Great Divide Saison Farmhouse Ale

Brewed by Great Divide Brewing Company
Style: Saison
Denver, Colorado USA

22oz bottle from Liquid Solutions. Pours a glowing pale yellow with a bright white head. Like funk on the nose as well as some citrus peel and banana, maybe a bit of baking spice in there as well. Faint spice in the flavor with some bright lemony characteristics, some corn on the back end. This brew definitely grew on me as it warmed.

bomber - pale, straw gold with fluffy white head fading quickly; pilsner malt, mild yeast and lemons; stale, grainy, lemons with very minor spice or yeast flavors; incredibly basic and uninteresting; IMO GD has been pumping out way too many new styles lately

This bottled brew from a rating party poured a medium sized head of foamy finely sized white colored bubbles that were long lasting and left behind a hazy typically carbonated yellow-white colored body. The complex aroma was floral malty and farmhouse. The semi-thick mouth feel was tingly at the start and at the finish. The flavor contained notes of a malt backing and soft floral hops. Delicious and one I would certainly like to have again. very nicely done!

This ale pours a light golden with a very light haze and develops a full 2-inch head that is totally white and creamy. The head settles over time into about 1/4 inch. The carbonation is marked but of moderate intensity with very small bubbles. The initial nose makes me think of a pilsner, but the malty and hoppy notes are pushed aside by the expected sour notes of this farm-house ale. The body is medium-light with a pleasant lightly-sour lingering. Definitely an ale for food. The sour notes are more restrained than I expected of a Farmhouse Ale/Saison. The ale is quite tasty. Lacing does form, but is rather moderate. The 7.3% ABV is not noticeable on the palate. I’d try this again, but would first return to some Saisons from Belgium.

In short: A weirdo blond beer with a bunch of “off” flavours that somehow manages to retain a Saison character.
How: Bottle. Consumed fresh a few months after its release. Many sources. This bottle sent to me by Solan. Thanks a lot Alan.
The look: Cloudy blonde body topped by a medium white head
In long: Nose is slightly wild with some bee wax notes. Taste is a bit off, but I did enjoy it because it really has some true Saison character. Elements of the taste include: honeyed cereals, burnt front lawn grass, neutral white bread malts, green apples (but not acetaldehyde), garden flower petals juice, ear wax, a little lemony tartness, corn, dough. Almost sufficiently attenuated with pleasant semi-dryness that for once doesn’t on a spiciness character. Finish has a weird mineral/nickel flavour like sucking on a 5 cents coin. For some reason I cannot put into words I had a hard finishing my bomber, something about the ear wax flavour sticking to my throat. This is not a well crafter beer, I enjoyed it only because I’m a Saison freak and it had a slight Saison character. But I wouldn’t start an argument with a ratebeerian who said this is a bad beer. Unless of course he’s smaller than me and I’m drunk.

shared bomber... pours a bright hazy yellow with a solid white head... some yeast, citrus and light fruit come forward from the nose through the body... a touch of funk, more lemon than anything for me, and a very smooth character throughout... a very drinkable Saison and would be a great entry level for the style. I enjoyed this with dinner and think it pairs well with food rather than on the couch in my hand... but that goes with the style for me. Nice beer... recommend trying this one.

22oz bottle at RSRIZZO’s tasting 8/9/09-Pours a lsightly hazy goldenish yellow with an aroma of yeast and dryness. Taste of the same with some coriander coming thru. This light to medium bodied brew was not bad but a bit dry.

Pours a milky light yellow color. Smells of really clean fruit. Tastes just tart and sour enough. Very clean. Very, very light in profile. I can’t believe its 7.3% alcohol. Doesn’t taste like it. Pretty darn good, but still not a stand out.