3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 14/20
Tasted on 12/31/10 from a 16oz can purchased at Discount Liquor, I don’t see any indication of when this was brewed or canned. Pours hazy bright orange with a very thick and bubbly white head that that slowly recedes to rocky and uneven lace. The nose is fruity saison yeast with some apricot, black pepper, and somewhat sweet malt. This is undoubtedly a saison. The flavor is apricot and sweet malt up front, moving to some earthiness and black pepper spice, and finishing with just a bit of hops bitterness. The body is medium with lively carbonation, and a long bitter and black pepper finish.
3.2 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 2/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
"Fizzy yellow beer from a can" not much you can argue with there. However, as they go on to explain, the flavors and unexpected complexities come out of no where. Not the best beer from Surly, but a classic, extremely sessionable beer with above average flavors.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 13/20
Can to glass. Pours a beautiful amber/orange color with a lingering white head. Aroma is of citrus peels, slightly floral and a little spice. The taste follows the aroma perfectly. Yet another great beer by the Minnesota legends at Surly.
2.9 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 2/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20
From notes:
Pours a clear light golden orange color with a thin foamy off-white head that immediately fades leaving no lacing.
Bland aroma with little more than some earthy hops and light crisp fruit notes.
Medium bodied with hints of honey, floral notes, light crisp fruit such as apple, pear apricot and peach. Slightly spicy with hints of pepper and lemon zest as well as a subtle hop presence and a nice malt backbone. Dry finish. The flavor of this beer was surprising considering how unimpressive the appearance and nose were but I would pass on this one again.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
Pours a soft amber gold with one finger of tight laced white head. Nose is rich and yeasty, fresh baked bread and earthy Belgian esters with a hint of citrus rind and wet hay. Flavor shows citrus zest for sure with a citrusy bitterness that borders on astringent and some earthy notes. Palate is definitely dry but shows a bit less carbonation than I’d like.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
My Bottom Line:
Talkative cereals meet banana esters, spicy, green hop and their bitterness for soft and highly drinkable Saison attempt.
Further Personal Perceptions:
-A slice of foam floats atop the clear gold.
-This is far from being authentic, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy my glass.
-Mild citrusy fruitiness adds depth.
-The effervescent carbonation remains pleasant on the palate, avoiding prickliness.
-The malts build a fluffy body which is highly pleasurable.
Can.
3.3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Can. Leftovers from Summer Santa 10. My favorite style, now from a can. Radical. Pours mildly hazy orange/pale amber. Thine white head, not much lacing to speak of. Nose is Belgian yeast, candy and citrus, some bananas and spice. Flavours of peaches, light hop bitterness, very fresh and tasty. Were this available locally, it could easily be my go-to beer. Sadly this is not the case, so I will savor it. Nice stuff.
4.1 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
On tap at the Bavarian Lodge in Lisle, IL
A: Golden with a nice white head.
S: Some pepper notes and a little bit of other spices thrown in. A little bit of earthiness with some subtle fruit undertones.
T: Much like the nose, with a little bit more earthiness coming through.
M: Plenty of carbonation; light-bodied.
D: A little bit much to be too drinkable, but the complexity brought me back for more.
Serving type: on-tap
Reviewed on: 10-01-2009
|
