Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5
Mwahahaha, David hasnt rated this! It’s about the only one he hasnt too. Sorry, just had to make a quick cheap shot there because I’m jealous of all the saisons I have missed.
Anyways, this one was on draught at NEBF 05 and poured a hazy peach with a fair amount of bubbles and a foamy, white head that laces well and is well-retained for a pressurized saison. Aroma is sweet and citric, but a sweeter, round citrus with a fair amount of white, sugary dough, easygoing, pleasant ginger and light coriander dryness. Actually quite good for an American saison, though I’m not sure how much of the Wallonia yeast they used. Oaky dryness is a bit too apparent and harsh, but it has a good texture, creamy sweet, with a moderately expansive nature. Mouthfeel is perhaps a little too aerated/bubbly as it warms. It’s only modestly fruity throughout, with lots of spicy/peppery dryness. Light vanilla and more oranges linger on the finish, mixed with wood and dough. Perhaps a case of trying to do too many things at once (house yeast, wallonia yeast, hungarian oak chips, orange peel, coriander, ginger). I think when it comes down to it, it’s just another American saison that dosent compete with the real thing, but this one is wearing some really authentic clothing, just not quite authentic at heart.
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 3.5
Cask at GBBF 2005. Slightly hazy amber colour. Not keen on this beer. I thought it smelt of sweet urine. Sweetish in mouth with dry nettle hop finish. Not the best US beer I had
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 3 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 3.5
On cask at the brewpub with the Windy City Beerman? Muzzlehatch. First of all, I’m going to have to overhaul almost all of my old cask ratings after attending four days of a real cask festival. The beer should be clear, it tastes better that way. With all of the finings and yeast (some of it autolyzed perhaps) and what not, having dropped out, the flavor is not muddled. So this one wasnt "bright" as they say, but very muddy brown-pudding colored beer with a lasting dark beige head. Aroma is full of diacetyl and sticky toffee, some light roast/coffee notes. Flavor has an initial chocolate sweetness, but a pungent grapeskin like flavor shows up, followed by a sour yeast flavor that shouldnt be there. Gritty, muddy mouthfeel, some brown sugar on the end. This is a mess and I don’t think they should serve this one on cask if they are going to serve it in such poor condition.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 5.5
Nitrogen dispensed at the brewpub, 5/20/2005 with Muzzlehatch. Dark brown, milk chocolate colored body, hints of garnet on the edges, with an off-white/beige head that is fully lasting. Low lacing. Moderately hazy. Aroma of graham crackers, light roasted malts, chocolate. Flavor is mostly roast, some gritty chocolate flavors, hints of nuts and maybe some vanilla on the finish. A bit of oiliness for a mouthfeel, some acidity, but then mostly water à la nitro. Very weak body, though an above average strength of aroma for being on nitrogen.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
On draught at the brewpub, 5/20/2005 with Muzzlehatch. Golden-orange colored body, lightly hazy at best, with some deep copper tones and a small white head, some retention and lacing. Aroma has notes of honeyish sweet malt, light tangerine and candied oranges from the centennial and magnum. I really enjoy magum and with the sweet, almost pils like malt in this, it reminds me, slightly, of a uber pils. Though there is a much stronger climax of bitterness, more citrus and some dirty/earthy notes from the fuggles. Medium body, with some light thinning on the end. Alcohol or some other sharp dryness (light soapiness) is slightly noticeable. Moderate carbonation, lightly watery mouthfeel.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5
On draught at the brewpub, 5/20/2005 with Muzzlehatch. Mostly clear nut-brown colored ale, hints of beige and mahogany-auburn, somewhat layered appearance and a small off-white head, rapidly dissipating, little to no lacing. Aroma of light coffee, hints of butter and dry grainy malt. Flavor is quite dry, very attenuated feel, lean and low of flavor. Hints of dry toffee are fleeting, providing a glimmer of sweetness. Some earth and nuts, maybe a bit rusty, though the flavor has all but faded by the finish, which is lightly thin. Light body, no hops apparency. Low carbonation with a slick, watery mouthfeel. Nothing really jumps out at me in this one, though there’s nothing terrible about it. Little to no yeast apparency could be my biggest complaint, this dosent seem British to me at all, just a low abv brown American ale. I’ve had many better British dark milds.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
On draught at the brewpub on 5/20/2005 with Muzzlehatch. Low to moderately hazy pale-gold color, with almost a green tinge to it. Small white head quickly recedes to cover, with some lacing. Aroma is Belgian yeast, lots of lemon, light notes of bubble gum and cotton candy. Fluffy, lightly dry, with some coriander and quite a high strength (especially as it was served outdoors out of a small convex sampler glass). Flavor is mostly Belgian yeast esters of bubble gum and light clove with a bit of banana and some coriander/lemon acidity on the finish. Body is very light, thinning heavily on the finish, with a moderate amount of wateriness.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
On draught at the brewpub 5/20/2005 with Muzzlehatch. Well I sat and pondered whether this was a pale lager or a pilsener, not even paying attention to the yeast. Funny how indistinct American brewpub light ales can be. Might as well be a pale lager. Anyways, I will say that there are noticeable amounts of hops in this and it wasn’t terribly watery. Very little malt sweetness, just basic pale malt. But grassiness is in the nose, as well as a touch of minerals. Pale yellow color, maybe a silght chill haze, though mostly clear with an initial small white head that rapidly recedes to nothing, with no lacing. Flavor of white bread, bit papery, saaz-like hops floralness, some grassy bitterness and maybe an ever so slight touch of oranges. Light body, though not thin. Needs more malt. Finishes with a pleasing hops bitterness. I enjoyed it.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
[Cask at GBBF 2004] A hazy caramel colored beer. The aroma is sweet with notes of peach and caramel. The flavor contains notes of hops and caramel leading to a dry end.