Extra Dry: Chu-Hi
Stillwater Artisanal Ales

 

 

 

16oz can purchased off the shelf as a 4-pack for $10.99. "Batch #001 16:33" Must be fresh as this is a new beer and was just distributed to stores.

Look: Slightly hazy, straw color. A rocky white head upon pour, but dissipated quickly. Lots of bubbles rising. Looks pretty and appetizing.

Smell: Nice aromas of red grapefruit zest, spicy hops, and saison yeast. Also very floral - smells like springtime with flowers in bloom. Gives off the impression of being "extra dry" as the name suggests. The saison yeast gives a lot of Belgian vibes - I am getting lots of spicy clove on the finish. There is a rice adjunct used here, which also gives it sake type notes.

Taste: The taste basically follows the nose. This is very dry and spicy. I get just a bit of sweetness and red grapefruit acidity on the finish, which is quite refreshing. I could see how a beer like this would be a great session beer and can really grow on me. It's pretty light yet very flavorful and crushable. Even with the addition of grapefruit, it seems that everything has been fermented and there is very little if any residual sugar. This almost comes off like a seltzer, it's just so easy to drink. There are hops here present as well, but they give very little bitterness. As I am getting to the bottom of the glass, I am getting more whole grapefruit flavors including a bit of juiciness and pithiness on the finish. Very nice.

Feel: Light mouthfeel, relatively high carbonation. Very crisp, dry, and refreshing.

Overall: A nice saison that is different and interesting because of the low ABV. I haven't had the regular Extra Dry version of this before; this is a variant of that beer with the addition of red grapefruit. I really like the flavors here. The spiciness it typical of a saison, it's just a bit too much clove for me. The next time I pour myself one of these, I'll reserve the bottom in the can as I am curious to see how the flavor profile changes without the extra spiciness that usually remains with the sediment. A nice, unique offering that is a welcome addition to the plethora of beers available that are too sweet or have higher ABV.

Brewed and canned by Stillwater Arisanal, Stratford, CT

A: The beer is slightly hazy yellow in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a short white head that left lots of small specks of bubbles on the surface after it settled down.
S: Light to moderate aromas of red grapefruit are present in the nose along with notes of yeast.
T: The taste follows the smell and has some flavors of red grapefruit along with hints of yeast.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. There is dryness in the finish.
O: This saison is very easy to drink and the aromas and flavors of red grapefruit are not overpowering.

Serving type: can

a special version of the classic, done with grapefruit. i am often in the camp of you dont mess with perfection, which i darn near consider the original extra dry to be, this didnt need to be made, you really cant improve upon the original, and they didnt here, but its a nice beer nevertheless. they were smart to keep the fruit addition pretty mellow, its natural and an accent at best, never sweet nor acidic nor forced, and it does work nicely with the slightly floral yeast and the earthy rice this is built upon, i genuinely dig it, but the original is all time, genre defining even, and this just serves to make me want one of those instead, much as i did enjoy this. some of the delicateness i like so much about the original is absent here, the sake yeast is already quite mellow and it seems a little covered up by the grapefruit, much as they do work well together, the yeast is so nuanced i think i like it on its own better. this seems to have a little more body too, could also be a product of the fruit, and maybe its not quite as effervescent in feel. when i stop comparing it, i like it more, its flavorful in a subtle way and really is quite dry and clean, very well made, and i can still appreciate the rice. cool beer for sure, but the original is and will always be the king! still, ill buy whatever variants they come up with, its such a great beer at its core that nothing can really make it not awesome. i liked this a lot, summery and distinctive.