Upland Bumblebee Saison

Formerly brewed at Upland Brewing Company
Style: Saison
Bloomington, Indiana USA

Name: Saison
Date: 07/21/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, Indy

cloudy yellow, fine white head, lots of drippy lace, sweet and spicy aroma with a peppery edge, creamy body, nice sweet malt flavor, lots of spicyness adds bitterness to balance the sweetness, nice bready character adds body,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 14/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

Objectively speaking: A darker than most Saison that relies a bit too much on spices and malts to be a model of refreshment.
I like: The frothy white head remains where it is forever. Rather fresh flavour profile with appealing wheat influences. Solid hop background counterbalances the strong malt presence. Herbal and aromatic.
I dislike: Carbonation is not as engaging as it could be. Quite thick, heavy and thus also rather sweet, but in a grainy way. Relying on the spices more than I’d like.

2007 version and on tap at Upland:Clean golden hue with a small fading head and some lace. The aroma is still very floral but nearly as flowery as the 2006 Bumblebee Saison was. Notes if coriander, orange peel, anise, yeasty and wheaty vapours. The taste is also improved as it is not as sweet or herbal with honey and bready malts with a bit of acidity on the back of the palate. There are lingering soft spices and even hints of wood upon the finish. The mouth feel is dry, soft and chalky. Still could use better attenuation and a tad less spice but far better than what I had last year.

2006 version on tap at brewery: Clean golden hue with a small head and little lacing. The aroma is VERY FLORAL with notes of orange peel, corriander, clove, grains of paradise, nutmeg, fennel, light grassy hops, bready and grainy malts, and honey. The taste is much like the aroma has it is very flowery, fruity and spicy, much like drinking a holiday fruit cake. A minor grain and bitter undertone. Sugary and honey notes throughout. While the feel is crisp and biting at first, the sweetness and spiced character made it a bit cloying. Unique for sure, perhaps it needs the spice toned down a notch and the hops turned up a notch. Still, found it quite drinkable and enjoyed with lunch.

on tap. wow the nose on this thing is really medicinal, spicy, and flowery. flavor is much of the same and the medicinal quality makes this really gross.

700th rating. Two draught pints of this tonight at the pub... my first saison. Potent aroma, heavy yeast and spices (notably coriander and orange rind), honey, malt, light citric hops, and extreme amount of herbiness. Clear orange pour with a short creamy white head. Same notes in the mouth as in the nose, though with dominant florality and pronounced spiciness. Medium sourness. Medium-thin body, sweet with lemon and heather. This needs to be paired with food - spiciness and sweetness were too much by the end.

Pours a cloudy yellow body with a medium sized white head. Taste is typical spice from a saison, and very enticing. aromas of cinnamon, lemon and bubble gum. various other hints of cloves, and grass as well.

On Tap at the Great Lakes Brewfest. Cloudy yellow with a medium white head. Aroma of grain, coriander, root spice, honey and earthy hops. Taste of coriander, ginger, sweet malt, spice and earthy hops with a nice tasty spicy finish. I enjoyed this one.

Ah yes this one they make with honey. On tap at the Great Lakes Brew Fest. Pours a hazy yellow. Aroma is salty and wheaty like triscuits. Citrus yeast flavors with a funky bad finish.