3.2 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20How the hell is Colorado the first place to get this? - anyway, I am not sure why I am such a sucker for these Stone collaborations, but as soon as I saw Stillwater was involved in this, I new I needed to try it - besides, it’s a smoked black saison - how could I NOT try that? - sure, it’ll probably be a train wreck, but probably an interesting one - anyway, pours dark brown, nearly black - fizzy head that rapidly shrinks and almost completely disappears - nose is quite smoky and woody, with some mild phenolics that play off of that well and remind you that this is supposed to be a saison of some sort - there isn’t much else to the nose, but I like the smokiness so much that I do not really mind this - moderate carbonation - slightly slick mouthfeel - a slight bit of dark malt sweetness at first, but the beer dries out fast, just as the char and roast of the malt kicks in - a nice mineral note through the middle compliments the dryness - mild smoke arrives late - the tail end remains dry, but also gets rather spicy/peppery - finish is moderate bitterness and a light woody char - only a hint of phenols throughout remind you of the yeast used here - given the nose, I would have liked more smoke in the flavor - this beer is pretty interesting, but it doesn’t quite all come together in the end.
3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
Aroma has both fruity and smoky components, as well as hints of hops and yeast. It pours an opaque coffee brown with a fairly thick, if not very persistent, tan head. Flavor has a strong note of bitter wood, with subtle tones of caramel, cherry, honey and roast malt in attendance. Texture seems on the thin side, though the fizz is lively. Definitely - interesting. Still, give it a try, see whatcha think.
2.8 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 12/20
Dark brown pour with a light tan head. Smells like a saison - some grass and subtle funkiness. The taste quickly turns bitter, almost like stale coffee. Interesting to try, but not my cup of beer.
4.6 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20
12 ox bottle from Giant Eagle Route 8 in Pittsburgh. As black and mysterious as your favorite film noir. A brilliant smokiness adds to the appeal. Perfection!
3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Near black pour with a 1 finger, creamy tan head that has decent retention. Aroma of citrus hops, roasted nuts, bready, spicy and fruity yeast. Flavor is roast, nuts, citrus and pine right away, leading to some floral notes, chocolate, a touch of smoke, increasingly bitter citrus, earth and a light stone fruit and citrus sweetness to go along with some pepper and bitter citrus in the finish. Light to medium body, off dry on entry, increasingly dry to the finish. Good stuff, but like so many saisons I feel like it would have been better at about 70% of it’s recipes strength.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
On tap at Taps in Petaluma. Pours a dark black color with a bit of head. Tastes like a mild saison with some hop flavors. Very intriguing and enjoyable.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
0,33l bottle @ Vihreä Haltiatar. Pours very dark red with a low off-white head. Aroma is malts with some smoked ham. Flavor is malts, grapefruit, smoked ham and some hops. Decent stuff.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Light brown head is thin and short, dark brown/black. Light arome has licorice, coffee, caramel, ash, slightly roasted. Crisp round, bitter, dry, highly roasted nearly burned, long roastrd bitter finish, berry also. Tasty but quite much roasted. Would not drink many of these.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Pours a very deep dark color. Nose is heavy malt and chocolate with some spice. Taste is full of malt, with sweetness and smokiness.....with a myriad of spices. Finish is bitter and lingers with the same complex flavors and spices. Quaff Score 7 / 10
3.9 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Pours black with a brown head and slight tart and roasty aroma of fruits and spices. Taste is sweet and smokey, lots of roasted malt, chocolate, fruit notes, and spices with a bitter, spicy finish. Very enjoyable, flavorful brew
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
Black but almost a very deep dark brown.Red hue.Short head quickly disapated,slight lace.
Complex nose of dark fruit,strong pepper,anise,bannana,clove,light mineral malts.
Taste is full body,peppery,zesty,tangy,chocolate,anise,dark roasted cherrie,plum,more pepper,bittersweet finish with cocoa/pine/grapefruit,dry smooth mellow roast finish. Good hearty robust bitterness. Kind of all over the place but confusing you with a good tasting beer at the same time.Didnt pick up much smoked but more of a woody cherry,it cold be buried in the complexity somwhere but hidden.
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