Stepchild Saison
5 Seasons Westside

A: Deep amber color with two finger head leaving moderate lace
S: Wine, grain and alcohol aroma
T: Alcohol is evident with a Pinot Noir flavor, malt and hops.
M: Medium-bodied with some carbonation. Warm dry finish due to alcohol content.
O: Nice brew. Drinkable and enjoyable. Would have again.

On-tap at the brewpub.

Pours a deep amber color with an off-white head leaving decent lacing.

Smells of medium malts with large amounts of ripe pears and lighter amounts of green apples.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Moderately dry medium malt flavors up front are joined quickly by soft pears. Midway through the flavor profile dries out further with the addition of light and indistinct spices, carrying through to a crisp ending. Mouthfeel is good, with active carbonation.

Overall I thought this was a solid beer but not one of the better saisons I’ve had here. It’s certainly on the fruitier side of the saison spectrum, so it’s worth a shot if that’s your thing.

Appearance: Thoughtfully served up an opaque, amber-hued body with a scant, wispy, whitish head.

Smell: Stepchild smells of spiced blended wine, honey atop toasted bread, a pinch of bitterish herbs, and a spritz of spirits.

Taste: Spiciness upfront, with a sweetish introduction of honey graham-tasting malts. Handful of tart red berries, maybe a sip of chilled mulled wine. Scant sense of bitterness, but all the while there's that pervasive spiciness. Winy, tart, and with a lingering spice character beyond the smooth finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Overall: When 5 Seasons teamed up with homebrewer Phil Farrell and released La Fin du Poulet Saison back in 2007, it was something rare and wonderful. Now, sheeeet, 5 Seasons is rolling out with a new saison every other week, with my favorites being the Pepe le Pew from 5 North and the Provence here at 5 West.