Nebraska Brewing Company Reserve Series Apricot au Poivre Saison

Brewed by Nebraska Brewing Company
Style: Saison
Papillion, Nebraska USA

Serve in Tulip

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A steady pour produces a fat, two-finger thick, pale tan colored head; as it subsides it shows a dense, whipped mousse character to it and leaves lots of fluffy lacing stuck to the sides of my Teku glass. The beer is a rich gold / light amber color that shows a brilliantly clear, yellow-gold hue when held up to the light. The aroma smells of spicy, peppery oak, soft apricot notes, and lots of floral character. There is also a backdrop of wine character, perhaps a bit like a flinty chardonnay, but this seems to generally accentuate the floral aromatics of this beer. The fruit character can seem a touch green, or under-ripe at times, and there is also a kiss of hay leaning and cracker like pale malt graininess here as well. As the beer warms up a soft, funky, slightly phenolic, more musty sort of fermentation character also becomes noticeable.

Fairly full bodied, I was expecting this to be quite thin, instead there is a certain palate presence to this beer, though it is still light enough; there is a solid, prickly carbonation here that livens up the texture as well. Spicy, woody oak notes in the flavor linger through to the finish, and even accentuates some hot notes that suggest at higher alcohols. This has a soft fruitiness to it that brings out some hints of sweetness, and there are lots of floral / nectar overtones to the flavor; this last is brought out by the apricot, which lightly flavors the brew. There is a soft peppery character here, though it could be purely attributed to the oak character, but this does have a bit more, in that the peppery-spice character lingers a bit on the lips and palate.

This has lots of oak character to it, and while most of the other beer notes come through, the overall profile is a little on the spicy oak side of the spectrum, so it doesn’t quite achieve the balance that it should. It could also use a bit more of rustic yeast character as it seems a touch clean for a Saison somehow. Having said that, this is by no means a bad beer; it is more than enjoyable.

Bottle. Pours a hazy yellow color with a white head. Has a fruity malty spicy slightly sour apricot aroma. Fruity malty spicy sour apricot flavor. Has a fruity malty sour woody apricot finish with peppery hints.

Bottle sample from Oakquinox 2013. Semi hazy golden pour, with a white head. Definite apricot flavors, with bready malt, black pepper, light oak, dusty, sweetness, and grass. Decent.

750 ml bottle. Pours out a cloudy copper color with a large white head. A big fruity white wine vinous nose, woody as well. Really nice flavor of dusty dry earthy yeast, some fruit, vinous, big white wine, more oak. Good.

750ml bottle shared at the vintage tasting
Appearance: Clear golden with a small white head and some lacing
Aroma: Fruit and tart
Taste: Fruit, grainy and dusty
Nice and smooth

Gold, clear, thin white head. Apricot is definitely there, chard barrel note, grainy malt, some lemon. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Bottle poured a cloudy honey with golden hues, medium foamy white head with minimal lacing. Aroma begins with big citrus followed by notes of apricot, honey suckle, lemon, and slight yeast funk. Taste starts with enjoyable tart flavors leading to apricot, pepper, citrus, and funk. Wonderfully drinkable with a crisp finish and flavors lingering.

Bottle @ Oakquinox 2013. Hazy golden orange pour with a white head. Nose is quite fruity and apricot forward. A bit of pear and apple as well. Sweet bread, wood, and lots of pepper. Some hints of wine and citrus zest. The flavor is a little bit bitter and alcoholic. Decent apricot flavor, but too much pepper and grass. Astringent grain husk notes, some bread sweetness, and a bit of oak.

beautiful tannic, slightly tart fruit flavors: apricot, pear, apple, unripe grape, oak, vinousness, peppercorn-floral aromatics, light bodied, good carbonation.

Pricey little morsel. 30$ Appricot puree imparts sour fruit flavor than a sweet lucious flavor that fresh apricots would have. Nice bready sour barrel aroma wit a little funk.This has a tart apricot flavor. The most prominent flavor is the chardonay barrel. If you like strong barrel flavors then you should like this. Creamy like a German Hefe The black pepper is there and adds an enjoyable touch of complexity. Cloudy glowing golden color with nice lace. I would prefer the alcohol be a bit higher. Delicious but too costly. With fresh fruit and higher alcohol this could be really amazing.