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Sensory Series V.1 - Lower Dens
Stillwater Artisanal Ales
- From:
- Stillwater Artisanal Ales
- Washington, United States
- Style:
- Herb and Spice Beer
- ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.89 | pDev: 9%
- Reviews:
- 38
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jul 05, 2020
- Added:
- Dec 29, 2012
- Wants:
- 7
- Gots:
- 11
http://www.stillwatersensory.com/
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by biboergosum:
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)
3.78/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
375ml bottle. Indulging by listening to a Lower Dens Youtube video while doing this. We'll see how it goes. Illuminati-approved label.
This beer pours a cloudy medium golden yellow colour, with two fingers of tightly foamy, somewhat fizzy, and if my imagination isn't kidding me, faintly pink-tinged white head, which leaves some swaths of fuzzy grotto arch lace around the glass as things duly settle.
It smells of sweet, grainy wheat malt, a lemon, peach, and apricot orchard fruitiness, earthy yeast, a subtle red herbal floral essence (hibiscus represent!), a bit of zingy white pepper spice, wet straw, mild black tea leaves, and faintly grassy, earthy hops. The taste is more semi-sweet, lightly biscuity wheat and pale malt, tart and fruity cherry and lemon, a dark red perfumed floral character, tame green yeast, and earthy, musty, and dried hay hops.
The carbonation is rather frothy, but in a pleasantly gentle manner, the body medium-light in weight, and actually quite smooth, the hops and fruit doing well to leave us alone at this juncture. It finishes off-dry, said fruit and the equally lingering blended malt carrying on like a twelve minute song.
A decent saison-style ale, with the added hibiscus flowers, which are more perceptible here than the previous three hibiscus-infused offerings that I've had to date, combined. Yet they still get lost in the other fruity, floral yeast and hop notes, which is hardly a surprise to me, for this brewer. Anyways, enjoyable enough, as was the 'In the End is the Beginning' song, one that's starting to grow on me - sort of reminiscent of a Radiohead/early Pink Floyd vibe.
Oct 25, 2013This beer pours a cloudy medium golden yellow colour, with two fingers of tightly foamy, somewhat fizzy, and if my imagination isn't kidding me, faintly pink-tinged white head, which leaves some swaths of fuzzy grotto arch lace around the glass as things duly settle.
It smells of sweet, grainy wheat malt, a lemon, peach, and apricot orchard fruitiness, earthy yeast, a subtle red herbal floral essence (hibiscus represent!), a bit of zingy white pepper spice, wet straw, mild black tea leaves, and faintly grassy, earthy hops. The taste is more semi-sweet, lightly biscuity wheat and pale malt, tart and fruity cherry and lemon, a dark red perfumed floral character, tame green yeast, and earthy, musty, and dried hay hops.
The carbonation is rather frothy, but in a pleasantly gentle manner, the body medium-light in weight, and actually quite smooth, the hops and fruit doing well to leave us alone at this juncture. It finishes off-dry, said fruit and the equally lingering blended malt carrying on like a twelve minute song.
A decent saison-style ale, with the added hibiscus flowers, which are more perceptible here than the previous three hibiscus-infused offerings that I've had to date, combined. Yet they still get lost in the other fruity, floral yeast and hop notes, which is hardly a surprise to me, for this brewer. Anyways, enjoyable enough, as was the 'In the End is the Beginning' song, one that's starting to grow on me - sort of reminiscent of a Radiohead/early Pink Floyd vibe.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
3/5 rDev -22.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -22.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Bottled 2012; drank 4/19/14 @ the Yarchives.
Murky pineapple hue.
HUGE bright white head (careful pouring); frothy lace.
Mild banana nose, with a hint of black pepper.
Thin mouthfeel, with a carbonation bite.
Banana,faint flowers & light black pepper.
A pleasant Belgian vibe, but age seems to have dulled the rumored hibiscus, making for a forgettable beer.
Sep 17, 2019Murky pineapple hue.
HUGE bright white head (careful pouring); frothy lace.
Mild banana nose, with a hint of black pepper.
Thin mouthfeel, with a carbonation bite.
Banana,faint flowers & light black pepper.
A pleasant Belgian vibe, but age seems to have dulled the rumored hibiscus, making for a forgettable beer.
Reviewed by mothmanscott from Georgia
4.06/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From December 2013 notes: Pours a hazy pale amber producing a huge (to the point of being difficult to pour), white, billowy, finely bubbled, lasting head that leaves streaks & wisps of lace. Aroma is lemon heavy & orange, spicy in an herbal tea sort of way with some Belgian yeast funk, faint smoke & brine in the background. Taste similar to the nose with prominent citrus, spice & earthy notes, but I also pick up white fruit notes of apple, peach & pear, floral/herbal tones with a low level of bitterness that develops after mid-sip & intensifies in the finish & aftertaste. Alcohol is detectable in the spicy component. Malty sweetness is at a low level making for a balance that is slightly bitter heavy. Mouthfeel is light bodied with heavy carbonation, spicy on the tongue & astringent in the finish & aftertaste.
Mar 07, 2017Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
3.64/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.64/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
375 ml brown bottle with some visible sediment in the bottom. Uncapped with a fizz and soon foams up over the top, but it poured without foaming up too much in the glass.
A: clear golden hue with a semi-durable white head. Excellent lacing.
Aroma: moderately strong, with too much suggestion of over-ripe, slightly rotten fruit. Some floral tones too.
Flavor: much better and less funky than the aroma suggests. Some bready and nutty notes in addition to ripe soft fruits and lemon. Just a touch of hibiscus showing in the finish and aftertaste.
Feel: medium-light body with medium+ carbonation.
Overall: b careful when uncapping and get past the aroma for an interesting and pleasing ale.
Feb 11, 2017A: clear golden hue with a semi-durable white head. Excellent lacing.
Aroma: moderately strong, with too much suggestion of over-ripe, slightly rotten fruit. Some floral tones too.
Flavor: much better and less funky than the aroma suggests. Some bready and nutty notes in addition to ripe soft fruits and lemon. Just a touch of hibiscus showing in the finish and aftertaste.
Feel: medium-light body with medium+ carbonation.
Overall: b careful when uncapping and get past the aroma for an interesting and pleasing ale.
Reviewed by Ciocanelu from Romania
3.5/5 rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Hazy orange color with white head. Aroma is fresh, lemony and a bit spicy. Taste seems slightly tart at first but it isn't, just a bit astringent. It's mostly spicy, yeasty and slightly bitter on the finish. Body is medium-light with high effervescence. Overall I don't like it very much, the spices are a bit too strong, the body too light and there is some residual sweetness that doesn't integrate very well.
Dec 23, 2015Reviewed by barczar from Kentucky
3.84/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Fairly peachy aroma, lightly malty and a touch funky. There's a bit of sweet caramel character.
Flavor is somewhat muted, peachy, with a light diacetyl character.
Aug 28, 2015Flavor is somewhat muted, peachy, with a light diacetyl character.
Reviewed by Moose90 from Washington
4.04/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
bottle poured into tasting glass
A — Pours a bubbly and bright, hazy pale yellow color into the glass. Puffy off-white head leaves behind some nice lacing along the inside of the glass.
S — Smells bright, yeasty, lots of funkiness. Balanced with some hibiscus sweetness and floral undertones.
T — Much like the nose, though there is a bit more sweetness, lots of yeast character, some brett presence and hibiscus sweetness.
M — Dry and bubbly, almost champagne like.
O — Nicely done overall, lots of yeast character and a bit of hibiscus sweetness, would seek out again.
Aug 24, 2015A — Pours a bubbly and bright, hazy pale yellow color into the glass. Puffy off-white head leaves behind some nice lacing along the inside of the glass.
S — Smells bright, yeasty, lots of funkiness. Balanced with some hibiscus sweetness and floral undertones.
T — Much like the nose, though there is a bit more sweetness, lots of yeast character, some brett presence and hibiscus sweetness.
M — Dry and bubbly, almost champagne like.
O — Nicely done overall, lots of yeast character and a bit of hibiscus sweetness, would seek out again.
Reviewed by rhoadsrage from Illinois
3.51/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
3.51/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
(Served in a tulip)
A- This beer has a slightly hazy deep orange body with a thick billowing white head that slowly breaks down into sticky lace. There is a swirling carbonation of tiny bubbles.
S- The soapy mineral esters smell has some club soda yeasty notes and a dry herbal hint in the finish that might be coriander.
T- The hint of citrus esters and dry herbal leads to a flowery coriander note and a slight bitter note that lingers. There is a wheat dough hint in the finish as it opens.
M- The light mouthfeel has a tight little fizz that makes it almost creamy and no alcohol heat.
O- This has an odd mix of flavors, so I guess it does blend with the song, but the soapy spice character was really the dominant flavors making it pretty underwhelming. Especially for the price.
Apr 30, 2015A- This beer has a slightly hazy deep orange body with a thick billowing white head that slowly breaks down into sticky lace. There is a swirling carbonation of tiny bubbles.
S- The soapy mineral esters smell has some club soda yeasty notes and a dry herbal hint in the finish that might be coriander.
T- The hint of citrus esters and dry herbal leads to a flowery coriander note and a slight bitter note that lingers. There is a wheat dough hint in the finish as it opens.
M- The light mouthfeel has a tight little fizz that makes it almost creamy and no alcohol heat.
O- This has an odd mix of flavors, so I guess it does blend with the song, but the soapy spice character was really the dominant flavors making it pretty underwhelming. Especially for the price.
Reviewed by bubseymour from Maryland
3.92/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.92/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Super incredible fruity smell Pineapple and a slight funk from the Brett. Taste comes off dry, dirty and earthy. No sweetness or tartness like you get in the smell.
Apr 13, 2015
Sensory Series V.1 - Lower Dens from Stillwater Artisanal Ales
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
142 ratings
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