Summer Basil
Fullsteam Brewery

Pours a hazy deep straw producing 2 fingers of somewhat lasting, foamy, white head that recedes to a nice cap & collar leaving virtually no lace. A pale sediment dusts the bottom with lots of effervescence streaming to the surface. Aroma is pale malt, wheat bread, lemony citrus, fruity hints of peach, pear, earthy herbal hints from the basil & thin banana hides in the background. Taste is piquant, pale malt, biscuit, wheat, vegetal earthy herbal from the basil, fruity pear & peach, lemon, clove & light banana with a nice spice & peppery bite in the tangy finish. The aftertaste is dough, citrus, earthy & thinly fruity with a faint bitterness. Mouthfeel is light-medium bodied with moderate-high carbonation, peppery, dry & slightly chalky in the finish & aftertaste.

 

 

 

Pours a cloudy, straw color. One inch head of a white color. Great retention and slight lacing. Smells of yeast, pale malt, slight sweet malt, hops, slight basil, and floral notes. Fits the style of a Saison / Farmhouse Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with a high carbonation level. Tastes of yeast, pale malt, slight sweet malt, basil, hops, and slight floral notes. Overall, good appearance, aroma, body, blend, but lacking in basil and high carbonation is a detriment.

 

 

 

My preference is a farmhouse ale and this one is a very refreshing beer. Just finished my last 16 oz can. That is one thing I like about Fullsteam, they give you a full 16 oz beer.
Look: Light color with a small head that doesn't stick around for long.
Smell: Basil (Duh!!!), light citrus, yeast and hops.
Taste: A great saison with basil, yeast, lemony peppery notes.
Feel: Great palate cleansing ability, bubbly on the tongue. Definitely goes down smooth.
Overall: A very refreshing beer that is typical of a well made saison. The basil is the real show. Fullsteam gets their basil from local farms in the area. It is brewed during the summer months while the basil is growing through about October. One of the interesting things about this beer is that the taste will never be exactly the same from batch to batch. As the basil plant matures it gets stronger and more pungent throughout the summer. Also, the amount of rain, sunshine and temperature has an effect on how the basil will affect the taste. This adds additional interest to the beer (IMHO) as the summer begins to come to a close. I need to go out early next week and see if I can find some more.

16 oz can poured into a mug.

Appearance
Pale straw and very yeasty. Has 1 finger of white head with lively carbonation.

Nose
Basil, white pepper, lemon, and Pilsner malt.

Taste
Basil, pink peppercorn, potpourri, and lemongrass. Light Pilsner malt, cereal grains, and lemon. Slight noble hoppiness.

Mouthfeel
Light bodied, crisp, clean, off-dry, and refreshing.

Overall
The Saison yeast and basil really shine through. Very easy drinking.

A tart easy drinking saison. You can kinda taste a hint of the basil but mostly you are tasting a yeast imparted saison flavor.

 

 

Look; A very pale, hazy yellow. Not very enticing, though it does sport a nice 2 inch meringue head.
Smell; Belgian yeast, light basil.
Taste; The first taste is a little off, with a vegetable taste mixed with the chalky Saison yeast taking over. This improves with each sip, becoming a a well integrated herbal presence.
Feel; Just right, lightly carbonated and light.
Overall; A brave success. A very refreshing drink, subtle and very enjoyable after a shaky beginning. Nice packaging as well!