Imperial Black Saison
Ten Ninety Brewing Company

Imperial Black SaisonImperial Black Saison
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From:
Ten Ninety Brewing Company
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
Saison
ABV:
10.8%
Score:
93
Avg:
4.28 | pDev: 7.94%
Reviews:
6
Ratings:
34
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 01, 2017
Added:
Apr 19, 2014
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  3
Collaboration with Pollyanna Brewing Company
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by thinwhiteduke:
Photo of thinwhiteduke
Rated by thinwhiteduke from Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%

Sep 20, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of bushbeer75
Reviewed by bushbeer75 from Michigan

4.07/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
25.4 oz [750 ml] - brown bottle - not dated

Ten Ninety Black Saison poured an almost pitch black hue. Atop sat a 2-finger khaki colored head that held well. Spotty lacing clung to the sides of my tulip glass. Aromas of dark fruit, raisins. plums, and light spice from the cloves. The taste is very similar to the nose with the brew becoming sweeter as it warms. Just a very slight hop bitterness is noted at the finish. Mouth feel is smooth, a little chewy and a high-medium body. Carbonation is active. Alcohol is well hidden for a 10.8 abv.

Overall, Ten Ninety is a different take on the Saison/Farmhouse Ale than I am used to. However, that is not a bad thing in this instance.
May 01, 2017
 
Rated: 4.06 by Jonathan-Morgan from Florida

Jan 27, 2017
 
Rated: 4.04 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Jan 27, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by Azpittil57 from Arizona

Jun 27, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by Kurmaraja from California

Jun 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4.19 by hatt11

May 19, 2015
 
Rated: 3.89 by Bunuelian from Minnesota

Apr 27, 2015
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

4.12/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bottle picked up at Walgreens. Served in a New Belgium tulip.

A - Tan foam settles to a near-complete cap, thick collar, and minimal lacing. Dark brown body with some translucency at the fringes.

S - Spicy farmhouse yeast, dark malts, perhaps some wheat? There's a dunkelweizen sort of flavor profile happening here, with dark fruits, cloves, roast, and a touch of spicy alcohol. Semisweet chocolate surfaces as the beer warms. Wouldn't have guessed 10.8% if I didn't know Ten Ninety's modus operandi.

T - Flavor is similar, although the grain and roast dominates the palate a bit more. Again, it's more of a dunkel weizenbock, as the yeast character is more clove and spice influenced than I'd expect from a farmhouse beer. Again, gets a bit sweeter as it warms. but with more dark fruit rather than cocoa - figs, plums, berry, and so forth.

M - Chewy, medium-full body, pleasant soft moderate carbonation, not much alcohol warmth; drinks more like Aventinus' 8%. A touch of lingering stickiness, but fairly dry and attenuated for such a big beer.

D - Interesting brew. I split it with my roommate and we had little trouble finishing the 750ml bottle. I wish it were a bit more farmhouse in character, but it's still an enjoyable and fairly unique offering. I initially thought this brewery was very gimmicky, but I've been enjoying their offerings more and more.
Apr 07, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by ejmw from Michigan

Mar 21, 2015
 
Rated: 4.29 by stephensinner from Missouri

Mar 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by BuzzFee from Illinois

Mar 04, 2015
Photo of tdmccarthy
Reviewed by tdmccarthy from Illinois

4.17/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This is a very interesting beverage. Very complex with some roasty malts mixed with the Belgian (I assume) yeast. It has a nose of the malts mixed with some banana and bubble gum. These are flavors I usually don't care for but for some reason it works here to create something unique. The high abv is well hidden too.

I wouldn't call this a saison but it can't be pigeon holed into any particular category in my opinion. It's definitely worth trying. I'm glad that Ten Ninety is now available in Peoria.
Jan 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by brandoman63 from Illinois

Jan 24, 2015
Photo of stortore
Reviewed by stortore from Illinois

4.31/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
750 ML into a snifter.

Smells great, lots of black pepper. Poured a little hard, which generated a good head, two fingers. It dissipates, but still leaves little swirling pools of foam. Big flavor, a little malty, but still true to the style. Smoky flavor as it warms, a little bitterness on the back end. Solid body, good carbonation, feels good going down.

I know there's a few people jacking the ratings on Ten Ninety's beers, and they should be banned, but this is a really good beer. A great saison and even more impressive when you factor in the high ABV for the style. Definitely will buy again and recommend you buy it if you have the chance.
Jan 03, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by ovaltine from Indiana

Dec 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.77 by Kerrie from Michigan

Dec 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4.22 by Canada_Dan from Colorado

Nov 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Sparky44 from Illinois

Nov 21, 2014
 
Rated: 3.88 by Chappy-88 from Michigan

Nov 16, 2014
Imperial Black Saison from Ten Ninety Brewing Company
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 34 ratings