice and not too pungent of alcohol notes. Medium to Full-bodied; Strong earthy flavour with a subdued sweetness, a good bit of alcohol and toasted malt and some light oak and spices. Aftertaste shows a pleasant mix of dry oak, vanilla, toffee, yeast and some light earthy notes. Overall, a good relatively mild barley wine that shows it’s age nicely and doesn’t come across to bitter - but has some good complexity and a smooth sweetness. I sampled this 65 cL bottle purchased from Ramsey Liqours in Ramsey, New Jersey on 22-February-2013 for US$10.49 sampled at home in Washington on 01-March-2014. 2012/2013 Bottle? [65cL @ 9%ABV] // Bought in February 2013 // Drank in March 2014
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Mar 2014
at 09:29