New Glarus Unplugged Imperial Saison

Brewed by New Glarus Brewing Company
Style: Saison
New Glarus, Wisconsin USA

In short: A very sharp, fruity, tart and slightly sour semi-wild Saison. Decent brew but not much of a Saison.
How: Bottle 12oz. Consumed about six months after the beer release. Bottle sent to me by beastiefan2k, thanks a lot Eugene
The look: Cloudy golden orange body topped by a medium white head
In long: Nose is moderately wild with some saaz-ish dry grassy hops. Taste has bready malts/yeast and is very fruity with lemon, apricots, bananas, tangerines and peaches. The beer taste is sharp, very sharp, because of a very tart finish and a light annoying white grapes sourness. Light spiciness sensation (ginger and such). Alcohol is a bit present (bad bad bad in a Saison) and the beer feels a little sweet despite the tartness and sourness. All in all as a Saison it fails, but as a sweet sharp fruity ale it is rather pleasant. Not bad but not great. An Imperial Saison it might be but a Majestic Saison it is not.

Bottle. Aroma of a bit of bread, grass, and loads of spices. Really couldn’t get past the spices in this one, whether it was phenol-based, or the actual spices. Was nice and dry and seemed to have the other requisite saison characteristics hidden in there, but not enough came through for me.

Man was this a great beer. After having their R& D a little earlier, I needed something like this from New Glarus to wash away those insignifigant doubts that start to tug when you get a bad beer. Fantastic beer and right up there with some of the great saisons.

The beer pours out a beautiful hazy golden body that erupted into a fluffy white head that could support a warehouse I think. The aroma was full of oranges, ginger, bread, apricots and alcohol. Tart apples, dried fruits, bread, alcohol and tangy citrus round out the flavors. I don’t know if it was me, but it seems like there was a little funkyness in the flavor and aroma too. Great beer, and would no doubt be even better on a hot day.

First hit is a sourness with some carbonation. Not puckery though. Very pleasant. Bit of a burn going down then you get a nice taste of apricot and a slight gingery taste. almost more of an American fruit berliner weiss.

Bottle pours a sediment ridden and cloudy straw yellow amber with a monster head, long lived, and lots of heavy lace. The aroma is pear, spice, and yeast. The flavor is sour, lemon, hops, and spice to linger. The palate is somewhat refreshing, while being surprisingly still. It works well with the sour flavor. Overall, quite the over the top Saison, but it is good.

Bottle via trade. Pours a hazy golden color with a massive white head that lasts a long time. Aroma is Belgian yeast, apple and light fruit, funk, and pale malt. Flavor is pale malt and lots of yeasty funk and citrusy tartness. Some apple juice on the finish. Decent but maybe a little strange. Medium body with high carbonation. Refreshing, with ABV well hidden.

Bottle from Cavie. Pours a hazy orange with a thick white head. Aroma is faint, but has hints of peach and yeast. Taste is soap, malts, stale grains, and spices.

Bottle from Cavie. The scent is mostly apricot, and not much peach. It looks golden and cloudy. It is pretty carbonated and a bit sour.