Les Saisonniers
Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

 

 

 

This brew was served on tap at Kuhnhenn in Warren, Michigan. It arrived in a large generic tulip, showing a bright golden pumpkin orange. It held a sturdy two and a half finger tall head of latte colored bubbles. Creamy lines and specks of lacing were left in its wake after a respectable retention. A chill haze cut clarity, but no sediment was noted. Carbonation appeared to be mild. The aroma was built from clean orange and lemon citric fruitiness, perfumed and dried florals, harsh lactic acidity, dense wheaty and pale malts, sweet nectary and citric hops, phenolic plastics, raw barley, glass, and aged white cheddar cheese. The accompanying flavor gave intense phenols and fusel booziness to start, followed by a blend of lemon rind, synthetic citric chemical cleaner, dried dill sprinkle, Belgian wheaty and rye maltiness, lightly toasted oatiness and crisply toasted pale malts, big wool blanket muskiness, moldy denim, vinegar acidity, light but sweet bubblegum esters, clover honey spice, vanilla beans, fresh mint leafiness, and almond extract. The body was medium, and the carbonation was medium. The mouth showed nice creaminess and froth, with excellent slurp and pull on the sip. It was otherwise drying, leaving the mouth somewhat astringent and streaky. The abv was appropriate, and the beer drank back very nicely.

Overall, what was most surprising about this beer was how very full and flavorful it was for a saison. Kuhnhenn doesn’t tend to tackle this style to frequently, but we are so happy that they pulled this one out. It is really a nice departure from their standard stock, showcasing a refreshing diversity to their, at times, redundant lineup. The heavy mold and mustiness mix with fresh hops, syrupy grains, and chemical sweetness, allowing complexity to build with each sip to challenge the drinker. The latter harsh booziness and chemical bite is definitely a presence, and for some it will be overwhelming. If you can get through that, however, the subtle floral sweetness and intricate grain profile with otherwise be a treat for you. This is one of the best beers we’ve had from them in a while, and again, highlights how important it is to stray from your comfort zone every now and again.