Séance
Barley's Brewing Company

Séance pours a lighter gold color. There’s a nice layer of haze clouding the scene. When held to light, a slight orange tint is revealed. It’s a little disappointing in the head department. Despite a forceful pour, it only yields a surface covering of white bubbles. Needless to say, retention was very short. Lacing was also light and spotty. Not great, but not bad by any stretch either.

The nose is pretty good. It’s a little earthy and grainy up front. Smells a tad sweet. There might be some caramel malt there, but it isn’t too much. Belgian yeast is definitely noted and adds a spicy scent to the mix. Hops are nice and strong. They’re mostly citric. Grapefruit is the most notable, but orange and mango are also there. They also have a bit of a grassy scent. Maybe a noble hop? Perhaps. Alcohol isn’t noticeable at all. No surprise there. Smells pretty good.

The flavor is interesting. I like it, but I understand that it could be polarizing. Up front, it is a bit sweet, earthy, and grainy. A little caramel is definitely in the house. Belgian yeast adds a nice spicy note. The hops are interesting and make for an interesting combo with the yeast. The hops are citric and grassy. Grapefruit, orange, and mango are present. There’s a strong grassy flavor, as well. It is very dry and quite bitter. I could see where the interplay between the hops and the yeast might not be for everyone. It’s quite spicy and bitter. Alcohol is very mild. Finishes grassy, hoppy, and very dry.

Séance has a body that’s on the lighter side of medium. Carbonation seems very restrained. It’s soft and smooth. Given its light abv, it’s an easy drinking Belgian IPA.

Barley’s did a nice job with Séance. It might be a bit polarizing, but I like it. I’m not sure the aggressive interplay of spicy yeast and bitter hops will appeal to the majority, despite it being a lighter, very approachable beer in terms of abv. In my book, good stuff. I do like the name. Séance is a French word that means “session.” This growler has certainly made for a nice session for this guy. On the other hand, I’ll need quite a lot of it before I try to make contact with spirits. Just sayin’….