So maybe I was a bit forgetful about the review status of the home brewed beer from Monday, but now I realize where I stand with those.  With that I have decided to revisit a few anyway using the newer grading system.  Without looking at the old reviews before doing these new ones I can find out if the beer has held up well, or if it might be on the downward slide.  Most of the time my beer does not stay around long enough for deterioration to be a concern, but this is a good opportunity to have a record for these.  Hopefully my palate is not biased to my own creations and can give an honest appraisal.

A long weekend awaits for some of us . . .

Brewery: Blueprint Brewing (Winter Park, FL)

Name: Off Saison

Style: Saison

ABV: 6.03% (+/-)

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in my still broken and without a stem Ommegang glass.  Pulled very slightly early to warm a bit.

Aroma: Lightly sweet and citrusy nose up front with a subtle underlying spice character.  A really nice overall aroma that is not overwhelming. – 10/12

Appearance: Golden orange and honey-like in color.  One finger off-white head that dissipates fairly quickly and leaving some trail on the glass.  Crystal clear with rising bubbles visible. – 2.5/3

Flavor: Nice, light malt character as a base with some good citrusy fruit notes and a bit of floral character in there as well.  A low level of spice underneath.  The hop bitterness is there and in good balance with the other components.  Nice dryness on the finish with some lingering fruitiness. – 13.5/20

Mouthfeel: Medium to light in body with a moderate level of carbonation that adds some crispness.  Light creaminess initially with a hint of tartness at the finish. – 3.5/5

Overall Impressions: Carbonation is good, but it definitely use some more.  Attenuation has been my struggle with this beer and I am left again wanting a drier finish.  I have to brew this recipe again because I really have a desire to nail down a good Saison.  Might be going downhill a bit, but age has also helped this one versus when it was younger.  Even with some flaws it is still one of my favorites from my home brewing adventures. – 7.5/10

Grade: B+ (37/50)

Blueprint Brewing - Off Saison (again)

Maybe it is the hot weather but more and more often lately I just want a beer that is flavorful without being overwhelming to my palate.  I want to be able have a a few and be able to taste other things afterward and if all of this can be combined into a beer that also keeps the alcohol level reasonable, that is the best case scenario.  It has been a long time since I have done so, but it is nice to have a beer in hand that I can (and want to) drink all day and have it leave me still standing at the end.  I have to put this beer in that category.

To mark the middle of this week . . .

Brewery: The Bruery (Placentia, CA)

Name: 7 Grain Saison

Style: Saison

ABV: 5.00%

Location: Redlight Redlight

Tasting Notes:

• One plus finger creamy white color head that is thick with fine bubbles.  Holds really well and leaves a nice trail along the glass.
• Relatively mild aroma overall, but with a faint fruitiness and a bit of bready yeast.
• Pale to medium straw color.  Pretty clear with rising bubbles visible, but does have just a bit of haze.
• Bit of light citrus in the flavor that has a pithy quality and maybe an herbal note in there somewhere.  Really nice bitterness that finishes dry and crisp in combination with the carbonation.
• Light to medium body with a fairly high level of carbonation.  Has a bit of creaminess in the body as it warms some.
• Love the dryness of the finish and is a great lower ABV sessionable beer that I just enjoy a ton.  Wish I had it on draft at home.

The Bruery - 7 Grain Saison

There is no reason to make a decision on having a first beer when a place makes it so easy to have three at the same time.  So when I pulled myself onto a barstool at The Wharf Rat and found out that I could do a sampler/taster for 6 bucks I had no need to settle on just one to start with.  The only (self-imposed) rule was that I order beers from breweries that I do not have access to here in Florida.  Being my first barstool of the day I still felt like typing a few notes into the phone (and I do mean just a few).  That ambition passed by about barstool 2 and a half.

Did I mention it was only 6 bucks for three pours of that size (see picture)?

For the first . . .

Brewery: Tröegs Brewing Co. (Harrisburg, PA)

Name: Sunshine Pils

Style: German Pilsner

ABV: 5.30%

Location: The Wharf Rat (Baltimore)

Tasting Notes:

• Golden in color with a slight white head.  Mile, clean, crisp aroma with maybe a hint of floral quality.
• Light, almost buttery malt flavor that quickly fades into a crisp hop bitterness.
• Some lingering bitterness at the finish and a very refreshing first beer of the day.

And for the second . . .

Brewery: Yards Brewing Company (Philadelphia, PA)

Name: Saison

Style: Saison

ABV: 6.50%

Location: The Wharf Rat (Baltimore)

Tasting Notes:

• Sort of yellowy medium amber in color with an off-white head.  Slightly yeasty floral aroma with an almost dry quality to it.
• Lightly fruity and floral flavor up front with some bitterness after that and finishing with a crisp and dry character.
• Smooth on the palate early and finishing quite crisp.
• Not bad, but not all that good either.  Just OK.

And closing with . . .

Brewery: Oliver Breweries (Baltimore, MD)

Name: Best Bitter (cask)

Style: ESB (English Pale Ale)

ABV: 4.80%

Location: The Wharf Rat (Baltimore)

Tasting Notes:

• Reddish amber color with a slight off-white head.  Biscuity and slightly sweet malty aroma with a bit of funky hop character to it.
• Nice biscuity malt profile up front that fades quickly to a nice hoppy bitterness.  Smooth on the palate and finishes nicely dry.
• Really nice flavorful and sessionable beer at 4.8% ABV.  Would want to have it no other way than via cask/hand pump.

A very good deal to start the day with.

For no particular reason that I can think of, there was a very long period when I went without bringing any Sam Adams beers into the house.  Then recently I found myself with more than just a few hanging out in the fridge.  Granted this one bottle was a gift from Ian, but it was also a beer that I actually wanted to sit down and review at some point.  I thank him for saving me a trip to the store where I would probably have found out that it was already sold out.

Now to end this week with another review . . .

Brewery: Boston Beer Company (Boston, MA)

Name: Rustic Saison

Style: Saison

ABV: 4.35% (on website)

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a goblet/chalice.

Aroma: Fruity, slightly yeasty aroma with some herbal and floral notes and some light sweetness underneath.  Really quite nice overall. – 10/12

Appearance: Pale golden honey color.  One finger white head that is frothy with small bubbles, nice retention, and leaves a solid trail.  Very clear with tons of small rising bubbles visible. – 3/3

Flavor: Floral, slightly citrusy notes up front with an underlying bready sweetness.  A nice light bitterness from the middle to the finish.  Finishes slightly dry with a bit of lingering herbal/floral character. – 15/20

Mouthfeel: Light body with a pretty high level of carbonation, having small bubbles and a fine, champagne-like quality.  Even with the carbonation it seems to have a bit of creaminess to it, especially if not really cold. – 3/5

Overall Impressions: Have tried this one more than a few times on draft previously and it is quite possible that I like the bottle a little more.  Quite refreshing and sessionable, in a way that would be enjoyable outside on a hot day (probably as the style was originally meant to be).  Always glad to have another Saison out there that is easily available and, oddly, also one that I might just drink from the bottle if it came to that. – 8/10

Overall: 39/50

Samuel Adams - Rustic Saison

Slightly closer now

There are a lot of variables in play that affect how much you enjoy a beer and mood I think is one of them.  Maybe I actually mean expectation in this case.  When I first tried a sip of this beer I was pretty underwhelmed, but when I sat down with a full glass a few days later my opinion changed some.  I think the first time I was in the mood for and expecting something rustic, complex, and maybe a little funky.  When I did not get it I was a little disappointed.  After having it the second time without that expectation I did enjoy the beer for what it was.  In short, not a bad beer at all.

Starting the week off with a B Note . . .

Brewery: Boston Beer Company (Boston, MA)

Name: Samuel Adams Rustic Saison

Style: Saison

ABV: 4.35% (brewery website)

Location: Redlight Redlight

Tasting Notes:

• Slight off-white head that dissipates pretty quickly (it was higher before I got around to actually taking the photo).
• Light golden honey in color.  Quite clear with rising bubbles visible.
• Aroma is light and crisp with a nice citrus note and a low spicy character.
• The flavor is relatively mild overall save for the nicely crisp bitterness that stays with the palate through the finish.  Light, kind of biscuity maltiness with a bit of lemony sweetness and spice toward the finish.
• The high carbonation adds to the crisp and bitter components.  Medium(ish) in body.
• Did not love the beer at first, but liked it much more with additional sips.  Good sessionable beer for warmer weather that I would drink again sometime.

Boston Beer Company - Rustic Saison