Débutante
Stillwater Artisanal Ales

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From:
Stillwater Artisanal Ales
 
Washington, United States
Style:
Bière de Garde
ABV:
6.4%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.84 | pDev: 10.16%
Reviews:
117
Ratings:
342
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 31, 2017
Added:
Jun 14, 2011
Wants:
  14
Gots:
  35
Collaboration with The Brewer's Art

It’s my pleasure to present a collaboration with The Brewer’s Art. A Baltimore institution that helped to pioneer the Belgian beer movement in the States. Brewed with a combination of Spelt & Rye, accented with a blend of Heather, Honeysuckle, and Hyssop. The result is a rustic farmhouse ale displaying earthy tones & floral characteristics while maintaining intricate balance.
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Ratings by analienacorn:
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Rated by analienacorn from Florida

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%

Sep 10, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of TerryMills
Reviewed by TerryMills from Tennessee

3.92/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Has the musty wet hay smell like a farmhouse beer which kinda turned me off but the flavor doesn't match the smell.. Its more of a smooth drinking sweet fizzy beer like a Belgian ..

Tons of head, I assume bottle conditioned..

Would buy again for sure.
Oct 31, 2017
 
Rated: 4.12 by travelguy from Ohio

Sep 28, 2017
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Could it be that the biere d'garde as a style is losing its way from northern France and gaining new character from the States?

I ask this for three reasons. First, I like the style. I consider it one of the softer, maltier food-friendly styles in which garlicky, herbal foods and this ale style tend to bring out the best in each other. The malt-hops balance is different here because the food has herbs, so the ale emphasizes how it can be a malty accompaniment. (And that is what I favor.)

Second, it has been increasingly hard to find the French brews in Chicago over the last couple of years and I have noticed more and more U.S. brewers offer their take on the biere de garde... some surprisingly good, most inventive and interesting... albeit consistency is a factor.

Third, the American offerings have a much wider range of differences that the half dozen or so French renditions that I've had. This tells me that Americans are thinking less about the style's tradition and, my theory goes, more about how this ale goes less with the stewy foods of the northern French region... and more with the American polyglot palate.

Take my theory for what it is.... I like Stillwater's rendition and much more than many reviewers whose opinions I often read. And my Like goes back to the fact that this malty style is designed for herbal food and, thus, requires less spicing from the hops.

10/17/17: At the end of my 4-pack, I like my theory: this malty style uses herbs in food to give a balanced taste. While I drank the 4-pack with a variety of garlicky foods, the last was a cream sauce with basil. Outside on a beautiful Fall day, what a wonderful lunch.

11/27/17: picked-up a single and it came in handy. I had some leftover, gooey, risotto and reheated it after pouring a healthy dose of Debutante on it. It saved the meal. (Is this a rendition of "Cooking With Beer."?)
Sep 09, 2017
Photo of dcotom
Reviewed by dcotom from Iowa

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured cold from 12-ounce bottle into an oversize wine glass. Bottle date 246:14, making it exactly three years old at the time of sampling. Aggressive pour yielded a one-finger white head atop a translucent golden copper-colored body. Nice aromas and flavors of spicy malt, Belgian yeast, banana, and coriander, with sweet, perfumey floral notes wafting over it all. Medium in body, with a very dry, almost oaky finish and a faint sweet cherry note on the aftertaste. There is an unmistakable umami-like character to the flavor profile that makes this a pleasurable and satisfying experience. Overall, this is an outstanding beer. Santé!
Sep 05, 2017
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.99/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This was poured into a tulip. The appearance was a subtle hazy burnt orange color with a thin white foamy head that quickly dissipated. Light lingering lacing runs around the glass nicely. The smell starts off with some sweet honeysuckle, light floral (heather), subtle grassy sweetness. Slight sweet cherries. Light toast (with that good "butter" to it, not diacetyl) The flavor brings everything together to produce a nice sticky sweetness running into the aftertaste with all previously mentioned flavors. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium in body with a nice semi-sessionability about it. Carbonation runs fairly light. Decent for what it is. Overall, good biere de garde. Pretty sure I could have again.
Jun 29, 2017
Photo of Hat_Fulla_Beer
Reviewed by Hat_Fulla_Beer from Canada (AB)

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
355ml bottle poured into tulip.

Pours a hazy burnt orange with a thin cap of loose foam that leaves scattered blobs of lace as it recedes.

Smells of stewed apples and pears, spiced honey, wildflowers, lemon and orange zest, sweet grain, soft barnyard funk and leafy herbal hops.

Tastes of apple crisp, honeyed peach, more juicy orange and lemon, trail mix dried apricots, breakfast cereal, fresh bread, mildly funky yeast and more tea-like hop bitterness.

Feels soft and round. Hefty medium body with silky carbonation. Finishes sweet and citrusy.

Verdict: Highly recommended. Doesn't look like much, but it's a very pleasant evening sipper.
Apr 19, 2017
 
Rated: 4.23 by emquilxy from Pennsylvania

Feb 23, 2017
Photo of mothmanscott
Reviewed by mothmanscott from Georgia

4.03/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From notes 1/25/14: Pours an opaque gold producing 3+ fingers of dense, shaving cream-like, lasting, white, head that leaves a thin wash of streaky lace on the sides of the glass as it recedes. Aroma is floral, spice, musty yeast heavy to white fruits with notes of wheat (spelt?), pepper, banana and a hint of clove. Taste is floral, smooth cream, bready, wheat (spelt?), rye spice, pale malt, lemon, Belgian yeast esters of peach and pear in front with a dry hoppiness, bitter (heavily so for the style) and lightly sour flavors join in from just after mid-sip and last well into the aftertaste. Produces a lasting bitterness on the tongue. The bitterness may come from the heather and rye more so than the hops. I'm not sure what I should pick up from the hyssop and honeysuckle but the brew certainly has some strong floral notes. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, moderate to high carbonation, creamy and smooth for the most part with a peppery finish.
Feb 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3.98 by TheHopsman from Nebraska

Feb 03, 2017
 
Rated: 3.67 by SStein from Colorado

Jan 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3.74 by pineapple_playa from Michigan

Jan 05, 2017
Photo of ordybill
Reviewed by ordybill from Georgia

3.05/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. The appearance is a murky bright golden yellow color with a medium sized off-white head. The aroma is sweet fruit and yeast with some grain added. The taste is very close to the nose. Did not work for me.
Dec 18, 2016
 
Rated: 3.88 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Oct 05, 2016
Photo of REDAMI
Reviewed by REDAMI from Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from 750ml bottle into Orval chalice.

L-Copper-gold color, no head, minimal foam.

S-Very faint nose, sweet/sour grain, must.

T-Grassy and floral on the front end with a slight spice, mellows into rye and bready notes.

F-Sharp, crisp carbonation, dry on the palate.

A crisp, summery beer. One of those unique chances to actually taste all of the ingredients used rather than having them muddled into something else.
Aug 06, 2016
Photo of Emersonio
Reviewed by Emersonio from District of Columbia

4.21/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pour: 12 oz bottle into a tulip glass. Appearance: Light gold or straw in color. Mostly clear but also has some slight haze. Scant amounts of carbonation. Slight white head which reduces to a ring around the glass after settling. Slight amounts of lacing on the sides of the glass. Aroma: very nice balance of light malt aroma mixed with hints of yeasty and earthy elements. On the swirl, there is a fair amount of flowery aromas and slight traces of alcohol. Taste: Reverse of the nose in order of ingredients experienced. The funky and yeasty notes make themselves known immediately. After, a slight tartness, which is balanced nicely by the malt is found. Very nice and balanced. Aftertaste: More pronounced malt on the back end as the tart and funky yeast elements recede. Also revealed is some subtle stone fruit notes. Somewhat peach-like. Notes: Excellent balance between the yeast and malt. Result/ Rating: Very good. 4.21 out of 5.
Jul 05, 2016
 
Rated: 3.81 by Scott17Taylor from Iowa

Jul 02, 2016
 
Rated: 3.67 by swgwilt from Tennessee

Jun 15, 2016
 
Rated: 3.71 by BigAl18 from Minnesota

May 15, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by StoutAtTheDevil from Alabama

May 10, 2016
Débutante from Stillwater Artisanal Ales
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 342 ratings