Nice Saison Seasonal Ale
Tommyknocker Brewery

Nice Saison Seasonal AleNice Saison Seasonal Ale
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From:
Tommyknocker Brewery
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
Saison
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
76
Avg:
3.26 | pDev: 16.87%
Reviews:
28
Ratings:
109
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 23, 2017
Added:
May 07, 2012
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  10
A bright gold, effervescent summer ale brewed with a Belgian yeast strain that imparts a slightly tart flavor and spicy aroma.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by woodychandler:
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.01/5  rDev +23%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
From The Fridge's cooler to my reefer to my glass in an effort to beat the oppressive heat. No guarantees that it will work, but perhaps if I am insensate, it won't bother me so much.

From the bottle: "Colorado Mountain Town Craft Beer"; "A bright golden effervescent brew that is slightly tart with a spicy aroma"; "Tommyknocker Legend [-] Tommyknockers slipped into the mining camps of Idaho Springs in the 1800s with the discovery of gold in our mountains and streams. These mischievous elves, though hardly ever seen, were often heard singing and working. They guided many fortunate miners from harm's way and to the gold they sought."

Is this beer "Nice" as in "Wow, baby, you got some nice ditty-dats!" or "Nice" as in Nice, France?

I had a rocky finger of bone-white head that withered in the oppressive heat and humidity of the day and it is still early! The heat is not record-breaking, but it is back-breaking and ball-busting and I will do all that I can to beat it. Color was a slightly hazy orangish-yellow. Nose was musty with yeast, like the time we went into "Uncle" Ben Nutto's attic to clear out old newspapers and magazines prior to an estate sale following his being put into a home after "Aunt" Eva died. The beer smelled just like old newspapers. Mouthfeel was medium and the taste was dry, like white wine, very vinous, yet with a yeast-driven mustiness that left me smacking my lips. The finish was extremely dry and now I was getting a lemony taste that puckered me up like I had been drinking alum. Holy Pucker, Batman! I could barely unlock my lips to get in another sip. It was not really my choice of style, but a good example of the style.
Jul 17, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of tone77
Reviewed by tone77 from Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a dark golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of spices, some citrus. Taste is spices, lemons, a touch of vinegar, green apples at the finish. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall, not bad, but I won't be drinking it again.
Jan 23, 2017
 
Rated: 3.59 by cts309 from Virginia

Nov 13, 2016
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +19%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Tommyknocker Brewery "Saison"
12 fl. oz. brown glass bottle, "BEST BY: DEC1916" and sampled on AUG1116

Appearance: Hazy orange & brass body beneath a short-lived head of frothy off-white. Lacing is average.

Aroma: Dried apricot and woody spiciness.

Flavor: As the aroma indicates with the addition of some sweet breadiness that's kind of like the shiny crust of a sweet Challah bread. It's a little tart, and then subtly sweet as the malt balances it out, softening it. The apricot-like fruitiness runs straight through it, lingering into the dry, slightly tart, and subtly spicy finish. It's not particularly bitter, nor very spicy - the listed 15 IBUs seems right, but the tart edge balances it nicely.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a gently zesty effervescent carbonation that gives a little bolster to the spiciness. Slightly astringent.

Overall: As it warms it opens up to become a fuller beer, as expected, and I'd suggest you enjoy it at cellar temperature (as it would have been in the old days!). It's not particularly complex, and it's fruitiness, tartness, gently sweetish bread-crust malt and mild spiciness are basically all it offers - although is that really such a bad thing? Regardless, it's not as complex as many examples of the style, nor does it really hit home with any of its attributes, but it is interesting and drinkable... a refreshing change of pace.
Aug 11, 2016
Photo of The_Kriek_Freak
Reviewed by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

3.99/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Cloudy amber with no head to speak of (which in my mind is a big no-no for a Farmhouse Ale. Come on man, have you seen the heads on those Belgian Saisons?)

Nose: Tart on the nose, plenty of citrus but also strong honey notes. The nose suggests a very tart beer. However...

Taste: No tartness whatsoever, despite the smell that suggests otherwise. Very spicy, with hints of unripe apricot (just the way I like it!). Belgian yeast esters all around.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with light carbonation that is hardly noticeable.

Overall: My first impressions of this beer were not a great one but I gotta admit that it's a solid beer, with a fairly unique combination of flavors that makes it complex enough. I would drink it again
Jul 31, 2016
 
Rated: 3.69 by V1per41 from Colorado

May 08, 2016
Photo of Jeremiah87
Reviewed by Jeremiah87 from Colorado

1.96/5  rDev -39.9%
look: 3 | smell: 1.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 2.25
Pours straw yellowish gold with 1 finger of head. Smell is very faint but consists of herb and vanilla. Medicinal, grassy, leathery taste.
Not a fan. Will never drink again.
May 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.25 by DeadeyeOTDO from Arizona

Apr 14, 2016
 
Rated: 3.3 by madelf66 from Pennsylvania

Jan 20, 2016
Photo of sjdevel
Reviewed by sjdevel from Utah

3.9/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look:
Slightly hazy yellowish-gold hue. 1-2 finger head upon pour and very nice lacing.

Smell:
Very herbal and grassy. Slight sour smell with citrusy fruits mixed in.

Taste:
First flavors noticeable are tart/slightly sour white grapes, pears, and green apples. Then, herbs, spices, and earthiness kicks in. Along with the spices is a slight saltiness. When the spices fade, there is a sweet yeasty and bready finish.

Feel:
Medium bodied. Not very effervescent on the tongue as you would expect from a Saison brew. It did seem to be a bit slippery.

Overall:
I did enjoy this one. It was pretty good, but not up there with the top Saisons. I would be okay with drinking this one again.
Nov 08, 2015
Photo of gmoneyproductions
Reviewed by gmoneyproductions from Colorado

3.21/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
had this on tap at the brewery
pours pale yellow with a white head
smell fruity
taste sweet and fruity with a sour finish
fruit to sour didnt work for me overall but not terrible
astringent feel
Nov 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by atone315 from Wisconsin

Oct 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.1 by JB62 from Ohio

Sep 30, 2015
 
Rated: 3.49 by bpkrippner from Missouri

Sep 19, 2015
 
Rated: 3.39 by Blazer22 from Colorado

Aug 24, 2015
Photo of DrMullet
Reviewed by DrMullet from Florida

2.64/5  rDev -19%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Pours a golden yellow. There is a faint, musty fruit smell.
Bitter and acidic taste.
Sour in an unpleasant way. I'd drink this again, but only if it's because I lost some kind of bet.
Aug 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by Beastcpa from Pennsylvania

Jul 18, 2015
 
Rated: 2.75 by mflamar from New York

Jul 04, 2015
 
Rated: 3.38 by gruss004 from Oklahoma

Jul 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by BallsDeep from Florida

Jan 01, 2015
Nice Saison Seasonal Ale from Tommyknocker Brewery
Beer rating: 76 out of 100 with 109 ratings