Pepe Nero
Goose Island Beer Co.

Here's an old beer from March Madness 2023. Label indicates this is a 2011. But you know what? It held up.

Pours black. Ok what kind of saison is this? Its like the darkest brown with a discernable dark red edge to it. Makes a lasting head, 3/4" beige, impressive all these years it held its carbonation. I don't really like giving high appearance scores to beers that look nothing like the style guidelines, but exceptions gonna exception.

The aroma had a walnuts meet black pepper aura. Can you dehusk hay? Just wheat? I dunno. Taste reminds me a bit of a black ipa when done right, keeps the roast out of your face. Unsweetened rock toffee "candy". Hint of spice rack clove I didn't get in the nose, not heavy, thankfully. Carbonation being high over a decade later is a testament to something. At times this was like a blend of belgian stout, black ipa, saison and schwarzbier with less bitterness. Its a beer that is better in execution that it is on paper.

Dark brown color a thin off-white head. Pepper, wood , yeasts in roasted aroma - the strange combination for my sense of smell. Rich taste of roasted/ smoked malt, yeasts, and fruits. Dry finish.

Bottled 5/29/13

I'm not exactly sure where I picked up this nearly 12 year old bottle, but considering it's a Saison it should've been opened by now. Either way, it should be interesting to see how the years have treated this one. Let's pop it open and see what is has to offer

Pours an opaque medium brown with a finger of creamy light tan head that quickly fades to a ring and leaves minimal lacing

There's a gentle funk in the nose that's working in its favor, otherwise it's a touch bland. I'm picking up on aromas of book leather, grape skin, black pepper, stewed cherry, toffee, lemon zest, light red wine, and hay

It's showing its age quite a bit more in taste, feeling a bit flat but still not bad all things considered. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting earthy wheat, red grape, cocoa powder, caramel, dark bread, light leather, and black pepper. The swallow brings notes of dark bread, stewed cherry, caramel, book leather, coriander, light wheat, and cocoa powder

A medium body pairs with gentle tingling carbonation, resulting in a smooth and slick beer. Finishes truly neutral

This isn't anything amazing, but for a nearly 12 year old dark Saison it's held up rather well

Had this from a bottle.
A: pours a dark, blackbody with small, tan beadwork ok retention and lacing
S: subtle bretty, olive smell with some alcohol notes
T: some strong alcohol notes with some roasted undertones; pretty winey overall
M: pretty overcarbonated; airy, nothing too impressive
D: ok feel and taste, but the overcarbonation made it difficult to really drink; ok for a saison, but ok overall

These are simple notes from 2013.
A 17 month old 12 oz bottle into a pint glass.
L: Quite dark brown. Essentially black.
S: Malts and caramel, peppercorns, fruity, citrus and clove.
T: It is malt forward with citrus, dark fruit, caramel, spicy?, coriander, light yeast.
F: Well balanced, somewhat creamy and not too carbonated.
O: Very complex and satisfyingly.

 

Rerate: Well I bought it again "by accident" at Fermentoren, Aarhus. The fruity acidity is still there, so it is probably intended. Not a bad beer though. Original rating: 355 ml bottle, from Ølkonsortiet, Aalborg. ABV is 6%. Dark brown colour, nearly black. Huge and lasting beige head. Pleasant "Belgian" ale aroma with spicy / peppery and fruity notes. Hints of coriander, banana, citrus and cloves. The flavour is citrussy, possibly a bit more sour than intended? (slight infection??), moderately spicy / peppery, just a hint of dark malts and coffee. Okay, but not as great as I hoped. Won’t buy again.

Bottle 2011 drank 2021
Look - fantastic almost black with big tan head
Smell - kind of like a cherry coke
Taste - taste like cherry coke turned into a beer
Feel - medium body creamy with a slight carb
Overall - interesting, not sure about cherry coke

 

App - 8-ball black, w low tan head, decent retention, poor lace

Aroma - licorice, light pine, wintergreen, very low roast, thick caramel, strong aroma of hay

Flavor - cherry, licorice, sweet caramel, light roast, wintergreen, nougat, creme brulee, bready center, no bitterness, spicy yeast,

Overall - very interesting beer, not really a saison but more in the Belgian-stout vein,

MF - very layered flavors, medium-light bodied, velvety, medium carbonation,

Very nice dark color, just a little bit peppery. A very nice beer

 

Bottled 1/15/13; drank 4/30/14 @ the Yarchives.

Dark plum color.

Tan head; decent lace.

Mild clove & melon nose.

Medium thin mouthfeel.

Coffee, candle wax & black pepper up front; as it warms notes of cream & dark chocolate emerge.

Easy to drink yet rich & complex. Excellent.

2013 bottle, The Brass Tap, Tuscaloosa, AL.

Pours a dark brown, flecked gold with the light. Small, thin amounts of carbonated head ring the beer.

The nose has a nice complexity, with malt serving the backbone and balancing notes of plum, raisin, hints of citrus peel, coriander, and Belgian yeast. Good balance, but with just the slightest twinge of off tartness that lingers oh so slightly.

Again, very malt-forward but with much more of a coriander and spiced essence to it. Flecks of citrus and dark fruit, with a nice clean finish.

Smooth, with a low carb and a lightly sticky mouthfeel. Very drinkable, and holding up very well.

 

From notes 12/5/12: Pours a clear black producing 2 fingers of frothy, tan, moderately lasting head that leaves clumps and rings of lace. Aroma is Belgian yeast must, pepper, dry spice, orange peel, coriander and a hint of roast. Taste is dominated by Belgian yeast, dry grass/hay, spice and coriander. A malty sweetness develops as the brew warms. The finish is dry, lightly bitter with a faint note of roast. Crisp, clean and quite dry.

 

2011 bottle poured into a Hill Farmstead tulip.

Deep borderline colour like cold brew coffee. Fuzzy head the off brown/white of almond meat. Doesn't swell up much, but doesn't fade away either.

Nose is dark complexity. Dark sour cherries and molasses. Hints of plum around the edges with other fruity components, but I keep coming back to that deep rich molasses, which I was not really expecting, and which I'm quite enjoying.

Flavour carries the same interesting complexity that is headed up by a rich sweet molasses and flanked by various dark fruits. Pleasantly surprising.

Body is relatively thin, and it carries heavy carbonation. Very easy drinking.

I was wary of this one as it had been sitting in my 'cellar' from very early on in my 'cellaring' (collecting) of beers. At a lower abv in particular I was worried it wouldn't hold up. I am extremely pleasantly surprised, and in a different universe would gladly seek it out again.

 

2016