Paddock Wood Été Belge Saison

Brewed by Paddock Wood Microbrewery
Style: Saison
Saskatoon, Canada

Smell is amazing. Lots of citrussy esters, backed up with sweet malt character. Smells like candy. Appearance is fair. Way too much carbonation - even for a Saison - but it has the usual orangey colour, somewhat clear, with a large sticky head. Taste is only fair. Reminds me more of a trappist beer than a farmhouse ale. Lots of bitter orange, burnt candy and distinctly bitter hops. The overall impression is of orange peel - the same sort of bitterness, with lots of juicy fruity qualities. Palate - it’s way too carbonated. Sure, a saison is supposed to be spritzy, but this takes it to another level again. Half the bottle erupted and foamed out as soon as I popped the cap. Sipping on this stuff, a teaspoon transformes to foam on the palate. Overall - not something I’m going to cry for, once it’s gone. I’ve had better saisons, and I don’t think I’ll be returning to this one. That said, it’s a fair representation of the style, but, in the end - not anything special.

In short: A nice clean, crisp and semi-dry blonde ale with a very light countryside character. Very nice session beer even if not much of a Saison.
How: Bottle 12oz. Consumed fresh on the summer of the release. Bottle sent to me by Hobbersr, thanks a lot Riley.
The look: Clear dark blonde body topped by a large white head with medium retention
In long: Nose of garden flowers and countryside field. Medium body and fizzy carbonation. Biscuit malts, white bread, lots of minerals (almost metallic), white pepper, flowers, countryside field plants. Nice dryness. The beer is super mega clean and very crisp. Certainly not a “wild” Saison like I like them but it does have a light countryside character. But the best feature of the beer is how highly drinkable it is. I drank my bottle in about 5 minutes and I could have drank another 6-pack at the same pace. Certainly not a classic wild Saison but this is nonetheless a great dry session blonde ale. And anyway I can count on the fingers of my hands the number of half-decent Saisons bottled in Canada. And so does my grandfather even if the poor dude could only use his right hand for hitchhiking after a sawbench accident. No laughing, this is a true story. When the ambulance arrived he was in the bathroom singing while taking a dump. Still a true story. But now you can laugh.

Pours a hazy pale yellow with a huge rocky head. The aroma is musty, spicy and sweet. The taste is dry, and complex. Very nice.

Bottle. WOW! This literally jumps out of the bottle and forms a towering, massive gold-tinted head that actually continues to grow as it compacts at the base, finally forming chunky islands as it settles down. Pleasing aroma of citrus peel and perfumey flowers. Smooth mouthfeel, with flavours of orange rind, pepper (loads of pepper actually), and a vague floral note. There is an unmistakable Belgian quality to the over flavour profile, presumably from the yeast. Finish is full of pepper and a pithy bitterness, and is very dry. This actually blew me away! Very impressed.

Pours a brilliantly clear orange with a fantastic head and lasting lacing. Aroma is lightly funky with enough sweetness to invite a taste - a touch of pepper, too (probably the grains of paradise). Lovely balanced taste, definitely saison-ish. More pepper, funk, bready yeast. Yum! Creamy body with excellent aggressive carbonation.This was a pleasant surprise!

Bottle. Pours a hazy dark gold with a big frothy head with passably sticky lacing. Nose is pepper, citrus, wheat, grain, a touch of hops. Palate is floral, spicy, some hops, grainy. Very dusty, dry finish, maybe a hint of farmyard style. A tasty brew, but not really a Saison.

(Bottle) Courtesy of my in-laws during their recent visit. Pours a huge, white, frothy head with a clear, highly carbonated golden body. Nose is very peppery and somewhat metallic. Flavour is very spicy but not terribly "saison-like"... its more like a light Belgian Ale like my beloved Saxo. Good lemon tongue, flower buds and decent hops underlie the very yeasty front. Interesting stuff.