Clipper City Heavy Seas Red Sky At Night

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

A redish gold color reminsent of apple juice with a small off-white head. Aroma is sweet and inviting. Taste is very smooth and very sweet. Fruity goodness!

Unlike typical offerings of the style, this one came in a six pack of 12 oz. bottles. Hazy pale yellow color with a ton of streamers and a large egg shell head made this look the part of a classic Saison. The aroma was more hoppy than anticipated, with a spicy, citric smell, more typical of an IPA, than a Belgian style. There was also a background of perfumey, alcoholic, earthy smells. The taste was light, spicy, and citric, and dry, but not quite as dry as other Saisons. Very delicious and quenching, and a good approachable take on the style.

12oz pour from variety pack into a Chimay glass. Nice white head that disappeared quickly but left plenty of lacing and stickiness. Looks like a tripel with a cloudy golden/yellow color. Nose of Belgian yeast spiciness. Nice little whiff of hops. Tastes more like a tripel than a Saison but that is no put down. This beer is very good and very well balanced with spice, malt and slight choppiness. Finish is dry similar to many tripels. A great beer from Maryland that would pass as authentic in Belgium. I would love to know which yeast was used in this. A very versatile Belgian beer. No hint that it is 8%.

This one doesn’t get a lot of love but I think it’s a great, easy drinking and refreshing brew. I’m actually reviewing an 18 month old bottle. Cloudy gold with a nice white head. Apple and pear spiced aroma with cinnamon, clove, honey, ginger and wheat notes. Nicely acidic apple taste with raw grains and funk. Surprising complexity with lots of light fruit and bread tastes. Really delicious, and ages like a dream.

I never had a Saison Ale before, so I don’t know what makes a good one, but I got this at the Friar Tuck’s in Champaign, IL in one of those "Build Your Own Six Packs" for $7.99 and this was a delightful surprise. Not a real heavy beer, but good taste and nice smell.

Clear, golden amber appearance with an average size head and very good lacing. Yeasty aroma, spicy, sweet malts, fruity. Moderately hopped taste with a lot of residual sweetness and threaded with fruity esters and spices. Smooth, medium-bodied, decently carbonated mouthfeel with a herbal finish that is a little drier than at the start.

12oz brown bottle purchased as part of a multi-pack at Florian’s. Translucent yellow-amber body with a good half inch of off-white head. Smells fruity, nutty and spicy (nutmeg, cinnamon?). Apricot, nut, and spice play equal parts in the flavor. While the sweetness can be overwealming at times, it’s still pretty tasty, and there is no alcohol flavor and no real flaws to speak of. Medium creamy body. A solid brew, though unlike most saisons I’ve encountered.

Bottle sampled with Stegosaurus. Pours hazy golden with a white head. Aroma of sweetness, citrus, fruit. Flavor is smooth and enjoyable, although it is weak i loved this brew.