Hopfenstark Saison Station 16 (de Seigle)

Brewed by Hopfenstark
Style: Saison
L’Assomption, Canada

Considering the style, Scores ranging from 1 to 5, 5 being the most intense
Appearance:
Body:   Clear(1)->Murky(5) : 4     Pale Yellow(1)->Copper(5) : 4     Still(1)->Volcanic Sparkling(5) : 2
Head:   None(1)->Large(5) : 3     Lasting: 2     Lacing : 2
Aroma:
Intensity : 3  
Yeast : 3   Bread : 2   Dough : 4   Esters : 2   Phenols : XX   Dusty : XX   Spicy : 2   Apple : XX   Banana : 2   Tropical Fruits : XX   Brett : XX   Barnyard : XX   Leather : XX   Wood : XX   Vinous : XX   Cheese : XX   DMS : XX   Diacetyl : XX Sulfur : XX
Malt : 3   Pilsner : XX   Pale : XX   Vienna : XX   Biscuity : 3   Toasty : 2   Hay : XX   Caramel : XX   Honey : XX   Cereals : 3   Grainy : 3   Wheat : XX
Hops : 2   Noble(1)->American(5) : 1   Leafy : 2   Perfume : 2   Orange : 2   Floral : XX   Lemon/Lime : XX   Herbal : XX   Grassy : XX   Piney : XX
Notes : Pepper : 2   Cloves : XX   Coriander : 3   Ginger : XX   Orange : 4   Earth : XX   Vanilla : XX   Oxidation : XX   Bubblegum : XX
Flavor:
Initial Flavor : Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 3   Finish Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 3   Sourness : 1   Acetic : XX   Lactic : XX   Bitterness : 2   Farmy : XX   Complex : 1   Length : XX
Palate:
Light(1)->Full(5) : 5   Flat(1)->Fizzy(5) : 3   Clean : 1   Sharp : XX   Watery : XX   Oily : 4   Chalk : XX   Astringent : XX   Alcohol : XX   Mineral : XX

Comments: A rather chewy example with the rye’s uniform mouthfeel. Interesting beer per se, but it lacks a bit the freshness I appreciate in the style which sounds rather ironic as Hopfenstark’s beers always feel hugely fresh. How I mean it, possibly a paler grain profile, more pointy, sharp hops and less overall thickness would ease the drinkability. To their defense, their blonde already does awesome in that department.

First try:
My Bottom Line:
Doughy yeast, orangey fruitiness, and a tender spicy, herbal hop finish thrive within the unctuous rye-infused mouthfeel. A portly Belgian ale which clearly claims its rurality.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A thick layer of foam laces generously atop the opaque beige orange.
-The body’s creaminess is a bit overdone to achieve authenticity within its broad style.
-From the nose to the aftertaste, everything exudes freshness.
-The hoppy finish sometimes personifies wet leaves.

On tap at Vices et Versa. 3.4/5

Second try:
This batch has some calculated brett within the rich rye cereals. The mouthfeel is comfy, the flavor profile superbly expressive and balanced; this is a top notch beer.

On tap at Le Loup Rouge. 3.8/5

A lightly hazed golden saison with a very thin white head. Pleasant aroma of bananas, cloves light anise and berries. In mouth, a sweet an oily saison, with bananas and strawberries, notes of cloves and herbal mint. A very nice and enticing beer. On tap at Vices et Versa, 6 Feb. 2008.

Sampled draught at the Mondial, Montreal (May 2007). Opaque apricot in color, little head, no real lacing....apricots in the nose as well, at first the fruitiness dominates but a bit of earthy funk works its way in eventually....body starts out rather too sweet, dries out a bit midpalate, gets a bit mineralic and salty to finish....somewhat "dirty" or rough on the palate and too sweet and syrupy overall, too much fruit-sugar....drinkable, but a disappointment.

Draught. At Vices et Versa. This is the Saison Hopfenstark blends with their Postcolonial IPA to make the Wonderful Saison 55. This one pours a slightly hazy gold, average white head. Simple and crisp aroma, bitter spice and herbal notes, sweet fruity malt - clove, coriander, apple and banana. The taste follows, but there is more fruitiness and less herbal/pungent spice bitterness and more sweet, yeasty malt - it veered toward hefe flavour. Light body, slightly dry and astringent from the spiciness, with a quick finish to the sweet malt and a linger that was all mildly bitter spice. "bloody pleasant / sneaky-complex" are my closing notes.

Modiale 2007. A little white head on cloudy orange. Appealing aroma of spice and yeast. Taste is great, fortified with rye, a good saison in a great style. Sourness in the finish. Good medium plus mouthfee. Lace in the glass. Refreshing. Had it again in 2008 and was not as enticing.

On Tap at Mondial.
Bright orange, copper with creamy ring on top. Neat hue.3+
Good rich, ripe fruity nose, Soft rye character blended with other notes, Fruity, rich grainy nose.
Wheat and rye in blend, strong fruity notes, soft, sweet finish. Pleasant ale to have.

2008-05-31. Crisp golden body with a nice foamy off-white head. (3+) Aroma is mild, light alcohol kissed grass, hops. (6+) Pleasant zippy bitterness alludes to lemons, mild grass, pale malt. More lemon and grass in the finish lingers pleasantly. (7+) Smooth average palate suits the beer. Decent but not my favorite of their offerings. On tap, Mondial, Montreal, 4T