Jack D'Or
Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project

Jack D'OrJack D'Or
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From:
Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Saison
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
90
Avg:
4.04 | pDev: 11.14%
Reviews:
642
Ratings:
1,644
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 25, 2019
Added:
Dec 01, 2008
Wants:
  153
Gots:
  218
“Jack D’Or” is a simple table beer, or “Saison Americain” as we’re referring to it. We are not trying to coin a beer style – we’re just having fun. The Jack D’Or (pronounced “Jack Door”), is at the very center of Pretty Things and nearly three years on we’re still pleased as punch that he joined us!

As you know, PRETTY THINGS doesn’t brew “styles” per se. Close, but we re-imagine everything and leave the style numbers in books on the shelves where they belong. What that means is that while other people might be able to put our beers into a category, we have a hard time with it! Our beers are first and foremost creative beasts, not “types” of beer. Jack D’Or is the kind of beer Martha and Dann like to drink before, after and during a great meal. Heck, we’ll drink this sort of beer any time.

On Dann & Martha’s honeymoon in France and Belgium they stashed quite a few cases of Wallonian beer into their trunk. Every night after setting up their tent they’d cook lardons and lentils on a camp stove and enjoy fresh “saison” under the stars.

Inspired by some of our favorites like Saison DuPont, but also DeRanke’s XX Bitter, De Dolle’s Arabier, and local IPAs like Smuttynose, the Jack D’Or starts off with North American Pils, Vienna, Wheat and Malted Oats (among others) and is hopped with a combination of four hops, finishing with Palisade and Nugget. The bitterness is the real backbone of the Jack D’Or. It’s a proper “plant-like” bitterness with all of its jagged edges, beginning deep in the soil, then to the stem of this beer and up into to the very tippity heights. Fermentation-wise we use a blend of four yeast strains to give Jack D’Or its refreshingly dry character. Finally, despite all of the spicy flavours in this beer it contains no actual spices – only malt, oats, rye, sugar, hops and yeast. One more time: there are no spices or citrus in Jack D’Or. Wheat lends acidity at Jack’s edges, then rye and our blended yeast character come into play for a bit of polyphony, displeasing the notion of “balance” and creating the fire in the belly of Jack D’Or!

The creature on the label is Jack D’Or himself, conceived and drawn by Dann. Far away in a small clearing in the woods of New England, ankle deep in the mash tun, he contemplates and conjures himself into a batch of beer. For those of you who are new to this, Jack is a grain of malted barley, but more than that: he is the unifying force behind all of the Pretty Things. Jack D’Or Must Die!

57 IBU
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Ratings by brianjay:
Photo of brianjay
Reviewed by brianjay from Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Golden, with just a bit of haze. Bright airy foam for head, which transforms into a sticky lace ring. Bubbles add life, steadily floating to the top
Aroma is a subtle freshly cut wheat aroma with just a hint of pepper.
Tastes gets a big kick from the hops: a bit of that pepper from earlier as well as an earthy, spicy finish.
A very unique and drinkable beer.
Apr 23, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.47 by curlybird from Pennsylvania

May 25, 2019
 
Rated: 4.48 by demonssouls from Missouri

Jan 29, 2019
Photo of REVZEB
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Solid saison but nothing more. Classical in taste, with belgian yeast, crisp citrus, some belgian spices, brett, apple, slight funk, and pear. Body is bready but light yet not thin. Decent carbonation, booze hidden well, artful. Has some lager characteristics in the nose with the grains.
Jan 25, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by Patches826 from Massachusetts

Dec 28, 2018
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Found some Pretty Things lingering in Kansas City after the brewery had closed. Retroactive review.
It was a malty and complex saison, earthy and dry with some bitterness and peppery yeast phenolics.
Medium bodied with ample carbonation, overall it was unique and memorable.
Dec 27, 2018
 
Rated: 4.33 by Vylo from New Jersey

Jan 25, 2016
 
Rated: 4.12 by crbnfbr from Kentucky

Jan 23, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by FaradayUncaged from Michigan

Jan 15, 2016
 
Rated: 4.89 by vrendleman from Virginia

Jan 10, 2016
 
Rated: 4.04 by Justin82 from Massachusetts

Jan 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.94 by loganburgh from Michigan

Dec 31, 2015
Photo of Ozzylizard
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Price data not currently available, purchased on line from Craft Shack, $ 4 shipping
22 oz bottled Mar 2015 at 42 degrees into snifter, allowed to warm to 50 degrees
Aroma – fruity, like apples
Head average (Three cm, aggressive pour), white, fizzy/frothy, diminishing to irregular four to eight mm ring and partial frothy layer
Lacing excellent – complete rings of tiny bubbles
Body light gold, chill haze, some effervescence
Flavor – slightly bitter, very lightly fruity; no malt, no alcohol, no diacetyl
Palate light, watery, lively carbonation

Appearance 4, Aroma 4, Flavor 4.25, Palate 4, Overall 4.
Dec 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.15 by dannycohen62 from Illinois

Dec 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.77 by Allkindbuds from Massachusetts

Dec 18, 2015
Photo of DovGibor
Reviewed by DovGibor from New York

4.62/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Sept. 2015 bottle poured into a tulip glass. Dark gold in color with slightly orange hue and translucent chill haze. Minimal head.

Bready malt aroma with clear hop notes. Rich flavor. Amazing citrus tartness that stands out from the light malt body. Touch of yeast in the middle, with clear sourness in the finish. Mouthfeel is smooth and bubbly with gentle carbonation on the tongue.

A really good saison that likely pairs well with food.
Dec 14, 2015
 
Rated: 2.75 by canarycommotion from Massachusetts

Dec 08, 2015
 
Rated: 3.52 by heerboth from Pennsylvania

Dec 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Zekenyce from New Jersey

Dec 05, 2015
Photo of gopens44
Reviewed by gopens44 from Virginia

4.21/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Right away this crystal clear golden beer looks promising as the thick white pillow of a head rises right up and leaves behind a slightly sticky lacing.

Nose is wildly pleasant as that yeast brings a bouquet of slight clove, musty clay, champagne, a dash of pepper, hints of melon and bitter hop.

Fantastic tast. Melon pops immediately, followed by a musty, earthy and ever so slight funk. Further on along I get pear and pepper. Finish mostly carries the bitterness which floats between nondescript and slightly earthy along with an almost eucalyptus sensation in my nose.
Nov 30, 2015
Jack D'Or from Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 1644 ratings