Ol' Dairy Ale
Three Barrel Brewing Co.

 

definitely not retired, i enjoyed one just yesterday. i like this beer, and while it certainly isnt going to measure up to any of the old world style saisons with their true farmhouse yeast strains and all, i like it for what it is, an easy drinking yeast forward beer without the need to contemplate it overly hard, the drinking mans saison. not to call it unsophisticated or inauthentic, but compared to the likes of hill farmstead or fantome or even an ommegang type brewery, its definitely less refined and evolved. it has a nice hearty wheat base that lends a medium body for belgian style yeast with a white pepper spice complexion to really stand out. hoppy too for the style, with a peachy fruitiness and light oiliness in the feel. i like how easy it is to drink, not just a watery wheat beer, but a truly flavorful attempt at a classic style. i dont think these guys are going after the logsdons and glazen torens of the world, just trying to make tasty beer, and i think they have achieved that in spades with this one, even if it almost belongs in a separate category as far as saison is concerned.

 

Tried this at a beer show in Highlands Ranch CO. I hadn't been too familiar with Saisons before but this was was pretty decent. It is just one of the many beers I tried on this day but I recall this being a good tasting beer, had a crisp semi-fruit taste to it. It was very earthy in flavor and aroma and all things that make Saisons what they are (the fruitiness, spice and bitterness) were very mellow, and I mean that in a good way. They weren't over the top like some brewers try to do. I'd recommend it for a novice BA.