La Belle Saison
À l’abri de la Tempête

 

 

Bright pale straw color with low activity. Foamy white 2-3 finger head, lasting around 5 minutes, with poor legs. Flavors of ginger, nutmeg, caramel, lemon, peach, sweet grains and floral hops. Smooth oily full body with a light crisp. Light strength finish, slightly floral and spicy, a little fruity but not much, more like caramel and a bit corny with a hint of vanilla. Poor yeast profile having hardly no barnyard feel nor much wild yeast, just a bit rustic. Very delicate, too much, even less than a table Saison. It's highly accessible though. Strange cross between a Saison and Amber (I guess). At least the body is pleasant and well rounded, but gets quickly dull from the lack of carbonation. Overall average quality craft.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance: It has a nice hazy pale straw yellow color to it. It has a nice thick white head that dies down moderately and leaves some spotty lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitely give out hints of peppery spices, ginger, grassy and floral notes, herbs and a touch of lemon.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has peppery spices, ginger/cinnamon, grassy/floral/herbal notes and faint lemon zest.

Mouthfeel: It has a medium carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas. Not quite what I was expecting from a Saison.

Pours light lemon yellow, very clear, just a little fizzy head. Looks very carbonated.

Smells grassy, maybe something spicy like cilantro? The bottle says "perfumed with wild herbs picked on the archipelago."

First impression: a little spicy, then a grainy finish. Pretty dry -- not much sweetness to this one. Probably not my favorite implementation of the style (saison, that is).

Was better when paired with food. Not bad, but not worth seeking out again.

 

 

Pours a pale straw. Snow white head settles to a thin ring. Slippery lacings. Visible carbonation.

Obviousy spicing on the nose. Quite herbal, heather would be the closest thing to mind. Touch of vanilla sweetness as well.

Spice is right up front. Again, herbal notes with a bit of zing, couldn't tell you exactly what from. Malt is very clean through the finish.

A bit thin in the mouth. Lively carbonation.

Not something I'd pick up again. Nice patio beer maybe, but not as satisfying as similar brews out there.

Bottle purchased 6/9/2012 at Dépanneur Peluso in Montréal during the Mondial de la Bière. Sampled 7/20/2012.

Appearance: Poured into my Hennepin chalice, one finger foam, slight lacing, with a light hazy gold color.

Aroma: mineral, yeasty nose.

Taste: Slightly salty up front, fading to a subtle grain and herbal finish; almost no hop bitterness.

Overall: Understated yet interesting nonetheless; more of an herbed/spiced brew with saison highlights than a true saison; definitely worth seeking out.