Brooklyn Savoir Faire

I had this beer on tap at Asheleys bar in Ann Arbor, MI tonight with my friend BeerBaron617. It was an either or between this and a Jolly Pumpkin, and considering the Jolly they had on tap was a stout, I went with this one. I we checked the rating before ordering, and only a 78, well... I must say, it is not a great rating!!! I really enjoyed this beer. I wont comment on the looks of it because it was dimly lit in the bar and you never know how someone else pours a beverage....however, the taste was amazing. Very fruity, very tasty! I really would like to have this again!

Tap. After finally figuring out which beer this was, because all they called it was the brewmaster’s reserve, but there are three of those. Enjoyed this beer but would call it average.

Warning: What you are about to drink may leave an irreparable smile on your face for hours on end.

My glass practically shone with her crystalline amber-orange depths. A gentle crown of white rests comfortably atop her kingdom. Her nose is rich and thick with sour yeast and piping hot sourdough bread while spice, coriander, and cinnamon grab my nose firmly in their grip. Softening her punch are a medley of sweet summer fruits; orange, orange peel, apples, and melon while delicate honey sweetens her song. A fine brew to sit and breathe in for minutes at a time, but why only smell it when I can also taste it. Sweet and thick right up front just like her nose. Creamy soft bananas and warm sour-dough create a very full mouthfeel and body while lemon zest, cinnamon, and orange peel dance merrily atop my tastebuds. She is a bit on the cold side still, and I have a feeling her forwardness may mellow a bit with some warmth. In the meantime, delicate honey coats while more creamy bananas fill each meaty quaff. Crunchy apples sprinkled with brown sugar, especially their skins, linger in my breath. As she warms, so do I, as her alcohol warmth slowly seeps into my being. Like a thick blanket, I snuggle up close to my Savoir Faire. Now that she is at proper temperature, her almost bullish straight-forward nature has mellowed into a smooth balance of thick sour yeasts, brown sugars and spice, crunchy and delicate spring fruits with a sweet honey underbelly. Perfection. My recommendation to anyone about to embark on their own journey with the Brooklyn Savoir Faire is to give her plenty of time to warm up.

Another fine Brewmaster’s Reserve release from Brooklyn Brewery. She almost didn’t fare as well as she did because she comes in hot and heavy when right off the draft thanks unfortunately to too cold of a body temperature. With a few patient minutes though, as her body temperature warms to a succulent level, everything comes together beautifully.

3/25/2009: Brooklyn Savoir Faire is a well-balanced, soft, and really easy to drink brew. It is strong, leans towards the sweet side of things, and others a mouthful of interesting flavors that play nicely together including cherry liquor, hints of bubblegum, sugary cotton candy, yeast (more in the aroma), spicy, and herbal/grassy hops. The overall bitterness is fairly mind and the alcohol will definitely catch up with you quickly if you’re not paying attention. I really enjoyed this beer.

Draught pint at Dilly Deli in Mariemont, Ohio. Rating #52 for this beer.

Draft at MacGregor’s. Light orange, creamy looking head. Nice carbonated mouthfeel. Interesting spicy aroma. More of the same in the palate. The alcohol is a bit present in the palate but masked well. I’d like to try this again. This was very good.

(draft) Medium off-white head atop lightly hazed light amber body. Aroma is moderately sweet, melon, some candi sugar. Taste is moderately sweet, candi sugar, some spice, light alcohol astringency. Low carbonation, sticky medium-full body.

Draft at Dilly Deli in snifter. Poured a hazy copper color with an average white frothy head that lasted and produced good lacing. Moderate yeasty and sweet malty aroma. Medium body with a smooth texture and flat carbonation. Medium yeasty sweet flavor with a smooth citrus sweet finish of average duration. Soft drinkable brew.

on tap at the gingerman. light copper body with a fast fading white head. Seemed a little on the sweet side for my liking. Caramel-like malts seemed to hide any wheat or earthy notes i like wth this style. carbonation was modrate.