Sly Fox Saison VOS

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 6.9%
Serving Type: 25.4 oz Bomber

Look: 10
Pale gold color, clear, Amazing head & lacing

Smell: 9
Apple, pear, hay, herbs & spices

Taste: 9
Up Front: Sweet candi, toasted malt, spicy, light fruit (pears). Finish: Slight candi sugar, pepper, and spice

Mouthfeel: 9
Light, effervescent, clean & crisp with a nice dry finish

Drinkability: 9
I could pound this one ALL day long!

Overall Score: 9.2

Value: 8
Cost/12 oz serving: $3.53

Overall Impression:
WOW! This is an excellent Saison!!! I'd take this over Ommegang Hennepin or Saison Dupont any day. I wish it were available in a 4-pack or 6-pack, but I'll take it. Definitely one I will go back to often!

Yards Saison

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 6.5%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 8
Hazy golden color with decent head & lacing

Smell: 7
Citrus, banana, some Belgian yeast

Taste: 7
Up Front: Spicy and sharp. Finish: Sweet with a lingering spiciness


Mouthfeel: 8
Light body and well carbonated.

Drinkability:7
It is a little on the harsh side for my palate.

Overall Score: 7.4

Value: 8.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.78

Overall Impression:
Not a bad Saison, especially for the money. Certainly worth checking out.

Harpoon Leviathan Saison

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale
State/Country: Massachusetts
ABV: 9%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 9
Pale gold color, GIGUNDO head, nice lacing

Smell: 10
Banana, funky yeast, honey, coriander

Taste: 9
Up Front: Fruity, sweet, spicy, slight alcohol. Finish: Sweet with a dry spicy finish

Mouthfeel: 8
Very effervescent, clean and crisp

Drinkability: 8.5
The alcohol is well hidden in this monster. Mortalz, proceed with caution!

Overall Score: 8.9

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $2.40

Overall Impression:
This is a good beer, but, it is bordering on a Tripel style rather than a Saison. If I was rating this beer on style alone, it would have received a lower score. At least it’s better than the crappy movie of the same name that came out in 1989!

Stillwater Stateside Saison

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale
State/Country: Maryland
ABV: 6.8%
Serving Type: On Tap @ the Hulmeville Inn

Look: 9
Bright golden/orange color, cloudy, medium head with decent retention & lacing

Smell: 9
Lemon, spices, sweet malt

Taste: 9.5
Up Front: Tart, mild funk, sweet malt. Finish: Pepper & spices

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body & carbonation, with a smooth, dry finish

Drinkability: 9.5
I could quaff this down ALL day!

Overall Score: 9.2

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $4.25

Overall Impression:
I really liked this Saison. I'd have to say it is my favorite Non-Brett, American Saison I've had to date. It had a small batch hand crafted feel to it, which is a great thing. I'd take this over Hennepin any day!

After dinner I decided to try one of these. Shortly thereafter, I found out that the brewer (Brian) was there and a Stillwater Event was taking place. I had a chance to chat with him briefly. It turns out that this is his brewery's very first product - how awesome is that! I wish them continued success and I hope all of their offerings are as good as this one! PROST!!!!

Ommegang Hennepin

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale
State/Country: New York
ABV: 7.7%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 9
Bright golden color, slightly cloudy, dense head with nice lacing

Smell: 8
Lemon, spices, sweet malt

Taste: 8
Up Front: Sweet malt. Finish: Fruit, spices

Mouthfeel: 8
Light body, highly carbonated, with a dry finish

Drinkability: 8.5
Crisp & refreshing

Overall Score: 8.3

Value: 8
Cost/12 oz serving: $2.14

Overall Impression:
This is a beer I've had several times, but I have never been overly impressed with it. It's a good beer to drink on a hot summer day, but I can think of many others I'd rather drink in its place. That's just my opinion. If you look elsewhere, you'll see that this beer is very highly rated. Judge for yourself.

Great Divide Colette

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale
State/Country: Colorado
ABV: 7.3%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle


Look: 8
Cloudy golden color, small head, nice lacing

Smell: 8
Fruity, funky, cloves, banana, coriander

Taste: 9.5
Up Front: Citrus, grass, sweet, slightly tart. Finish: Dry, fruity, spicy, bready

Mouthfeel: 8
Clean and lightly carbonated

Drinkability: 8
A funky farmhouse quaffer for me! You don’t taste the alcohol in this girl!
Definitely a thirst quencher!

Overall Score: 8.3

Value: 8
Cost/12 oz serving: $2.32

Overall Impression:
I would smack lips with Colette anytime! Not tops for the style, but it is worth a taste if you have the greenback!

The Bruery Saison Rue

Reviewed By: Herr Rick

Style: American Brett Ale (Saison)
State/Country: California
ABV: 8.5%
Serving Type: 750ml Bottle

Look: 10
Orange yellow color, cloudy, huge dense fluffy head with uber good retention and lacing

Smell: 9.5
Blast of Brett funk, with cloves, pepper, citrus

Taste: 9
Up Front: Brett funk, spices. Finish: Alcohol, sweet malt, citrus

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Medium body with high carbonation, and dry finish

Drinkability: 8.5

Crisp & refreshing

Overall Score: 9.1

Value: 7

Cost/12 oz serving: $6.06

Overall Impression:

This is the second American Brett Ale I have reviewed from The Bruery this week. This one is even more complex with intense flavors, particularly the Brett and spices. Although it is well balanced, it does learn toward sweetness a bit. It is not as sessionable (is that even a word) as Saison De Lente due mainly to the higher abv. I have a really nice Belgian Buzz going on after quaffing down this bottle.Yet another excellent American rendition of a Belgian classic from The Bruery!

The Bruery Saison De Lente

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American Brett Ale (Saison)
State/Country: California
ABV: 6.5%
Serving Type: 750ml Bottle

Look: 9
Bright golden color, slightly cloudy, fluffy pillow-like head with great lacing

Smell: 9.5
Brett funk, lemon zest, cloves

Taste: 9
Up Front: Lemon zest, apple, malt. Finish: brett funk, earthy

Mouthfeel: 9
Light body with medium carbonation.

Drinkability: 9.5
Silky smooth, with a dry finish. Very refreshing!

Overall Score: 9.2

Value: 7
Cost/12 oz serving: $6.06

Overall Impression:
This is complex ale with delicate flavors that are really well balanced. It's classified as a Saison, but it's made in California AND they used some Brettanomyces yeast, so I am classifying it as American Brett Ale. Since the Brett Funk is present like some of the others I reviewed recently, I feel that it's a better fit. I'm really falling in love with this style of beer. As is usually the case, the 750ml bottles are on pricey side, but well worth it IMNSHO!