Farmhouse Special Reserve
Fitger's Brewhouse

This is a good one. Appearance is pretty plain, not a lot going on, pale yellow with nohead and a little lacing. Smell is decent some odd spice right up front and a decent amount of hops for the backbone. The Taste is almost identical but there is a bit of malt that comes through. Mouthfeel is light, with a bit of carbonation. Drinkability is good.

Originally reviewed May 4, 2005. On tap at the brewpub. In the dim light of Fitger’s Balcony, a 10 ounce pint of slightly hazy beauty glows a lucious orange-tinged gold, rimmed with an off-white line of head. An estery complex aroma, so familiar of Fitger’s other belgian styles. This aroma that jumps off is deeper, more complex with wheat, juniper berries and banana. WOW! This beer explodes in taste; seriously deep, with four flavor stages. First, a slightly bitter, but sweet malt kissed with honey and vanilla. Second, the estery burst, with apple, plum, brandy, and strong licorice. Thirdly, it mellows across the palate with smooth yeast and glowing wheat. Finally, it bursts into spice; a strong cardamom and hint of coriander, with the best of Far East spices in my mouth. If I didn’t think any better, this beer WAS spiced. Palate is sugary coating and very oily. Smack is of savory peaches and cream. Aftertaste is a light bite of hops. I’m absolutely amazed by this beer.

(Note, this beer screams, "unretire me, please" and this version rings in at 7.8%)

Clear golden colration, slim, yet capable, staying head.

Aroma is a delicious melange of honey, spices, sweet fruit, prickly pears, peppers, and ginger. Quite a mix. Love it!

Smooth and pleasant in the mouth, tingling with citrus and spice. Lays lightly on the palate, but hangs out memorably in the finish. Medium-bodied, eternally tasty.

The flavor is genius, well and truly, a gently, but potent blend of spice and fruit.
The taste is tremendous, and the strength barely registers.

Dangittidang, delicious!

(Much thanks to fantome for the growler!)

Copper/orange appearnce. Thin beige head. It's leaves specks of lace that dot the glass all over the place. Nice looking beer. Love the nose. Minty, fragrant, orangey, definitely sweet, a little lime. Lots of stuff and it all works together perfectly. The mouthfeel is slightly prickly. Body is better than medium. Flavors the come through to me are yeast and cake dough, spice, pepper, orange peel... Nice little concoction. Good take on a saision.

A tasty brew...orangish color..great nose...I want to say ginger but I don't think that's it...reminds me of a beer that used Grains of Paradise in it....Perhaps something from town hall but I might be off on that...spices...sweet tropical fruits....taste is sweet tropical fruits...some wheat cracker like maltiness..and a yeasty almost slightly sour finish...I'm not a big Saison expert but this is well worth trying...Worth buying just to smell it actually and the rest of it is pretty good too..

While residing in my little WI cabin, about 30 miles south of Superior, I would escape to Duluth every other weekend to see what Fitger's was brewing and to fill my growler. I was really glad to see this saison on tap the last time I went. Now I just wish I would have gotten more...
Slightly hazy, golden orange body with a small off-white head. Smells of belgian candy sugar-coated fruit and spicy malt. Yum. Taste is tangy-sweet wheat malt up front, followed by clove, and toffee-covered fruit (bananas, apples). A yeasty bitterness (but mildly so) comes in and stays into the finish, along with some spicy fruit. Delicious. Med.-big feel, with perfect carbonation and not cloying. A great, refreshing, yet complex beer