De Molen Jaar & Dag

Brewed by Brouwerij de Molen
Style: Saison
Bodegraven, Netherlands

Serve in Tulip

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UPDATED: FEB 19, 2012 Finally a saison by De Molen (that I can try)... Looks okay, medium brown, almost clear and with a small creamy beige head. Very nice aromatic smell with distinct spicy yeast and fragrant fruity hops. Lots of character but in no way overwhelming or overdone. Taste starts with a short solid malt base that’s a not overly heavy and provides a easily drinkable base. But quickly this is transformed by the introduction of tasty and even fierce bitterness, which expecially shows itself in the long fading aftertaste. This, then is something I was anticipating for some time and quite different from most of De Molen’s beers. Do I like it? It’s awesome. Without pretending to be an original Belgian (or French) saison, it shows itself with modern strengths in hoppy bitterness, standing on the shoulders of giants. Where the big Imperial Stout (and maybe Barley Wines) are De Molen’s signature, this, for me, sets it apart from brewers relying on merely high class ingredients, instead showing that recipes are still front runners in a beer’s quality.

Bottle @ home. Dark orange colour with a full white head. Smells hops, fruity, grapefruit, fresh, malts. Tastes very hoppy, fruity, grapefruit, pineapple, citrus, fresh, bitter. Medium body, great carbo.

Pours cloudy, lots of light-colored particles in suspension. Lacy white head quickly dissipates. Amber color. Aroma is hops, nectarines, very rich. Medium body, sweet but not sticky. Both sweet and hoppy/bitter, finish is warming. Excellent saison.

Bottle bought at The Molen Brewery. I especially like the aroma; it is rich and fruity. Taste has a mild bitter tone, almost like sweet grapefruit. Hmm, I want an other one.

On tap at Monks, pour is cloudy orange with medium head/lacing. Aromas is nice and hoppy, peach, light malts, and some wood. Taste is wet spicy wood, refreshing lemon hops. Cedar, columbus hops, wheat, citrus. Solid beer that reminded me of a gruit style with extra tropical notes.

Bottle brought back from the source by my brother on a recent trip. Pours a true copper, lots of bubbles and a pile of pure white head. Dies down to a layer that clings to the glass walls as well. Has a fair amount of floating sediment. Smells fruity, hop-like and Belgian yeast. Tastes bitter, fruit, alcohol bite. Good stuff. After a few pulls the lacing really shows up.

Bottle. Very nice golden/amber beer with a nice off white head. Hoppy perfume aroma, fruity, citrus, grapes, malt, bread, pine, hay, sourish notes. Hoppy flavor, perfume, pine, grass, hay, grapes, apples, spicy notes. Nice body. Maybe not a totally true saison, but very drinkable. Fruity hoppy finish with perfume notes.

On tap at the brewery. Cloudy dark golden with a persistent head. Fruity and grassy hop nose. Nice hoppy punch with hints of tart fruit. A saison that kicks.

UPDATED: SEP 8, 2012 Bottle at home ... golden amber ... bubbly white head ... soft sweet ... light yeasty nose ... light sweet zezty ... soft yeast ... mellow toffee malts ... floral hop ... little woody bitterness ... nice balance ... round full flavours ... nice

Relatively dark pour with heavy white lace. Clover on the nose, pear in the body. Finish is sweet with a bit of herbal bitterness