Saison Imperiale

Brewed by De Proefbrouwerij
Style: Saison
Lochristi, Belgium

33 cl. IS 0602 stamped on the import label, possibly 2006 vintage. Murky reddish-copper with an enduring half-inch of cream that frosts the glass. Nice aroma of apples and pears baked in brown sugar and earthy-bitterish spices. Flavor is similar, with some light fruity acidity, metal and wheat. Some wood, cinnamon, nutmeg, and gummy notes on the finish. Medium body is smooth and slightly dry.

75cl bottle. Brown-orange color with a good sized off-white head. Tart, funky aroma, with some orange and spice. Almost like a sour flemish-like aroma. The flavor has some sweet caramel, with a biting acidity, and some random funky elements. Definitely displays farmhouse character, whatever that means. A bit sticky on the body. Strange. The mix is interesting, but not exactly doing it for me.

bottle, pours a dark muddy brown with a soft cream head, sour malt aromas with a grainy sour fruit flavor, finish is bitter grapefruit

Some good malt, more then expected really in a saison. Maybe the drakest in colour saison that I have ever seen. Passable, but not at the price I paid, though that is no fault of the beer’s, but of the retailer I got it from.

tasting at GDBTF on 10/18/08. Very nice Saison... soft full body. amber color. yeast and funky aroma. there is more going on in this Saison, then previous ones in the style that I’ve had. a good amount of fruit, spice and some bitterness.

A nice, hazy mahogany-brown with a fairly decent-sized but not too persistent head. Aroma is strong and malty, and has an overtone of fruit, mainly apple. Flavor is rich and fruity, sweet but not cloying, with just a touch of hops and hints of caramel and nutty taste. Finish is smooth and very satisfying.

This is a real farmhouse, the barnyard smell is there and it stays. Active white head that evolves ito some creaminess. Active spice and carbonation, yet it does not detract. Satisfying aftertaste.

Bottle into tulip. I was caught off guard by the amber-brown pour. Some dark fruit and apple aroma up front but finishes with a strong spicy, funky note. Small head that leaves some nice lacing. Flavor is initially too sweet but dries out as I drink more. Pretty flavorful, but seems to be a saison that needs a chance to assert itself hiding inside of a Belgian ale.