Matt's Burning Rosids
Stone Brewing

4.21/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Brought back from San Diego to me by a friend who worked at Stone. This brew really blew me away as I totally bought into the smokey nose and palate. I agreed with another poster months ago who said people who don't like smoky beers should refrain from reviewing them. I don't like wheat beers in general so 1. I rarely drink them and 2. Unless I like it, I'm not going to review it. Lots of funk here with wacko combinations of overripe tropical fruit: banana, burned pineapple and mango. Those notes flow into the palate with added orchard type fruits, also overripe, particularly pear and apple all with a healthy dose of cherrywood smoke. Finished cleanly with very little alcohol in evidence even at 10.5.

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4.18/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I've had a bomber of this sitting in my cellar for quite some time now. Poured into my snifter glass, this beer pours a clear, medium copper color with a nice white head that's about an inch thick when first poured that settles pretty quickly to a big cluster swirl film layer of foam on the beer's surface along with a thick ring lining the inside of the glass and spotty lacing. Aromas of somewhat toasted and smoked, bready malts with some caramel and a hint of molasses followed by some fruit notes, certainly including the cherry. Has a slightly toasted, smoked, bready malt flavor upfront with hints of caramel and molasses that gives way to the cherry wood along with other fruits such as apple, dates, figs and just maybe even a hint of banana. Also a nice touch of yeasty funk notes that's rounded out with some spice. Not really any discernible hop presence at this point. I wonder if there was any a few years ago when this beer was first released. A good balance of flavors and an interesting take on this style here. This Matt Courtright guy that this beer is brewed in memory of and who came up with this recipe certainly created a unique beer here. Has a fairly crisp, yet smooth, medium to full bodied mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Quite an enjoyable and interesting beer.

Eric

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3.52/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

poured from a 22 fl. oz. brown bottle - bottled on 12/20/2013

Matt's Burning Rosids [Imperial Cherrywood Smoked Saison] Ale poured into my tulip glass a light "dirty" gold hue. Atop sat a 1-finger off-white head that was reduced to a foamy collar and very spotty lacing. The nose was very light - with a hint of cherries, banana, and somewhat spicy. The flavor was of light fruit, some light cloves and a little smoky woodiness. The finish is malty with some alcohol warming. Mouth feel is crisp and dry with lingering hop bitterness - also full bodied.

Overall, an interesting take on the Saison/Farmhouse Ale style.

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4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled at THT June tasting. Amber with a thin white head. Smoked bacon, soft saison notes, caranel and honey. Bitter and syrupy, with a nice sweetness underneath.

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3.71/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

The smoke is strong on this beer. The rest is really imperial Saison. Quite well done I have to say. But the smoke. I like this the best when at the end of a longer evening drinking and especially with the occasional smoking thrown in. The its great. In the afternoon it is a bit off putting.

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3.44/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Clear orange colored ale with a medium sized white colored head.

Scents smoke and peach with some tangerine mixed in. Has a sweet and sour scent to it. Unexpected scent of cloves. Coriander is about medium in intensity for the style. Distinctly smells of candied fruit.

Starts out smoky and savory with a sweet and sour undertone. Alcohol is warming to the chest but not tasted. Smoke flavor is prominent. Sweeter than average for the style. But after you drink it for a bit mostly it is smoke flavored.

Mouthfeel is good.

Overall a great Rauchbier but a weird Saison.

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4.54/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

From XXXII. In Temu glasd. Shared with Carlos at delivery of Fishbones. Odd brew but much better and drinkable than expected. The smoky part is very hidden, as well as its high ABV. Would repeat if cheaper.

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3.48/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Beautiful head after aged for 3 years bright beautiful pour. Taste almost reminds me of orange and liquid smoke the smoke from it is so strong it almost seems artificial towards the end. Not a bad beer but I would not buy again.

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3.86/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

On tap at front door. Tart and pungent, in your face bitterness and acidity. But it’s from Stone, so it has to be drinkable. Lots of citrus, but not puckering. I wouldn’t order too many of these, but the 4 oz sampler was a beaut.

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4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thoroughly enjoyed this fine ale in a snifter from the 22 oz bottle. This saison pours a cloudy yet luminous orange with a nice head of white foam that settles to a thick ring, nice pool, and subtle lacing. Nose of candy sugars, subtle smoke, tropical fruit notes, and strong booze. Flavors exceed the nose with sweet candy malts and subtle funky yeast on the front and middle that vie for dominance over tropical fruit notes of orange zest and lightly smoked notes that fade into the background with a smoky herbal hops bitterness that is perfect for this fine sipper. Very nice mouth feel with medium to low carbonation and a warming, moderately hoppy, sweet finish touched with smoke. An excellent example of taking a style to it's limits and making something more of it. Very nice. A new favorite from Stone which I hope they brew again.

Cheers

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1.47/5  rDev -61.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1

Take a decent IPA, add a bit of orange juice and some liquid smoke and you get this nasty concoction. Maybe I just don't like smoked beer. Here's a better idea. Eat some bacon while drinking one of your favorite beers. Yes.

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3.95/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy, bright golden orange color with slightly lighter edges and a two finger white head that slowly settles into a thick, lasting ring. Good retention, taking a while to settle with streaks of soapy lacing left behind. Visible carbonation bubbling up.

Slightly smoky aroma with an earthy wood character that's nicely integrated into the saison elements. I was worried that it would overpower everything but it's pretty delicate with hints of wood, charcoal, grilled meat and liquid smoke countered by peppery spice, funky farmhouse yeast and crisp light fruit. Smoke and wood character along with pepper, coriander, grassy, spicy hops, musty funk and bread/yeast. Light fruit sweetness with hints of strawberry and cream, rhubarb, apple and pear. Subtle booziness. As a big fan of smoke beers I kind of wanted more in the nose but the aroma is nicely balanced with a decent amount of saison character. Smells pretty good.

Medium body with tight carbonation but the mouthfeel is pretty soft and delicate. The beechwood smoked malts are a bit stronger than in the aroma but this beer is still decently balanced with nice saion flavors. Slightly dry with lingering delicate smoke flavor giving off hints of burnt wood, charcoal, bacon BBQ, liquid smoke and subtle peat. Really nice smoke flavor along with some charred wood that's reminiscent of some of the lighter schlenkerla offerings. Smoke and wood are prominent and although this is stronger than the aroma suggests, it's not completely overpowering. Saison notes are slightly muted but there's still a strong peppery spice presnce and subtle farmhouse funk. Dry brett character shows a bit more as it warms but it's somewhat faint. The peppery spice compliments the smoke/wood and is followed by bread, yeast and light fruit sweetness. A touch of citrus along with apricot, grapefruit and apple. Some boozy sweetness in the finish but the high ABV is excellently masked making this well balanced beer dangerously drinkable. Has more smoke than the aroma, which I like, but the saison characteristics could be a bit stronger. Otherwise it's really solid experimental take in the style.

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3.79/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: 22 oz bottle, orange, white head, cloudy

S: oranges, smoke, yeast, complex alcohols

T: tart tangy, smoke, oranges, coriander

M: sticky, strong

O: moving story behind this beer

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3.5/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

"Everyone at Stone recognized Matt's prowess and passion for brewing. He loved to explore all beer could be, rather than limit himself or his brews to accepted parameters. To wit, he crafted the beer you hold in your hands, a Belgian-style saison he conceived with his Stone friend and compatriot, Brian Bishop. Infused with cherrywood-smoked malt, the beer was dubbed Burning Rosids, referencing the rosid plant family from which cherry trees hail." Brewed in the style of a Saison Ale with Cherrywood-smoked malt added. Available in 22 oz. bottles and on limited draft. Brewed in honor of Stone brewer Matt Courtright.

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle to a tulip glass.

(Appearance) Pours an amber-white head of a crisp, frothy foam consistency over a moderately hazy sunset amber body with a light, specked sediment in tow and light carbonation. Retention is average and lacing is light and patchy. 3.5

(Smell) Yeast-borne spice, tangy stone fruit undertones, smoked wood and grain, earthy and raw bitterness forward, trace grain alcohol. Potency is moderate. 3.5

(Taste) Cracker and pale malt body with a reserved sweetness, light tangy fruit backbone, boldly bitter and very dry from smoked wood flavor with a raw bitterness. Yeast undertones of stone fruit, effervescent spiciness, and light grain alcohol creeping in. 3.5

(Mouthfeel) Texture is silky, slick, smooth, moderately dry. Carbonation is moderate with a moderate frothiness and a moderately crisp finish. Body is medium/heavy for the style, medium/heavy overall. Alcohol presence is moderate and there are no off characters. 3.5

(Overall) This is a pretty interesting Saison to say in the least, lots of smoked and toasted wood flavor that generates a lots of raw bitter and tangy stone fruit character, with the slight caveat of intense drying power that makes this a dehydrating beer. I think it's worth a try for anybody interested in experiencing the flavor range of Saisons, as this one really brings a lot of interesting flavor to the table. Kudos to Matt for this unique twist, and Stone for the kind words on the bottle. 3.5

Stone Brewing Co.'s
Matt's Burning Rosids
3.5/5.00

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4.28/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I love this dont go in expecting your typical saison this has an upfront sweetness that pairs with the spiciness and a slight smokiness a little boozy but I had it on draft.

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4.25/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Reviewed from notes. L: It pours a brilliant orange tinted amber under a 2” foam cap with very fine soft bubbles. S: This has a saison nose along with some wheat. T: This has a saison nose along with some wheat. It is very smooth and creamy – the attack starts with malt and then smoke and then fruit then a long smokey burst before the long aftertaste composed of smoke and a suggestion of cherry in the background that rises up in the finish. Very faint banana, some bubble gum on the palate. Big alcohol. F: It is very smooth and creamy. Above medium body, medium to a little less on the carbonation for a saison. O: An interesting, unusual, and very drinkable saison.

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3.89/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pours yellow with a small head.
Nose shows funky saison yeast, light banana, soft smoke and floral notes.
Similar flavours; earthy and funky yeast, light wheat notes, and hint of meaty smoke.
Tastes more like 5%, very well made.

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3.78/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bottled in January 2014. Here I am 20 months later.

Pours a cloudy creamsicle orange with a 1 inch foamy white head that recedes to reveal some splotchy lacing.

Nose features soft wheat and some fruitiness. Overall not a strong scent.

Some definite yeast funkiness going on. I'm curious as to how this faired fresh. I think the smokiness is giving this one a peculiar bitterness on the backend that lingers for quite awhile in the aftertaste. Grain is there with some fruit sweetness but its immediately overpowered by what I assume is funk meets smoke.

The aftertaste finally fades into a biscuit butter coating on the roof of the mouth. The 10.5% is helping in the coating process, I'm sure. A soft and smooth mouthfeel, especially in this alcohol range.

Overall, I'm not much of a Saison guy to begin with, so this one intrigued me with all that's going on. It's not a bad beer and I think Saison lovers would get a kick out of it.

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4.08/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Clearly people that hate smoked beers should not review smoked beers. This is beautiful. Not sure whatit was like fresh but at this moment, it's a great beer. I'll agree, the abv is probably excessive. If you could make something like this at more of a 6% level, I'd regularly consume it. Smoked beers are killer food beers and I can see this pairing well with all manners of hearty food. Has a nice woody sweetness and fruity notes (cherry, apple, even pineapple?).

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3.77/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

This beer is much better now than it was at release, much more tempered on the smoke flavor and the aroma has become pleasantly tart and pungent due to the saison yeast, still the look and head is not particularly amazing and the mouthfeel is a little heavy for me. Sill for the abv, this beer is pleasantly refreshing and I have never had another beer even remotely similar so you have to tip your hat to this unique and intoxicating beer.

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3.04/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

650ml bomber poured into tulip 28/6/15

A murky orange and even after a hard dump down the middle of the glass I only get a short lived finger of foam that leaves no lace

S kinda smells like smoked meat and burnt band aids, I get some fruity notes and yeast, burnt marshmallow, bruised banana, some pepper and booze, but I can't get over the burnt band aids

T not the same level of band aid but still just not doing it for me, reminds me of a smoked malt hefe then a saison, the yeast profiles strange and overwhelmed by smoke

M thick, a little flat, some heat and its pretty big for a saison, fruity smoke lingers for a while

O its not awful but it leaves something to be desired at every point, I'm not having any problems finishing the bottle but ones enough

Saisons are a pretty loose style but this one misses the mark, points for being original but I'm not really feeling this one

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3.97/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I don't get the smokiness in either the smell or taste, but I do get some oak/wood. The smell has some mineral to it, too. The taste, I can only describe, is a hybrid of Cider + Hefeweizen + Sauvignon Blanc. I'm fascinated by this beer and disappointed it was a limited brew. Fortunately, the local liquor store still has some bottles so I am going to buy the rest and age them a bit to see if that changes the smell/taste. Personally, I definitely recommend this beer.

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4.24/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

22oz. bottle: This one pours a somewhat opaque golden color. There was a small white head that didn’t linger very long. It has an interesting nose. A bit of funk mixed with a bit of smokiness. Some earthy, apple and citrus notes also. The taste is very good. Just a faint sourness to it. Hints of apple, smokiness, yeastiness, wheat. A very complex brew. Hopefully they will brew this again!

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3.89/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Smells of yeast and cigarette butts, with vanilla and lemon undertones - not real desirable but interesting none the less. In the mouth it's yeast and smoke with a nice creamy mouth-feel. Definitely different, but it works well for me.

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3.46/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

Difficult to review
It certainly is a Big Saison.
It's also very smokey and really quite alcoholic - so any zest of saison gets overtaken by alcohol warmth and booze. Too much booze really in the mix and whilst it is complex, it just ends up alcoholic warm.
Ends up a being more of a gimmick than beer, really,

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