Clipper City Heavy Seas Red Sky At Night

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

Best before August 2006. Clear, golden body with a half-inch of moderately sized bubbles. Fruity, slightly wheaty aroma of bananas, pineapples, wheat bread, light hops, light sugar and a touch of coriander. The body is much fuller than I would have guessed from the appearance. The carbonation was soft and rather supple on the tongue. The flavor is enjoyable and rather complex. The fruity esters and candi sugar lead to a higher sweetness than expected. The spiciness and light malt are nice together. The hoppiness could be a little more definited and a little more complex and it would make this much more enjoyable for my tastes. Good, but a little sweet.

Sampled at the Pizza Port 9th Strong Ale Festival, thanks to whomever opened a bottle of this at the "ratebeer" table. Sweet banana coriander aroma and flavor, light fruity and tart. A nice departure from some of the aggresive tastes availabe at the festival. Not bad.

12 oz bottle-bright orange with a very small soapy topping. Big ginger, spice and with some grainy malt undertones. some faint tobacco notes as well. pretty nice nose from an american version of the style. flavors are a little lite and on the grainy side. The finish is firmly tart with a nice drying feel on the tongue. the 8% is nowhere to be found. body is crisp and sweet. Makes for a very good session belgian beer if you ask me. Nice!

Lightly hazy, golden ale with a small, creamy, white head. Spicy aroma with notes of pear, coriander, banana and bubblegum. Fruity, spicy flavor as well. Baked, spiced pear and warm cinnamon-apple cobbler. Medium-bodied with medium carbonation. Short, spicy, sweet finish.

Golden blond with a small white head. Aroma seems very wit-like to me, but has an odd straw and fruit mix to it. Not as funky or "natural" as a Belgian saison. But not bad either. Taste is predominantly fruit, an odd spice I can’t detect, yeast and a hint of alcohol. It’s only now that I realize it is over 8%. Mouthfeel is slightly carbonated but very smooth and drinkable. Finish is a bit grainy and spicy. Good beer, nonetheless!

This saison pours with a deep golden body topped by a thick slightly off-white head with a good amount of lacing. The aroma is slightly sweet yet bitter, flowery and grassy with a slight sourness and a nice spiciness, as well as, a touch of citrus. The flavor is slightly sweet and citrusy with a bitter grassy undertone with notes of flowers and spice. Light bodied, tingly on the tongue and dry.

Filtered gold with light head and lacing, low carbonation for the style. The aroma is medicinal with hops but floral with yeast. Well rounded body and very yeasty citrus flavors. Ends a bit disapointing and clean. Not too bad. I could go for another of these.

Gold, with a small head of white, slightly creay. No lacing really, just a couple of spots. Aromas of citrus, mostly orange, but there is some lemon. Coriander and some floral hops spice it up a bit. There is a sourdough aroma, a bit funky and yeasty. Strong coriander in the flavor. Citrus right behind that. Lemons more here. There is a creamy maltiness abundant. Finishes smooth with a bitter bite. Not too bad.