Clipper City Heavy Seas Red Sky At Night

Brewed by Clipper City Brewing Co.
Style: Saison
Baltimore, Maryland USA

The aroma is a slightly sweet banana and spice. It pours a clear amber with a quickly fading head. Nice crisp flavor, a touch of sweetness, and a bit of earthiness to finish. Nice and refreshing as the summer months loom, and the bright shiny day moon starts to beat down.

12 oz. bottle...I liked the Heavy Seas Loose Cannon and liked it so I tried this one and liked it even more. A very good saison, light, refreshing, a bit like Golden Monkey but not as rich in flavor. It also has a high level of alcohol which can be masked by its lighter composition.

Bottle (12oz). Shared with biegaman, my bottle. Clear gold, decent frothy off-white head. Moderate yeast/peppery spice aroma, grainy malt, slightly flowery. Taste is quite sweet and floral, soft sweet pungent spice, pungent linger. Pretty thick body, light astringency, moderately spicy/bitter finish. Very nice, not as complex as advertised, but pleasing and soft.

Rated 4/3/06: As the weather begins to gradually become warmer, I find myself looking for those special spring time seasonal beers. I came across this saison at my favorite shop, eager for something that cried sunshine I quickly grabbed a sixer. Poured a very colorful light orange almost copper color into my glass, the steady carbonation quickly produced a thick creamy head. The lacing is moderate, and the head soon diminished to a thin yet creamy layer. I was pleasantly surprised at the presence of the lacing and head considering the higher alcohol content. As this beer warmed up a bit the aroma really took off. A mixture of semi-sweet malts and hoppy bitterness dominate the overall scent which is accented with an earthy affect that I found extremely appealing. The flavor is right in line with the aromas that are given off. Malty and considerably hoppy the flavor is complex at first but gives way to a simplicity that is difficult to explain. There is a peppery flavor that seems to lead to hints of citrus and cloves. The mouthfeel is fresh. The malts create a smooth finish that is surprisingly full. I really started to enjoy this saison once it warmed up a bit. The high ABV only made it’s presence known as I exhaled, a real nice effect. Truly an enjoyable beer, and a great cure for spring fever.

Pours a shockingly clear yellowy color with very little head. This sucker looks a lot like a pale lager but fortunately smells like a saison. Some funky yeasty notes in the aroma with a bit of allspice. Flavor is surprisingly fruity, like banana fruity. Almost heffeweizen fruity with a spicy finish and a fairly smooth and unsaisony mouthfeel. I can drink stuff like this all day, even if it is mediocre.

On tap @ Coles Buffalo NY. Golden color with medium carbonation. Much sweeter than previous saisons. Spicy & alcohol well hidden. Wouldnt really classify as a saison but I Like this

A nice golden yellow color with very little head that disappears quickly. The nose is complex fruit, maybe orange, with sweetness and malts. The flavor follows with nuttiness and fruits with the sweet maltiness really showing up midpalate. Nice beer and the alcohol is nicely hidden.

Thanks to Ron, on tap at the Vintage Estates. Mild perfumy flowery smell. Ubiquitous pale yellow american beer color. A few stream of carbonation. Head is white and fades to a froth. Taste reminds me of a more refined belgian. Easy to drink, the flavor is well behaved, you’d never know initially that this is 8%. Thin sheer lacing. No hop bitterness. Finish is a refrain of smooth complexity. Overall a nice fun to drink saison.