Noel (Sole Composition Series)
Upright Brewing Company

 

 

I didn't remember this being a spiced beer. Maybe that same out more as other aspects faded? Soapy nose and finish. Okay in the middle but the rest is weak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chilled bottle into a glass. Thanks, Jason! From notes.

A: Pours a hazy chestnut body with amber tint against the light. Small off-white head.

S: Smells of wine barrel and juniper (?). It reminds me heavily of gin.

T: Wine, juniper, spice (allspice or nutmeg, couldn't quite place it) and a mild tartness on the finish -- likely the wine influence. The tartness accentuates the barrel tannins in the finish.

M: Good body.

O: I thought it was pretty drinkable, and we all remarked on how interesting it was, but I don't think anyone fell in love with it.

 

 

 

 

Bottle #189 of 191. Served in a Cigar City snifter.

A - A finger-plus of white foam settles to a thin skim and thicker collar, leaving behind plenty of splotchy lace. The body is a hazy amber color.

S - Tropical fruit funk, wine, oak, vanilla, Christmas spices, mild lactic sourness, and some pale malt sweetness. As it warms up there's an unpleasant sulfur and egg aroma in there.

T - This literally tastes like there is menthol in here. Very mint and clove-forward, but otherwise somewhat bland and bready. Not much wine or barrel flavor here unfortunately.

M - Pleasant active carbonation, medium body, very dry and tannic finish, and no obvious alcohol. There's a strange menthol coolness that lingers for a while.

D - I enjoyed this more than most, but it's still not a great beer. The taste is somewhat boring, but the aroma is quite intriguing if you can avoid the sulfur note.

 

 

Reviewed from notes dictated into voice notes on my iphone.

Shared by dvelcich at a tasting-- thanks buddy.

Light orangey color with a small head. Some little bubbles with thin legs and no lacing. Not a good looking saison in general...

The nose is vinous and earthy. Very little about this beer reminds me of a saison, or at least, a siason that I would have interest in drinking.
A slight tartness in here, but that's about it. This is just boring to me. Nothing about this makes me want more of it. The flavor adds a slight earthy brett note.

The body has decent carbonation.

My overall impression of this beer is pretty low. This is another beer from upright that hasn't impressed me. I have tried about 6 or 7 different beers by them, but didn't feel like reviewing them because I wanted to be "fair" to a newer brewery. Now though, I am pretty sure that I have a feel for what they do and what they go for-- I just genuinely don't like it too much.
This is about average for a saison to me.

Thanks to Dale for sending this one to me.

A: The pour is a dark amber color, lots of brown with a bit of red, and some dark khaki foam.

S: Spices come through on the nose quite strongly. It's almost like cinnamon, perhaps some nutmeg and all-spice. There is a bit of oak and red wine in there as well as some cherry notes. A light tartness in the background.

T: Just as much spice to the flavor. Cherries, cinnamon, and nutmeg flavors are prominent. A bit of wood and lots of red wine flavors with a light acidity of lemon zest and green apple.

M: Light to medium bodied with medium carbonation.

O: I thought this was pretty decent, though not as good as T'okay. Looking forward to some of the other Sole Composition beers.

6/24/2011

Thanks to Jason for opening the bottle.

52/191

A: Reddish orange with a big white head, good retention, and nice lacing.

S: Pronounced cherry aroma. Lightly spicy with restrained alcohol and some grape. Faint oak. Cinnamon?

T: Cherry juice with a lower moderate sweetness. There's a little oak, as well as some grape notes. Mostly lactic, needs acidity or something. Finishes a bit simple.

M: Light body with upper moderate carbonation. Sticky and dry mouthfeel.

Overall: Nice aroma but a somewhat simple flavor that seems lacking.