Clipper City Heavy Seas Red Sky At Night

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

bottle - Pours golden and clear with fine bubbles and a thin head. The aroma is of yeast, malt, and maybe a hint of flowers. The flavor is mildly sweet with very little hops presence. There’s yeast and hint of fruit. The body is moderately thick and lively on the tongue. I wouldn’t have guessed this is 8% ABV. It’s not a great brew, but it’s pretty good.

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.

Sparkling gold color that hold up a nice white head. Dusty spice aroma. Lightly sweet citrus flavor with a tangy finish. Dry spiciness overall.

Festive, fruity and spicy aroma, some light bubblegum and banana esters combined with gentler notes of coriander, pear, pineapple, white grape, light brown sugar, pepper, mint and a touch of soft floral sweetness. Medium golden color, lightly hazy (bottle conditioned) with a slight head. Flavor profile is likewise sweet, fruity, spicy and peppery with hints of alcohol towards the long, herbal, malty, slightly vinous and warming finish. Candi sugar is quite apparent throughout. Medium-full body, mouthfeel is smooth and lightly syrupy. Actually pretty tasty, though certainly not going to fool anyone into thinking it’s Belgian, as has been pointed out by others. Thanks to TAR and cb for this rare and interesting ale. Not too many American brewers have an 8%+ summer seasonal.

My first though upon seeing the bottle was definite interest as I have liked most of the saisons I have tried. Only when I got home did I notice that this was a Clipper City product. This had me rather crestfallen as I have not been particularly impressed with this company. Never the less I opened the bottle. Sampled from your typical 12 oz bottle the beer poured a medium golden color with a large tan head. A sweet malt aroma with a hint of hops graced the nose. So far so good. The flavor was very sweet and fruity with a tangy fruit aftertaste. Quite pleasant and redeems the brewer somewhat in my eyes.

Bottle courtesy decaturstevo. Pours gold with a thick and lacy white head. Tart lemon spice aroma. Medium body and subdued carbonation. The taste is lemon, sweet bread, and a dash of fruit. Dry spicy finish. Seems to be sort of an imperial saison??

12 oz. bottle - Pours a slightly hazy golden color with a small white head. Very little lacing. Aroma is bready malt, yeast, and esters. Flavor is sweet malt, spice, and esters. Medium body. A pretty nice Saison.

On tap @ Brew Kettle: Clear golden colored pour with a white head. Aroma, sticky and sweet, some fruits. Flavor, light fruits, caramel and pale malts. This was unlike any saison I’ve ever had. Not that I was expecting much, but this wasn’t very good.