Flying Fish Farmhouse Summer Ale

Bottle. Pours a light golden hazy body with a white head. A well spiced hop beer. With sweet esters of banana and apple. Easy drinking and lightly herbal.

Golden color with a taller off-white to aged paper colored head. Pale and toasted malt, light citrus, and some hints of earthy, green herbal hops. This one does not seem right at all. I catch some stomach acid from the start that throws everything else off. I catch more earthy hops and some chalky malt, but I still have some inundation of un-pleasantries. It does seem to diminish over time, but I still have the thoughts in the back of my mind and hesitate with each sip. A somewhat metallic feel in the finish and linger. I’m thinking that the sour mash process did not do tis one favors.

12oz bottle served in a flute-ish glass. Clear golden body topped by some decent foam. Smell is bland and watery, not saison like at all, maybe some lemon or citrus. Not much taste, bland malt, once again lacking saison phenolics and esters. Does leave some nice sheets of lace however. Looks good but doesn’t have much of a flavor. Avoid.

This is easily flying fish’ best seasonal offering throughout the year. Light, refreshing psuedo-saison makes a good choice for the summer. It is what it is. If you are looking for an inaccessable hard to find saison that is not going to satisfy the masses, look elsewhere.

Date: 08/26/08, 12 oz. bottle

Aroma - Honey, light toasted grain, few earthy notes, distant spice

Appearance - Clear gold, rather meager foamy white head that collapses rapidly, without much lace

Flavor - Light malty sweetness barely comes into play, as a soft bitterness starts quickly, and continues into a pleasing dry finish.

Palate - Light body, medium carbonation, crisp and dry, leaving a very clean palate

Overall - Pleasant enough for a refresher, but without much depth or interest. Fairly bland for a saison.

Bottle - This bottle had more hefe character than Saison. I liked the beer as it had the refreshing qualities from the what and a soft bite from the hops. A real mix of flavors here. Very refreshing.

Tastes crisp and fresh. Fresh apple and sour yeasty notes in the aroma. The mothfeel is thin and lacks the body that I was hoping for with this farmhouse style beer. Would be a delicious beverage for a hot summer day and went pretty well with my Ethiopian food.

This was probably the best summer ale that I have tasted. It had a nice color to it and didn’t lack on flavor like alot of them. Flying fish puts out good stuff.