Farmhouse Summer Ale
Brown, 12oz. NR poured into a tulip glass. A: Beer is a deep golden amber color with a slight haze and a nice, frothy one-finger head that hangs around for a bit and leaves a generous amount of lacing. Active carbonation is noticeable S: Mostly bready malts with a hint of Belgian yeast, some spice, and a trace of a somewhat undesirable ester that I can't put my finger on. A whiff of alcohol is noticeable despite the low ABV. T: Husky grains, sweet malts, and lemony-citrus hops are blended together subtly in such a way as none really hit you over the head. Finish is long, slightly bitter and pleasantly sour. M: Light-bodied and light on the palate. Mouthfeel is a little soft for this style. I'd prefer a bit more crispness and bite for a summer thirst-quencher. D/O: Drinkability is quite good for this beer, despite its flaws and straying from a true Saison. My summer party guests enjoyed it immensely, but I was let down with the bottled version after having had it on tap during Philly Beer Week. My recollections were of a beer that had much more crispness, sweetness, and bite. What came in the bottle was just a bit simple for my tastes. I'm hoping I just got a bad run, and I'll probably give this another try next summer.