Bison Organic Honey Basil

Brewed by Bison Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Berkeley, California USA

This looked interesting on the shelf. Aroma was different, with the basil aroma coming through. It was somewhat medicimal. Poured a clear copper color with a light head that disappeared to a fine lace on the edge. The basil is there, that’s for sure. Light malty toffie in the flavor. Mouth feel was satisfactory. I wonder if the honey held the basil back. Worth a try!

Pours copper with a thin white head. Smells of ginger, honey, caramel, earthy. Tastes of licorice, caramel, tarte, honey, earthy, some citrus. Refreshing.

Spicy smell. Malty with a small basil kick. Gives way to a final touch that is sugary sweet.

Bottle. Poured clear amber with thin to medium white head. Almost no lacing. Aroma of malt and basil. Much basil in the flavour, with some honey notes. Middle of the tongue finish. Good to try, but for me, not to make a habit of. Good on warm day.

12oz. bottle courtesy of Doboy. Clear amber pour producing a medium off white head that settles to a thin layer which persists to the end of the glass, but leaves little lace. The basil, while not overpowering, is hard to miss. There are some light floral aromas layered over a base of caramel. Medium body, softly carbonated, smooth and a bit syrupy. Toffee like sweetness dominates, with just the faintest bitterness to take the edge off. The vegetal flavors from the basil are omnipresent. If you like basil, which I do, this isn’t bad. It’s certainly different, and not everyone’s cup of tea.

Very intersting, the honey basil comes across slightly as an estery sweetness, like from a Belgian yeast, but the overall body is very peppery and herbal.

12 oz bottle says 6.0% abv. Clear and shiny amber-copper with a small disc of a head. Aromas of earthy vegetable and spicy-sweet grain. Flavor is similar, with more caramel and a peppery spiciness that I would have identified as rye rather than basil. Light-medium body is spicy tingly and dryish, with smooth carbonation and good drinkability. Interesting beer with nice soft touches on the honey and basil.

Hazy golden coloured body with tints of orange and amber, along with a super-sized dense, frothy white head. Very nice appearance! Aroma of subtle spices, malt, wheat, yeast and hops. Not really much basil to smell from this one, probably a good thing, but more honey and malt, coupled with yeast than anything else. Medium to Full-bodied; Strong potent wheat and yeast tastes along with spices (coriander seed is in this one, it seems) and hops. Afteraste, some of the basil and honey seem noticeable after the sip in a pleasant (non-vegetal) way - a very nice treat and somehow, remarkably done! Overall, a pretty good beer, odd to see the label - but much better than it sounds when you see it in the store! Worth picking up if you like some of the better herb/spice category and if you can find it! I sampled this 65 cL bottle purchased from a small wine & beer store in Richmond, Virginia on 05-November-2006.