Session Ale #10: Cherry Grisette
East End Brewing Company

A hand-bottled Cherry Grisette courtesy of Deuane.

A: The ale is well-carbonated, filling up the glass with 2/3 foam and 1/3 beer. The thick white bubbles are dense and the head has a touch of pale flamingo pink. The ale is golden but the color of the head really stands out.

S: The aroma has a tart wheat body along with a familiar smokiness that I recall from Lichtenhainer, another one of Scott's brews. Dry Belgian yeast adds another dimension.

T: The tartness in the mouth is driven by lots of cherries and a touch of wheat flavor. The pucker factor is medium, strong enough to take notice but not enough to overpower. As the tartness fades, a lasting sweetness settles on the palate. Not much regarding the grisette style makes its way past the cherries. This is a great summer ale.

M: Tart and sweet, each sip wipes clean the sweetness from the last. The more the ale sits, the more saison flavors emerge.

D: The intensity of flavor in a 3.5% beer is ridiculous. East End never ceases to amaze me.

Grisette with Michigan Sour Cherries.

A-Golden orange with slight haze. Thick fluffy white head with the slightest touch of pink. Head reduces to leave nice lacing.

S-Herbal qualities with the twang of sour cherry. Notes of that "typical" Belgian yeast.

T-Spicey with notes sour cherries. Not overly sour. Very nice mixture of herbs and fruit.

M-Light bodied with spirited carbonation. A bit of nice puckeriness on the tounge.

D-Very drinkable session beer. The cherries add a nice touch. Easy to like....nothing is overpowering.

Appears a cloudy, light gold with a fluffy white head that slowly fades out. Spotty lacing is left around the glass.
Smell is of yeasty, light funk, melted cane sugar, tangerines, and mild notes of cherries.
Taste is of the same aromas with tart cherries standing out more in the taste.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, yeasty, chewy, tart cherries lingering, with citrus hitting the back of the tongue.

Yes, there are two Session Ale #10s. This is the Grisette with Michigan Sour Cherries added.

A - Honey, gold color with slight haze. No evidence of red from the cherries. Big, frothy bone white head.

S - Smell is fairly reserved. A light grassy herbal aroma with accents of sour cherry. The cherry addition seems to have kicked down some of the Belgian characteristics of the original.

T - Lemon grass, spices, and sour cherries, although not too pukery. The cherry flavor develops to a sweeter, meatier cherry pie filling flavor. Finish has a bit of spice.

M - Light-bodied, spritzy carbonation, with a acidic tartness on the tongue.

D - The cherries add a nice touch of sourness, and its still very drinkable given the low abv. Loses a little of the complexity of the original.