Bottled. U.S. Beer 27 of 31 for American Beer Month! Smell is kind of light when opened, just a whiff of fruitiness, hops, and maybe brett. May have gone a little stale. Pours slightly darker than a pils, a bit cloudy, making a nice soda-pop sound as the head fizzes. Immediate taste impression is of a nice champagne, which I enjoy. Alcohol is well in front, followed by a light fruitiness, close to but not quite cherries. There is a kind of yeasty taste, but not the "pizza dough" of some beers, more like it’s kicking into the champagne driness and bitterness. Definitely complex and intrguing.

I like this brewer. They do some very interesting things rather well. This one did not thrill me as much as some though. Sampled on draft at the State College beer festival this beer pours a dark golden color with a medium sized yellowish head. The aroma is very sweet and sugary. The flavor is thick and sweet with a yeasty element and a light spicy hops. There is a light sour tang on the finish. A mildly noticeable alcohol burn lingers on this one.

[bottle] This is probably the most traditionally "saison-like" beer in the Saison de la Soeur line so far - cloudy golden color with medium, fizzy white head - very earthy and musty aroma, interwoven with citrus, grain, spice, gingerbread - I notice no sourness in this as others have - very spicy and peppery - hop profile compliments these qualities, and the cascades in particular are pretty pronounced - some corriander, perhaps even a hint of vanilla - wait, ok there is s bit of sourness in the finish, but it mostly finishes with long lingering hops and a touch of white pepper - not as unique as the other de la Soeurs, but still quite good.

On tap Blind Tiger NYC 10/04 and bottle from Willblake which I took to Noogfest. Opaque black pour that pushes a small but creamy tan head to the top. Complex aroma with roast malt, coffee and chocolate. The flavor follows with just a touch of butterscotch but it all is put together nicely in a thick full bodied brew. The bottle was not quite as intense as the tap version, but very tasty.

Noogfest Dark brown in the glass, the off white head produces a fine lace. Funky, fishy, sour aroma previews some of the flavors. Tart sourness with some sweetness at the back. Interesting beer that showcases the diversity of the brews coming from Heavyweight.

Hazy amber/copper coloured body with an insanely tall off-white head. This beer bubbled immediately from the bottle-too much yeast, sugars and secondary fermentation. Aroma of yeast, honey, malt, coriander seed and curacao. Medium-bodied; Spicey malt flavour with coriander seed. Aftertaste shows malt, alcohol and a bit of spice. Overall, decent-not showing enough character & too much carbonation. Good to try from a neat store! I sampled this 75 cL bottle purchased from Village Pump Liquors in College Park, Maryland on 30-January-2005.

Bottled, rated live. Part of my fine trade with Dorwart. For a trad ale, it pours very light, almost like a Honker’s Ale, but for a suggestion of red highlights. Kicks up a fizzy head that disappears completely. Taste is red-wine-dry and has a mellow blend of spices, like a lawnmower version of a Christmas ale. Lemony and more sour than bitter. I have no idea what yarrow and rosemary would taste like, but I know this isn’t the same old clove & coriander spice. More like a cinnamon. There’s a layer of sediment that I think I’ll stir up once I’m through the bottle to see if there’s more spice there; let’s see...
Okay, pouring the sediment makes it hazy, of course, and gives it a yeasty taste that’s to be expected. A little more spiciness, and a nice fizziness that stays with the glass. I get a feeling there’s some traces of the actual spice, like a nutmeg, now. Finishes pretty sour. Not your everyday beer, but an interesting sample of olden days brewing technoques, thought I doubt any pre-hopped beers were this light.