Imperial Cherry Saison
i'm not sure what to make of this one's appearance, but it looks pretty cool to me right now, so i think i'll give it the benefit of the doubt and find at least one redeeming quality here. white feet on the beer. hazy pinkish orange in the middle and white head on top that holds pretty well, turns to spotty clumpy chunks on top of the beer and leaves some nice lace on the glass. smell is interesting. cherry soda with a hint of smokey, woody campfire in the background. also picking up some clove and pepper and spice. taste is where it goes downhill for me. i can understand the need to experiment and create new twists, but aging a saison on oak staves and adding cherries doesn't seem to work. fantome messes around with the original saison formula and comes up with beers that are unique but still saison first and foremost. this is like someone put out a fire in a cherry coke factory with clove and pepper beer. it just isn't working for me. nice long finish, but the flavors aren't ringing my pleasure bells. a little prickly, but not from over carbonation. i think it's kind of hot boozewise. sort of hard to drink. good effort, but i'll pass on another one.