Jack Russell Farmhouse Ale

Brewed by Jack Russell Brewing Company
Style: Saison
Camino, California USA

A pleasant surprise was this farmhouse ale. Golden wheat straw yellow. Unfiltered yet quite clear. Organic and crisply toothsome English hops. Bready as well as bitter in the finish. This beer brought together nice components of American, English, and Belgian styles.

Fairly pale golden blonde, small to no head, aromas of lipstick and strawberry. Very soft on the palate, smooth, all most oily, but fairly dry. Sweet and lightly spicy, subdued thyme and faint cinnamon, not very bitter but hops are definitely there...perhaps a little vanilla. This beer was down my throat before I knew what was up, pretty easy drinking and pleasnt, weird that it says brewed in the English tradition on the label though, if anything it reminded me of softer French beers lik Jenlain blonde or St. Druon de Seabourg...

On tap at the 2006 OBF. Pours light yellow/gold, lightly hazy with a white head. Spicy with a nice earthy yeast character and faint sourness in teh finish. Crisp and refreshing finish with a light hopping and mild fruity aftertaste.

On draught at tavern. Light coloured beer with smal head. No lacing. Rich fruity aroma with elements of clove. Full flavour with a spicy finish. This is a true boerhuis bier and I loved it. I went looking for it in bottle.

[2006 - Oregon Brewers Festival] A light amber colored brew with a light head. This was a sweet flavored Belgium style brew. Liked the flavors and this made for a fine brew in the sun. Had a nice malty finish and a great refreshing to drink beer.

Bottled. Hazy golden, near no head. Aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg and raspberries. Medium sweet and medium bodied with clean, rounded mouthfeel. Rather spicy with a somewhat salty finish with medium bitternesss. A good beer, but the malt profile is not on par with the best examples of the style.

A very solid and true to style beer. The label’s, "Brewed in the British Tradition" might explain the lower than expected effervescence. A bit of fruit ester funk not altogether unwelcome. Yeastyness familiar to Du Pont lovers. That pretty much sums it up for me. This could use more attentuation and effervescence but it’s a a good beer. I can’t wait to try this one again so,metime in the future.

750 ml bottle <P> Aroma is very fruity...berry influenced..with cereal grains. A little Boo-berryish. Orange body with a fluffy thumb thick, lasting, white head. Fore is extremely fruity with apple, pear, mild blueberry and some bready/malty notes. Not your typical saison, but it has some of that reserved flavor feel a saison will exhibit. The fruitiness is large and quite a departure from the Saisons I’ve tried, but as a beer it is not at all bad.