McKenzie Avec Les Bons Voeux

Formerly brewed at McKenzie Brew House
Style: Saison
Glen Mills, Pennsylvania USA

(750ml bottle brought to VA from the brewery by jeffin7 the day I tried it) Cloudy golden body with white head. Aroma is medium sweet, strong banana, some clove, lemon, light pepper. Taste is medium sweet, banana, clove, pepper. Bubbly light-medium head. Enjoyable, but the banana was too strong.

2003 Vintage. Poured a medium, hazy golden color with an averaged sized white head. Aromas of lemon peel, oranges and some yeast. Tastes of lemons, light grass, light apples, and other light fruits. Very lightly tart finish. Lively body that leaves on a dry note. Never would have guessed it was 9% (other than feeling tipsy after drinking it on an empty stomach!). I really enjoyed this one.

Remarkable golden hue, cloudy. Decent lacing occurs amongst the white foam, initially big, but swiftly switching to a ring state. Not quite Dupont’s, but this aroma has a kick for sure. Mellow alcohol supervises over a grainy (good grains) and peppery, foresty dry-hopped meadow. Yeast component is very strong, serious complexity, it just doesn’t have Dupont’s serenity, less expressive malts, less biting, resinous, jungle-like hops, less general fluffiness. I’d still drink this almost anywhen. Good white peppery yeast, quite bitter, definitely very dry. Has a good biscuity malt backbone, but you mostly feel it rather than taste it. Creamy texture, strong carbonation, full bodied. Efficient and lovely. Who’d guess this is from Pennsylvania?

Sampled at the March 25th Tosa Gathering, courtesy of BBB63: Pours a hazy golden bronze with a frothy and well-lacing white head. Great authentic bready Belgian yeasty aroma with sweet banana mustiness and a touch of lemon citrus with a green, earthy floral character. Starts semi-sweet, full and bready with good yeasty esters and a touch of tartness toward the well-balanced, crisp finish. A great authentic and flavorful saison. It’s a shame they aren’t bottling anymore. Many thanks for sharing Mike!

The Lure:
Black pepper rains on the wooden house. The wafts of dough and flour seeping through the windows indicate that something scrumptious must be cooking within.

The Festivities:
Bread dough and subtle citrus fruit lie smoothly before white pepper and yeast bitterness adheres to the surging pine hop bitterness. Coherent, authentic, and just another great example of Belgian heritage brewed by Sir Morrison.

Transcendence:
How I wish more breweries would concoct such a Christmas gift.

Sampled from a bottle thanks to jeffin7. Murky gold and orange colored body, 1/2 inch thick white head. Lemon creame full on in the nose with some yeast esters, light a bit empty up front, but makes up for it later on... spritzy and lightly frothy pineapple (someone said this, so of course I then smelled it), rich and moderately high alcohol notices, very good, very sticky, very chewy. A great saison with a bit of age taste but still tastes remarkable.

March Tosa Tasting ala BBB63 via DocLock. Hazy golden color with a lid of off white bubbles. Sweeter aromas that impinge on being a triple, with mild light fruit, cloves, white pepper and back drop of roses. Aroma does dry out as it warms. Aroma is deceiving as the liquid is much drier and certainly more saison like. Mild honey which has set in the bark and gathered cobwebs. Spicy and herbal finish.

Thanks to myself for buying this last weekend. Pours cloudy gold with brobdingnagian head and lace all oer the place. Aroma of candi sugar, hopcit, fruit, yeast, Brett, perfumy florals, barnyard essence, female perineum. Great aroma! Tastes fruity, with candi sugar, banana, tons of citrus, hops, perfumy florals, female taint, and a semi-dry finish. As it warms more fruit emerges, and less dryness. Very well balanced and complex, yet subtle. The alcohol is nowhere to be found. This one tastes and smells like a true Belgian beer, to a T. This one is extraordinary, and I just hope they have more left.