Bison Farmhouse Ale

Brewed by Bison Brewing Company
Style: Saison
Berkeley, California USA

My Bottom Line:
This authentic and delicate Saison offers bready yeast notes within the hay-like malt, balanced out by citrusy, herbal hops and their bitterness.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A veil of foam tops the nearly clear pale gold.
-This is clean and absurdly drinkable; a great representation of the style’s original intent.
-The noble hops offer levelled bitterness.
-After North Coast’s stunning Le Merle, this Saison had no choice but to appear servile. That said, it still remains a finely quenching pint.

Bottle.

bottle 2006: a huge pop from the bottle when opened. extreemly large white head that sinks in the middle, very fluffy and a live. ;lacing is very thick. this sits atop a golden light cooper body. aroma is a little funky and shrub like, a sorta sweet malt in the back. an off spiceynes and earth. the flavour is a bit watery and a slight wheat malt a sticky earthy shrub adn a slight bitter finish. an off after taste. 5/4/5/2/14 scores


bottle 07: pours a vey nice golsen hay colour with a medium sized white head that deminishes to a thin line. aroma is a sweet wheat smell with a slight orange and other fresh fruit. small amount of yeast. flavour is spicey and yeasty with some biter citrus peel, wheat malt . finishes sry and bitter as it warms this beer is very good.
rating is bsed on the 07

2006 version pours a hazy amber body with a large vanilla head. Aroma is yeasty and earthy with spicy notes of coriander and white pepper and a hint of strawberry. Medium body with a velvety carbonation. Taste is dry, herbal, and yeasty. Some coriander adds a spicy dimension and a vague fruitiness suggests unripe strawberries. Not bad. One of the better American saisons but pedestrian compared to many European examples.

Bottle. Aroma has light straw, moderate herbs, heavy earth and cobwebs, and a spice like clove or nutmeg or both. Head is huge, rocky, white with good lacing and is fully lasting. It is murky amber/light iced tea colored. It’s lighty sweet and moderately acidic to start, then finishes moderately acidic and bitter. Palate is medium, between watery and creamy, between lively and fizzy in carbonation, and has a dry and chalky finish. I liked the crispness of this saison. The Belgian yeast gives this beer it’s identity, without it, it would probably be an average tasting beer.

Pours cloudy light golden with a mostly receding off-white head. Aroma of sour citrus, banana, and tart lactic acid. Tastes fairly sweet with notes of wheat, orange peel and pepper. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied, tart with soft, fine carbonation.

Not what I was expecting. Aroma was decent. Ginger ale, must and spices. Pour was a light somewhat cloudy gold with a pillowy white 2 finger head that doesn’t stay around long. Taste was very odd. Pretty strong for a saison in my opinion. Ginger, peach and dill (yes as in pickles) are the major players with a hint of yeast and a spicy aftertaste. NIce beer, not a great saison.

Bottled. An unclear orange beer with a thin beige head. The aroma is sweet malty with notes of spices and peaches. The flavor is sweet malty with notes of peaches and spices among them ginger, leading to a dry and slightly spicy finish.

Cloudy yellow colour with a white head. Fruity sweet aroma with a spicy/ herbal note. Fruity and spicy flavor with a light yeasty note.