Shed Illumination Gold

Draught pint at Redbones on 6/10/06.
A frothy, fairly well-retained slightly off-white head sits atop a dull golden body, medium-low clarity and gentle effervescence seen in the liquid. Some moderate lacing left in patches up and down the glass.
The nose is a clean Belgian yeast, VERY spicy, with touches of dusty/cobwebby minerals. Some light esters provide very dry nectarines and lemons that keep things mostly snappy otherwise. Malt is gentle, but definitely well felt. Graham cracker notes dabbled throughout pale malt sugars and a very herbaceous finish, not really bitter or pungent as some saisons are, but more gentle and full of light floral notes. The aroma is lasting, with a medium to medium-high strength.
In the flavor, the yeast builds up quickly, adding plenty of spicy phenols, notes of light citrus and other yellow fruits that do enliven the palate, but a slightly dull, sugary base malt-like note seems to smooth things out and sweeten things a bit too much, as some light breadiness tugs at the palate on the finish. Breadiness is not very delicate in a beer and I look for clean, well-attenuated malt character in a saison. Not that this is underattenuated, actually it’s quite well-done (though tending too sweet overall), but the light breadiness, wherever it comes from is just a bit too heavy. But the spiciness from the yeast is delicious, as is the engaging carbonation (very well done for a draught saison, which is always more difficult, IMHO) and medium-full body. No alcohol is apparent.
Not as much of the Shed "House character" in this one. A gently hopped saison, and for that, I think some will be turned off, but the beer is definitely well made and full of character.

Thanks to weeare138 for bringing this hand bottled by the brewer to a mid week tasting. Pours a very hazy golden with an average bubbly white head. Aroma of yeast, citrus and bread. Flavor of yeast, lemon, spices more of what I would expect from a Saison. Really appreciate getting to try out this Shed stuff, thanks Mike!

Much thanks to grassrootsvt for the hand bottle... Appears a super hazy cloud of light gold with a small white head...in mentioning this to Shuan Hill, the brewer, he mentioned that I may not have let it settle enough b/c it should have been a clean, clear pour like his own bottles. Scattered lacing is left around the glass. Smell is of creamy vanilla, pils malt base, barnyard funk, and some leather. Taste is of the same aromas. Definitely a saison. Decent stuff. Mouthfeel is creamy, sugary, sweet, semi-dry, with vanilla hanging on to the palate.

Hand bottled by the brewer courtesy of weeare138. Poured a medium and cloudy yellow color with a smaller sized white head. Aromas of yeast, citrus, and spices. Tastes of citrus, light yeast, lemons, and spices. Lively body. I enjoyed this a lot more than the Hoppy Illumination we had on the same night.

Poured a hazy golden color with a small, white head that left light lacing on the glass. Aroma of citrus fruits, some orange peel, coriander and some cardamom. Taste of more citrus, some vanilla, yeast, with some white pepper, and alcohol in the finish.