Wildflower Saison
Sherwood Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

This brew was served from the tap at Sherwood Brewing Company in Shelby Township, Michigan. It arrived in a generic pint glass, glowing a dusty pale straw coloring. No real head was appreciated, other than a whitish film over the center of the liquid. A chill haze cut clarity, but no sediment was noted. Carbonation appeared to be light. The aroma gave big wheaty malts, coriander, Belgian pales, light American reds, distant citric hops, clove and cinnamon spice, plastic phenols, lemon rind, strong banana esters, warm plum pudding sweetness, black pepper spice, and thorough booziness. Our first impression was that the flavoring was strongly Belgian, with spice and sweetness to carry it through and blend to the last drop. The taste opened with bright sugary freshness, Belgian and American pales, syrupy apricot and raspberry fruitiness, chlorine, cherry flesh sweetness, pine cone earthiness, and resiny hops. The middle came to a peak with red apple sweetness to cut the pale malt base, along with white flour, lemon sugars, cantaloupe, earthy mineral, cinnamon-white sugar dryness, Belgian mustiness, and gravel. Washing through the finish were light butters, cinnamon toast crunch cereals, pale and wheaty malts, white wine cooler sugars, green grassy oiliness, plastic phenols, mineral, and soft boozy sweetness. The aftertaste breathed of apricot wine, straw, mild funky grassiness, limey bite, ginger cleanliness, vanilla cake, fusel booze, green vines, herbal hops, light metallics, herbal tea tannins, and cleaning lemon wipes. The body was med, and the carbonation is medium to full. Each sip gives nice cream, froth, slurp, smack, foam, and pop. The mouth was left with light coolness and happy satiation, with eventual astringency across the front of the tongue. The abv was appropriate, and the beer drank with ease.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this beer was its aroma. This was actually nicely inclusive, with big citric hops, decent mustiness on the back, and hearty Belgian fullness. This honestly smells of a Belgian Wit/pale, and tastes like one too, but without all that exciting funk, wildness, or surprise. That said, we are kind of curious as to why they labeled this one a “saison”. Otherwise this brew is clean and sips nicely, and will certainly fulfill that “not American beer” drive you may be chasing.