Ballast Point Brother Levonian Saison

Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company
Style: Saison
San Diego, California USA

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.

Clear amber with a frothy head. Grainy wheat malt/ spicy aroma. Medium body. Flavor mirrors the aroma with tart wheat meshed nicely with a Saison spice lineup. Not too bad. Draft @ O’ Brians SD.

Sample @ the brewery in Linda Vista. Pours a glowing golden orange with a foamy white head that left good lacing. Lots of citrus fruits and yeast on the nose. A good balanced finish with powerful yeasty backbone.

On-tap at Stone 5/16/08. Pours orange yellow with a big white head and ok retention. Smells crisp and clean malty, slight citrus aromas as well. Tastes malty and yeasty with some bread, some very faint hops and metallic flavors as well. Medium body, vibrant carbonation, coats the mouth a bit.

On tap at O’brien’s. This great summer beer pours with a golden-orange body topped by a medium thick to thick head with lots of lacing. It’s sweet and malty with a nice grassy note, some clove and a light fruitiness. Light bodied, smooth and a touch dry. A very nice beer to commemerate the late, great Dave Levonian. You will be missed.

On draft at O’Briens. Arrives a slightly hazy golden color with a large white head. Nice floral and bready aroma, with hints of banana and tropical fruits, light spice and herb. Pleasant, well balance saison flavors, nice floral and spicy notes, bready yeasts, toast and unripe fuits. Medium body and gentle carbonation.

On tap at Stone, during 1st day of San Diego Storm. Yellow color. Great clean saison aroma. I think the aroma is more from the yeast and high temperatures rather than corriander, though I am tempted to say corriander. Similar to Carnevale.