Saison dEpeautre

Brewed by Brasserie de Blaugies
Style: Saison
Dour-Blaugies, Belgium

Serve in Tulip

I just barely untwisted the wire cap and the wire snapped, hesitated about a half second then went flying across the room with a loud POP- cork and cap together. Slight foaming but nothing rediculous. Pours a massive slightly off white head- probably the closest thing I have seen to a duvel head. The spelt’s massive amounts of protiens must contribute to the gigantic head. Very hazy light gold color with a fair amount of yeasties and other particles. Leaves a massive thick curtain of lace around the entire glass. Aroma is initially wild yeasty, but not too much on the barnyard side- although later on it appears on the tongue. Moderately spicy, moderate to high phenolic, yet no clove or vanilla. Some orange notes, coriander, light pepper, and smooth sweet wheat notes. Very light salty aromas as well blend well with the light spicing. That traditional saison yeastiness similar to dupont but even more extreme. The yeast strain on this beer must be very robust as it is able to take this beer down to 1.002 from 1.048 according to Markowski. The flavor is initially spicy with a lot of wheat (33%) good phenolics, some orange fruitiness and lots of yeast. Towards the middle and end the hay/barnyard and leather come into play, but not nearly as much as brett. adds. This wild yeast is much smoother and not as intense yet very apparent. Nice finish, and despite its rediculously low gravity, this beer ends up tasting extremely smooth, and dry, but the dry side is masked by the high protien content again and actually makes for an enjoyable finish. As it warms up to room temp the finish gets slightly washed out and the overall drinkability goes down. Best served slightly chilled. I loved this beer. And at $6.25 a 750 you can be sure Im going back to buy at least 3 more bottles.

750 mL bottle (at least 2 years old): as soon as the cage was lifted, the cork actually removed itself, no overflow, but bubbles quickly began to form and fill the neck. Crystal clear lemon gold with an enormously thick, creamy white foam on top. Sweet limestone and chalky barnyard aroma combine with wonderful leather and rose petal notes in a quiet, but understated effervescence. Soft, yet strongly carbonated palate – full flavours and everything that you can dream of for a Saison: complex peach fuzz, fresh straw, dry earth, sweet floral notes, a taste of perfume, sticky honey. A true work of art, genius…if I can be so bold.

UPDATED: JUL 25, 2003 Head is initially large, frothy, white, mostly lasting. Body is hazy light yellow, dense particles of all sizes, bottle conditioned. Aroma is moderately yeasty (barnyard), moderately hoppy (flowers, grass, lemon), lightly malty (light bread, toasted grain), with notes of grape, pear, and honey. Flavor is moderately sweet, moderately acidic. Finish is moderately acidic, lightly bitter. Medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation. Terrific farmhouse aromas, quick/refreshing tartness complements the flavor balance wonderfully, very classy and clean. A seemingly effortless masterpiece, IMHO. The aroma conjures a nomadic fireside layover in the country at night with a loyal dog at your side dozing under an inky sky littered with stars. This is the sort of brewery I would love to visit.

UPDATED: OCT 15, 2009 In short: A very dry, very wild and tart Saison. Very refreshing and very complex. Fantastic.
How: Bottle 750ml. Many many times. Usually as fresh as possible.
The look: Cloudy yellow body with an initially large white head with medium retention
In long: Nose is very barnyard with fruity notes of pineapples, pears, and more. The body is full and foamy and also very yeasty. Carbonation is pleasantly over the top which really works with this beer. Taste is hay, cheesy yeast, lemon, dried pineapples, dust, and so much more. Dry mouthfeel with a dusty/sandy feeling. An overall true rustic and wild sensation. This is a beer that bridges the gap between a true wild rustic Belgian Saison and a refreshing Belgian Witbier. This beer like my cousin Louis has a dual personality disorder.

A cold pour throws up its arms in a fuming fashion pushing foamy suds to the brink of my goblet where it rests as if a sleeper in slow motion. Lacing is sticky and fluffy w/ strong aromatics perfuming the whole room. This is a class act people. I can smell vanilla cream, citrus, tropicals, milky spice, and a bit of sulpher. The color is a bright creamy yellow almost casting off a light of it’s own. Medium nectar w/ expansive effers on the palate. Crisp and malty, bright and refreshing w/ a defined gunsmoke thing going on. The flavors really follow the aroma to a T. Theres a nice skunky bittering component on the finish. It’s delicate yet very complex.

Hazy banana liquid. Dirty white, well retained foam. Soft, musty, mineral laced aroma. Beautiful leather notes, fresh flowers, light doughy traces, wood, pear, earth, iron, peppery whispers, vanilla, and feathery cracked barley notes. Light prickly effervescence coupled with an elegant fluffy dryness. Textbook Saison flavors with lots of complexity: Peach notes accompanied by white grape, mild coconut, lemon zest, and light nuttiness. Light herbal flavors followed by a touch of honey sweetness. Finishes with finesse: Dry and very appetizing like a Saison should be. Arguably the best/most authentic Saison I've had. Only if it had been a bit tangier. I love the fact that this masterful, artisinal brewery is located in a small garage.

Corked and caged bottle pours a cloudy and hazy bright golden-orange color, huge frothy clingy off white head that leaves a sticky lacing in the glass that lasts, fruity lemon and funky yeasty aromas. Fruity sour lemony spicy flavors, peppery finish. Medium bodied with a crisp, super carbonated mouthfeel, this is a spectacular brew.

UPDATED: OCT 31, 2007 2003 (I assume) 750mL bottle. Surprised this brewery’s beers arent rated higher. Pours a hazy, soft fuzzy yellow, with some light whitish greens and some deeper golds swirling around in there. Tons and tons of vigorous white head pour forth from the bottle and perch atop the beer. Aroma of wheat (I guess it would be the spelt), some grassy herbal notes (light mint, thyme, grass concoction). A hint of some fruitiness, quite dry, more like dry pears. Plenty of spicy yeastiness. Flavor is soft, surprisingly, quite dry and earthy, with tons of chewy wheat, lightly peppery yeast on the finish and a pleasing bitterness, just enough to provide some variety in the palate. This stuff drinks like water after you’ve let it breath for a good hour or so (or overnight in my case). Very hydrating and drinkable!! Utmost quality from blaugies, and I’m really excited to try the rest of their beers.