McKenzie Avec Les Bons Voeux

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

3/6/05. Poured out of 750 mL bottle, sampled courtesy of TAR and cb from RateBeer in Scottsdale, AZ 3/6/05. Hazy golden orange--almost muddy. Cotton candy and soft yeast nose, must and light sourness. Peppery and greenly hoppy-- very herbaceous. Beautiful uniform and sticky lacing. A few lumps but it’s not enough to detract from the shimmering crystalline form. Fluffy, dense eggshell cream head that lingers great and billows nicely. Awesome crisp minty and yeasty flavor, herbs and light bitterness. Even faint white smoke. The softest, most beautiful funk and herbs I’ve ever found in a beer. Almost meringue-like in the mouthfeel with the loveliest transition to its finish-- swirling around in its minty herbal bliss. Out of this world. I now believe in the healing power of beer.

I Just found this bottle in the basement, and was surprised how well it held up. Tons of tropical fruit, nice pepper in the finish, just a hint of oxidation,bone dry.This is a truly a classic beer, that still amzing me. well done, and magical.

Spectacular beer - very fruity, with more banana esters than expected. Big herbal bouts of bitterness (carrot tops) come in throughout and last a long time. Yeast was very distributed, but that was just fine - making the beer a delicious-looking hazy coppper. The spice was subdued and the beer wasn’t as dry as some of my fave saisons, but no matter, as this was truly great. Thanks to JCW for sharing.

Poured a hazy copper color with a large, off white head that left nice lacing on the glass. Citrus, spicy banana, yeast, light hoppiness in the aroma. More citrus, lemongrass, vanilla, yeast, and peppery alcohol in the taste. An amazing beer!

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.

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.

Pours a hazy yellow/brown color body with a lot of fizz. Very delicious lemony orangy aroma. Flavors are lemons, bananas, bread, grass, and citrusy hops. The fizz mellows out nicely as it warms. My favorite saison to date.

Pale tangerine with a honey glow. Opaque. Dense, half-finger head of whipped milk consistency leaves webby lace. Intensely hoppy, but astonishingly balanced nose of perfumey esters, lemon balm, fragrant hops, honeydew, and fennel. Boldly herbal, spicy yeast notes, as well. Densely creamy mouthfeel. First impression is vivaciously herbal and spicily estery, but mutedly hoppy, with poignant, but oily, hop bitterness sneakily flashing its tingly sting. Immaculate attenuation makes room for grassy fennel and white pepper hints. Remains boisterously hoppy, though, as lemony Styrians unleash their juicy outburst with fervent yeast and drying herbal underpinnings. Pilsner malt temporarily beefs up the body and lends a touch of sweetness, but slowly succumbs to the chalky yeast dryness. Ends dry and exquisitely clean, yet with a misty moist fullness of polished juicy hop flavors, peppery phenols, and zesty yeast sparkle. Thanks to the mastermind, himself, in Scott M., for crafting such a special brew. Phenomenal work!