On draft at Hamilton’s. Appearance is a murky bright orange hue, fair amount of white foam dissipates to a ring, watery lacing. Smell is a delicious range of fruits and spices, honeysuckle, orange blossom, light malts, honey, cotton candy, hints of cinnamon, pepper, light fruits, and hops. Taste is an initial push of sweet malts and fruits and spice, opens up to sweet honey and vanilla, finishes thick and sweet. Medium-bodied, fairly thick texture, lively carbonation a touch on the high side. Drinkability is high, this is one flavorful saison bursting with taste and amazing aromas, great example of the style.

Sample at San Diego Brewing Company. This beer is the same recipe as San Diego’s Summer Lover. The beer is a clear golden color with a thin off-white head that dissipates quickly. Thin rings of lacing. The aroma is sweet bananas, spices and yeast. Light-bodied with a soft and sweet mouthfeel. Fruity and spicy with notes of bananas and clove, as well as some yeast and malt. The finish is fruity with a lingering spice aftertaste. Pretty good all around.

On draft at San Diego Brewery. Nice banana and citrus aroma and flavor. A well balanced saison, good flavor.

On tap at the San Diego County Fair Craft Beer Festival. I showed up a bit late, so I may have had the last runnings of this beer. Overall, not a totally pleasing experience. Hazy yellow color that emitted little carbonation and no head formation. Aroma was caustic cleaning fluid with lemon and orange citrus. Flavor has a malty base like a tripel, but I failed to recognize any good Saison character here. Metallic tang with a bit of vegetable in the background. Yeasty biscuit notes hang on the palate. Maybe it wasn’t fresh, I’ll have to try it again sometime.

Best Saison I’ve ever had. After hearing the touching story about the man who came up with the recipe it just added to the greatness this beer is. Stunning complexity and elegance. Saisons can being very strait and narrow, this one wonders but you always have a feel like it’s on course. It’s worth seaking out if you can find it on tap.