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Nice Saison Seasonal Ale
Tommyknocker Brewery
- From:
- Tommyknocker Brewery
- Colorado, United States
- Style:
- Saison
- ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 76
- Avg:
- 3.26 | pDev: 16.87%
- Reviews:
- 28
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 23, 2017
- Added:
- May 07, 2012
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 10
A bright gold, effervescent summer ale brewed with a Belgian yeast strain that imparts a slightly tart flavor and spicy aroma.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Bitter_Echo:
Reviewed by Bitter_Echo from Michigan
3.7/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.7/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a murky, cloudy yellow, with weak diminishing head. Some fermented soured fruit notes, and some barny mustiness, but a not unpleasant funk. Taste is sour-ish only, not super prominent withe with curious notes that seem mildly synthetic, or treated in a way... a leather-ish quality, and with some sweetness, but bitterness is low but isn't built for it anyway. Not really any scary off notes here either...just a tiny bit 'off.' Mouthfeel is refreshing, but the carbonation is low, and not at all dry. This is complex brew and respectful of the style, at least in my somewhat limited experience...plus I can't go back to the 19th century to find out or something anyway. Maybe that's why it tastes a bit like a visit to a museum and I like museums, just not all the time.
Aug 24, 2012More User Ratings:
Reviewed by tone77 from Pennsylvania
3.28/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.28/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a dark golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of spices, some citrus. Taste is spices, lemons, a touch of vinegar, green apples at the finish. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall, not bad, but I won't be drinking it again.
Jan 23, 2017Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania
3.88/5 rDev +19%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.88/5 rDev +19%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Tommyknocker Brewery "Saison"
12 fl. oz. brown glass bottle, "BEST BY: DEC1916" and sampled on AUG1116
Appearance: Hazy orange & brass body beneath a short-lived head of frothy off-white. Lacing is average.
Aroma: Dried apricot and woody spiciness.
Flavor: As the aroma indicates with the addition of some sweet breadiness that's kind of like the shiny crust of a sweet Challah bread. It's a little tart, and then subtly sweet as the malt balances it out, softening it. The apricot-like fruitiness runs straight through it, lingering into the dry, slightly tart, and subtly spicy finish. It's not particularly bitter, nor very spicy - the listed 15 IBUs seems right, but the tart edge balances it nicely.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a gently zesty effervescent carbonation that gives a little bolster to the spiciness. Slightly astringent.
Overall: As it warms it opens up to become a fuller beer, as expected, and I'd suggest you enjoy it at cellar temperature (as it would have been in the old days!). It's not particularly complex, and it's fruitiness, tartness, gently sweetish bread-crust malt and mild spiciness are basically all it offers - although is that really such a bad thing? Regardless, it's not as complex as many examples of the style, nor does it really hit home with any of its attributes, but it is interesting and drinkable... a refreshing change of pace.
Aug 11, 201612 fl. oz. brown glass bottle, "BEST BY: DEC1916" and sampled on AUG1116
Appearance: Hazy orange & brass body beneath a short-lived head of frothy off-white. Lacing is average.
Aroma: Dried apricot and woody spiciness.
Flavor: As the aroma indicates with the addition of some sweet breadiness that's kind of like the shiny crust of a sweet Challah bread. It's a little tart, and then subtly sweet as the malt balances it out, softening it. The apricot-like fruitiness runs straight through it, lingering into the dry, slightly tart, and subtly spicy finish. It's not particularly bitter, nor very spicy - the listed 15 IBUs seems right, but the tart edge balances it nicely.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a gently zesty effervescent carbonation that gives a little bolster to the spiciness. Slightly astringent.
Overall: As it warms it opens up to become a fuller beer, as expected, and I'd suggest you enjoy it at cellar temperature (as it would have been in the old days!). It's not particularly complex, and it's fruitiness, tartness, gently sweetish bread-crust malt and mild spiciness are basically all it offers - although is that really such a bad thing? Regardless, it's not as complex as many examples of the style, nor does it really hit home with any of its attributes, but it is interesting and drinkable... a refreshing change of pace.
Reviewed by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania
3.99/5 rDev +22.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev +22.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Cloudy amber with no head to speak of (which in my mind is a big no-no for a Farmhouse Ale. Come on man, have you seen the heads on those Belgian Saisons?)
Nose: Tart on the nose, plenty of citrus but also strong honey notes. The nose suggests a very tart beer. However...
Taste: No tartness whatsoever, despite the smell that suggests otherwise. Very spicy, with hints of unripe apricot (just the way I like it!). Belgian yeast esters all around.
Mouthfeel: Medium body with light carbonation that is hardly noticeable.
Overall: My first impressions of this beer were not a great one but I gotta admit that it's a solid beer, with a fairly unique combination of flavors that makes it complex enough. I would drink it again
Jul 31, 2016Nose: Tart on the nose, plenty of citrus but also strong honey notes. The nose suggests a very tart beer. However...
Taste: No tartness whatsoever, despite the smell that suggests otherwise. Very spicy, with hints of unripe apricot (just the way I like it!). Belgian yeast esters all around.
Mouthfeel: Medium body with light carbonation that is hardly noticeable.
Overall: My first impressions of this beer were not a great one but I gotta admit that it's a solid beer, with a fairly unique combination of flavors that makes it complex enough. I would drink it again
Reviewed by Jeremiah87 from Colorado
1.96/5 rDev -39.9%
look: 3 | smell: 1.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 2.25
1.96/5 rDev -39.9%
look: 3 | smell: 1.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 2.25
Pours straw yellowish gold with 1 finger of head. Smell is very faint but consists of herb and vanilla. Medicinal, grassy, leathery taste.
Not a fan. Will never drink again.
May 07, 2016Not a fan. Will never drink again.
Reviewed by sjdevel from Utah
3.9/5 rDev +19.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.9/5 rDev +19.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look:
Slightly hazy yellowish-gold hue. 1-2 finger head upon pour and very nice lacing.
Smell:
Very herbal and grassy. Slight sour smell with citrusy fruits mixed in.
Taste:
First flavors noticeable are tart/slightly sour white grapes, pears, and green apples. Then, herbs, spices, and earthiness kicks in. Along with the spices is a slight saltiness. When the spices fade, there is a sweet yeasty and bready finish.
Feel:
Medium bodied. Not very effervescent on the tongue as you would expect from a Saison brew. It did seem to be a bit slippery.
Overall:
I did enjoy this one. It was pretty good, but not up there with the top Saisons. I would be okay with drinking this one again.
Nov 08, 2015Slightly hazy yellowish-gold hue. 1-2 finger head upon pour and very nice lacing.
Smell:
Very herbal and grassy. Slight sour smell with citrusy fruits mixed in.
Taste:
First flavors noticeable are tart/slightly sour white grapes, pears, and green apples. Then, herbs, spices, and earthiness kicks in. Along with the spices is a slight saltiness. When the spices fade, there is a sweet yeasty and bready finish.
Feel:
Medium bodied. Not very effervescent on the tongue as you would expect from a Saison brew. It did seem to be a bit slippery.
Overall:
I did enjoy this one. It was pretty good, but not up there with the top Saisons. I would be okay with drinking this one again.
Reviewed by gmoneyproductions from Colorado
3.21/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.21/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
had this on tap at the brewery
pours pale yellow with a white head
smell fruity
taste sweet and fruity with a sour finish
fruit to sour didnt work for me overall but not terrible
astringent feel
Nov 02, 2015pours pale yellow with a white head
smell fruity
taste sweet and fruity with a sour finish
fruit to sour didnt work for me overall but not terrible
astringent feel
Reviewed by DrMullet from Florida
2.64/5 rDev -19%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
2.64/5 rDev -19%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Pours a golden yellow. There is a faint, musty fruit smell.
Bitter and acidic taste.
Sour in an unpleasant way. I'd drink this again, but only if it's because I lost some kind of bet.
Aug 09, 2015Bitter and acidic taste.
Sour in an unpleasant way. I'd drink this again, but only if it's because I lost some kind of bet.
Nice Saison Seasonal Ale from Tommyknocker Brewery
Beer rating:
76 out of
100 with
109 ratings
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