Natty Greenes Farmhouse Ale

Multiple samples, GABF 2006. Body is hazy dark yellow. Aroma is lightly malty (toasted grain), lightly yeasty (barnyard), with notes of cherry, sour apple, wood, band-aid. Flavor is lightly to moderately sweet, moderately acidic. Finish is lightly sweet, moderately acidic, lightly bitter. Light to medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation. The most confused beer I’ve had in a while, style-wise. Description on their posters said saison...but by French saison, does that maybe imply they intended something more akin to a biere de garde? I spent 20-30 minutes sampling this one alone at GABF, pour after pour. Not because it was an incredible beer, but because I was trying to figure out what was being attempted, and further what they had accomplished. For my samples shouted (Flemish) sour ale. Not infected sour...tasty, balanced, refreshingly and assertively tart. If a saison was aged in wine barrels, might that end up like this? Good, regardless of what it is.

From notes 2/22/06: Pours a cloudy sunset orange with a fluffy off-white head. Wet spotty lacing remains. Mild aromas actually; rather miniscule and difficult to discern. A fruity air to it; my wife proclaimed it smells "girly". Before the pint arrived I mentioned that this was the same style as that (her words) "stinky beer" I had for New Year’s dinner: Heavyweight’s Biere d’Art. She couldn’t believe the same style could have such differing odors. Lemony flavors initially dance on the palate. A shadowy tripel character lurks in the background, but it instantly disappears once you pinpoint the feel. Some orange peel. A whisper of pear. Minimal hop bitterness. Dry and toasty. Alcohol strength is insidiously absent. A subtle prickly feel on the tongue. An excellent drinking brew. The pints were drained easily....girly or not.

Glowler provided by BuckNaked. Clear amber body with a small, off-white head. This beer smells like the scented soap section of a Victoria Secret. Very floral, maybe lavender, light pepper. The flavor is sugary sweet, malty-caramel and floral. Medium body with lively carbonation. This beer was enjoyed with some amazing Tai food and in good company.

Growler provided by BuckNaked. Pours clear copper with a white head. Aroma is a blast of freshly picked flowers/chamomile. Flavor has notes of caramel, spices (cardamon?), flowers (chamomile, lavender) and zesty hops. The flowery taste works in such a way that it doesn’t taste like you’re drinking bath soap. Medium bodied with subtle, soft carbonation. Very good stuff. I look forward to trying more from these guys.

(growler, thanks BuckNaked) Large off-white head that quickly diminishes to a thin layer, topping a clear apple juice body. Aroma is medium sweet, floral/orange, spicy, some caramel, flowery/perfume. Taste is moderately sweet, flowers, light caramel, pepper. Light-medium body, alcohol well hidden.

On tap at the brewpub, pours a hazy, deep golden color with a thin head. Smells like a Belgian, of cloves and spices. Tastes again of cloves and spices, very interesting. Not a big fan of the style, but I’d try it if you are a fan.

Draught at the Brewpub in Greensboro 3/25/06: Hazy amber-bronze body, looks virtually identical to their Cannonball IIPA, with a medium beige head that sticks through the beer and shows some nice lacing. The aroma is spicy, notes of pepper, cloves, and cardamon come out with light hints of sweet sticky malt. The taste has orange rind, pepper, cloves, cardomon, esters, nice hearty yeast, sweet malt, and definite raisin flavors as well. Medium bodied, medium carbonated, sweet and sticky, yet crisp due to the carbonation. Very interesting and good.

Draught at the brewpub. Clear bronze color with foamy off white head that laced the glass. Spicy nose accented by alcohol and cloves. The alcohol comes out again in the flavor, along with caramel, green apples, and an estery banana note. Subtle cereal grain aftertaste with a warming splash of alcohol at the end.