Dry Dock Marin Saison

Quaffed over the summer repeatedly as i stopped in Dry Dock’s tasting room, this is an excellent example of a Saison... happens to be in the real farmhouse style, meant for the ’worker in the field’ -- meaning the 4.7% (if I recall correctly) alcohol is intentionally low so one may enjoy a lot of it. Nice aroma of spices, malt and ’saison-ness’, wonderful appearance. I enjoyed it a great deal. Most other Saisons I have had have been abnormally high in alcohol for the style (not that that is a bad thing, just out of style). Color is actually only a little lighter than Saison duPont, although both are much lighter than the crazy-big saison by New Belgium. With a little more spice note on the tongue and just a touch more body on the palate I would have rated it even higher.

At the 2007 Big Beer, Belgians, & Barleywines Festival in Vail. I’m not sure who let this dog into the Big Beer festival. It by no means has the muscle. Fairly clear pale yellow with a white head. Some spicy coriander aroma, but body and flavor is rather mild. A very slight peppery tingle to the tongue and otherwise drying finish. Ho-hum.

Draught at brewery. Pours very pale yellow with a large frothy white head, mostly diminishing, excellent lacing, clear and sparkling body. Aroma is heavy malt (grain, hay), light hops (flowers, grass), light yeast (sweat, leaves) with notes of banana. Light bodied, slick texture, soft carbonation and a bitter finish. Long duration, light sweetness and acidity, moderate bitterness and salty. This is likely the worst interpretation of a saison I have ever had.

On tap at the Dry Dock Brewery Tasting Room. Poured a very light and clear straw color wtih a smaller sized white head (doesn’t look like saisons that I’m used to). Aromas of lemons, citrus, and peppers. Tastes of lemons, fruity, citrus and peppers. All around on the thinner and weaker side.

Slightly different experience on this beer as the only other rating. Light malt, of course, and moderately hoppy with herbs and citrus filling my nose. Slight toffee and maybe cola as well, but a clear aroma of bubble gum enticing me to drink.

Brilliant clear body of light yellow hues, average head for this beer of a white color dispersers almost all together. A closer look shows small particles suspended in this thin-bodied saison. A moderately acidic and lightly bitter flavor on my tongue, the lively carbonation is satisfying. The medium body give way to a dry and slightly watery texture. As it slides down the back of my throat, I feel a light astringent taste and the hops intensify making this a very enjoyable and refreshing beer. I think I will get a growler next time I’m in.