Craftsman Saison

(Draft: O’Brien’s in San Diego, CA) Not a big fan of saisons -- YET -- but I really find drinking this one to be an unpleasant experience. Poured with half an inch of off-white head, and within 30 seconds, the head had completely dissipated. Very spicy nose, strong ginger, and I hate to say this, but something in here is vaguely reminiscent of me leaving a container of food out for a few days and then opening it. The flavor is dominated by strong ginger and spices. It seems a bit salty to me as well. Some slight bubblegum. Pale golden color is fully clear. I’m not a fan of ginger, so I naturally don’t like this beer much. But then again, I didn’t like any of the beers I drank tonight, so maybe my palate’s just in one of those ornery moods. I’ll retry again next time I see it.

The aroma had flowers, spice, slight wood and vinious notes, and alcohol esters. The flavor had nutmeg, flowers, and wood notes. The beer poured a yellow color w/ thin lasting head and lacing. The mouthfeel was light and carbonated.

Draft: Orange with brilliant clarity. Voluptuously dense, white foam slowly settles. Enormously estery nose of lavender, perfumey phenols, and peppery yeast. Light bodied with a dense sparkle of bubbles. Initially slippery tart and rounded with coarsely herbal underpinnings. Myriad of buttery lavender and an herbaceous, dryly leafy yeast blend. Trace melon softness touched with lightly spiced apple acidity and perfume. Interesting in that it’s virtually devoid of phenolic esters and hop character, unlike the aroma. Center is replete with white lavender, which counters the sweet malts. Lightly woody finish stimulates the palate alongside a fusion of peppery dryness and gritty yeast. Once this is retooled (less lavender) and bottle-conditioned, you just watch the heads turn. This is already a classic as far as I’m concerned.

Juniper, soap, wild flowers, honey, cloves, cinnimon and other mulling spices in the nose. Crear gold body with a white head that faded into fringe. Doughy mouthfeel with tons of sweet juniper and everything else in the nose, plums, honeycomb, spicey yeastieness and a long peppery finish.

draft at stone 8th ann: poured with slight golden haze and white clumpy head. tangy grapefruit rustic nose and floral behemoth eyes of spice kids. full of soft lucious bosomy fruit apples, pears and pecans in the back ground. a tart smartee foundation with sweet wisper. pretty f’n good. and i must commend crafsman for making a saison. nobody else could touch this at the festival with there basic ipa, pale ale, styles.

sampled at the Stone 8th Anniversary party I really enjoyed this saison. extremely complex, highly drinkable, with all sorts of fruitiness & spiciness going on. Great beer

This saison pours with a cloudy golden body, topped by a medium thick head with good lacing. The aroma is slightly sweet yet bitter and full of cloves and flowery notes. The flavor is very spicy (cloves) with a slight sweetness and a lot of bitterness. This brew was just to flowery for me. Light to medium bodied, smooth and slightly dry.

Light orange color. Large head. Aroma is yeasty, fruity and sweet. A medium bodied saison. Malts are fruity and sweet. Touch of barnyard funkiness. Very smooth taste. Light and refreshing. Nice crisp dry finish. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is crisp and dry. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.