Free State Coeur de Saison

Draft, served with Dessert at the Free State 19th Anniversary Beer Banquet. Pour is a hazy dark yellow, with a nice white head. Aroma of malt, earthiness and sweet-candy yeast. Taste is really nice, solid malt backbone with highlights of spicy earthiness and the faint sweet candy flavor. Medium palate, that had the nice grainy Saison body. I probably could have done with this being a touch drier, and bit less sweet, but that’s my personal preference in Saison. This one was really well done.

On tap at the brewpub. Pours a hazy, dark amber with a lasting, dense head of tiny ivory bubbles. The nose is of bright citrus, pale malt, a light, fruity spiciness and a faint, sweet candy-sugar note in the background. Light to medium-bodied with soft, yet lively carbonation and a quick, dry finish. Lightly spicy and yeasty, the flavor is less citrus-forward and less sweet than the nose, but otherwise follows its lead; all of the components are quite well integrated. An enjoyable Saison that’s certainly worth trying for any fan of the style.

On tap at the brewpub. Pours dark hazy amber with a small head. The aroma is rich and fruity with heavy malt and light spice. Medium body with a grainy feel and mild sharp carbonation. The flavor starts quite rich with light earth, rich fruitiness and grainy spice. The finish is crisp and lightly sour with a spicy bite. A nice American attempt at the style.

On tap at the brewpub. Poured cloudy yellow with a thick white head. Aroma was banana, bubble gum, clove, and sweet belgian yeast. Flavor was sweet original bubble gum, belgian yeast, some banana, and lots of spice. Overall it was a little too sweet, but was still a solid brew. Had a dry finish.

On tap at the brewpub. Hazy yellow with a stiff white head. Lots of fruity, banana, bubble gum esters. Very light spicey notes. All the same in the flavor, with some wheaty character. Sweet finish. Its okay.

On tap.
Pours a hazy orange-golden hue -- a bit darker than usual for a saison. Thin, tight white head forms and sticks around for a while, leaving rings of lace around the rim with each sip. Flavor is an intense burst of lemon citrus, floral, herbs & spices, earthy hops with a mild-to-medium hop bitterness, a tiny dash of pepper, and a partridge in a pair tree. Remarkably creamy palate slides right down the back of the throat -- not at all what I was expecting. Quite an excellent session brew.

Multiple samples, GABF 2006. Body is hazy light yellow. Aroma is lightly to moderately malty (toasted bread, cookie), with notes of apple and honey. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, lightly to moderately bitter. Medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation. Expected a little more out of Free State, but it just didn’t come together. It’s not overly sweet, which is good, but the aroma doesn’t really make me think of saisons.

Draft... GABF ’06... Hazy yellow ale with no head. Fruity nose of lemon, apricot and mandarin orange. Well-balanced, woodsy flavor. Lots of funk; no sweetness. Light to medium-bodied with a raspy mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Lengthy, lightly tangy, mildly bitter, dry finish.