2 great pieces of news from Eagle Rock
From the press release, “After all the waiting, we FINALLY have our Growlers! Hooray!
Also we will be releasing our newest seasonal beer. Limbo is a Citra-Hopped Saison, bursting with tropical fruit character, and perfect for this hot summer weather. This beer also marks another collaboration project with a local homebrewer, this time fellow mug-club member, beer writer, homebrewing author, and Saison expert Drew Beechum. Congrats to Drew, and thanks!”
A damn fine idea…
..if you ask me.
French for “good idea,” “Bonne Idée” is an Americanized Saison (8+%) from the “other” Hood River brewer, Double Mountain.
If you get the chance, try this at Saraveza in Portland or at the brewpub in Hood River. (Also check out their other fantastic seasonal, Molten Lava)
Odonata Saison
I am hoping this makes it’s way south from the state capital to LA. Because if it tastes 1/2 as good as this description then I will want alot…
“The beer has a decent amount of wheat in the grist, which lends a fantastic lemony tartness that is incredibly refreshing. We’ve also tweaked our recipe a bit from our pilot batches to be sure the body is full, but not heavy, with notable texture and depth. The color is a shade darker than you might expect; a tawny-golden hue. The kicker? The yeast if friggin’ amazing! The aromas that you’ll find in this beer are wild and fruity, with a hint of peppery spice and a subtle earthy note. The beer doesn’t shy away from the traditional Belgian yeast, it’s in your face and proud of its heritage. We’re certain you’ll appreciate this; Saison is not your run-of-the-mill beer.”
LongShot
This is my favorite Sam Adams beer release of each year, hands down. Each year it’s dramatically different and you get a wide style variety from a mere 3 different beers.
Here is the pertinent information…..
“The 2010 Samuel Adams LongShot variety six-pack will be available nationwide in select retail stores beginning in April for a suggested retail price of $9.99. The variety pack will include two bottles each of Michael Robinson’s Old Ale, Ben Miller’s Barleywine, and Jeremy White’s Saison.
ABOUT THE WINNERS AND 2010 CONTEST
Michael Robinson’s Old Ale is a malty English-style brew boasting notes of dried fruit, nut, and caramel. A slight bitterness balances the combination of five malts in this full bodied beer. Light brown with reddish highlights and good clarity, the ingredients of this English-style brew are all American with the exception of the yeast which is distinctively English. Created to enjoy on cold nights or as an after dinner treat, Mike’s Old Ale is 9% alcohol by volume, about twice that of the average beer. An experienced homebrewer, Mike was recognized as a finalist in the 2008 Samuel Adams American Homebrew Contest, as well as in the 2007 Samuel Adams® Patriot Homebrew Contest.
Ben Miller’s Barleywine is a dark red, flavorful brew with rich plum undertones to complement its caramel malt flavor. A self-proclaimed ‘hop head,’ Ben used several varieties of citrusy American hops in this beer, creating its resiny aroma followed by clean bitterness. Ben’s Barleywine is his 100th homebrew, brewed to commemorate two years of enjoying the hobby.
Jeremy White, who works in the IT department at Samuel Adams, channeled his love of Belgian beers to create his Saison, a classic Belgian-style brew. Jeremy’s flavorful, refreshing and lighter-bodied beer is brewed with Grains of Paradise, an exotic tropical spice also found in Samuel Adams Summer Ale. The peppery flavor is complemented by a slightly sweet aroma with hints of vanilla and citrus.”
The Old Ale sounds tempting.
Colette from Great Divide
One of my favorite spots in Denver’s excellent beer scene is re-booting the saison and naming it Collete and making it available in six-packs.
Review – Terrapin Brewing’s Farmhouse Saison
St. Feuillien Saison
A video review of one of my favorite styles, Saison…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXpeqjRKnIg]
Lip Stinger
MacTarnahan’s Lip Stinger Farmhouse Ale with peppercorn is now on shelves for the late summer and fall season. It’s the first in a series of specialty 22-ounce-only offerings form MacTarnahan’s, which plans to bottle just 3000 cases. Lip Stinger is an effervescent and rustic farmhouse ale that brewers add a cracked peppercorn blend during fermentation to introduce a spicy nose and warming mouth feel.
Lil' Opal from Firestone-Walker
Just had the saison from Firestone-Walker. Not bad. Not at Saison Dupont level though. Not much of an aroma. Good solid taste. Little alcohol heavy for me. Thanks to the Verdugo Bar for having it on tap.
What I am drinking right now
The label is a little too Easter trippy but this is a nice light Belgian ale with a taste of lavender. This is my favorite from The Bruery. It is a notch above the usual Belgian. This and Urthel’s Hop-It have been the best of the year for me so far.