Fireworks Saison
Craftsman Brewing Co.

 

 

Some very fruity esters balance out the spiciness of the yeast. Has some cidery qualities. Others at the table considered it "very Belgian", which has some truth. Made in California.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On-tap at Beachwood I,

A: Pours a deep amber with a medium white head, leaving some solid lace.

S: Quite funky, smells like a ripe Brie with a bit of sweaty sock. Some fruit notes.

T: Bubblegum, brie, crystal-style malt. Some bitterness on the back end with a heavy malt component.

M: Medium to full-bodied, the beer does have some cloying sugar in the finish. Crisp at times, frothy carbonation.

O: A nice more rustic saison, I enjoyed trying this one out. Craftsman continues to make interesting beers.

On tap at Verdugo Bar in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours a murky orange-brown with a foamy bone colored head that settles to a small cap on top of the beer. Thin foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is slightly sour and tart and is of malt, grain, fruits, and some slightly funky aromas. Taste is much the same with a slight amount of funk on the finish. There is a mild spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink.

 

Brewed with Brettanomyces, according to the Blind Lady pub where this was on tap. For my taste, this is a textbook example of how to use brett in a beer. Full of deep fruity flavors with that indescribable tangy intrigue.

The bitterness is distinct, but under control. There is a browned malt richness followed by a lot of Belgian yeasty flavors and that bitter scratchiness. A touch of raspberry in the aroma, and a dark mushroomy scent in the nose.

A vast canvas of flavors with a truly interesting edginess. It makes me think of the Acorn Saison from Craftsman last year. A sort of dark papaya in a full-bodied mellow malt, but sharpened up with the bittery brett. Waves of flavor.

July 7, 2015 update: On tap at Stone Liberty Station. So grainy and yeasty. Bitter yeast with some dark wheat flavors. Plums and a touch of grapefruit. A more tart variety of Saison. Interesting and highly drinkable, and another intriguing brew from Craftsman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Tap

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

Bright, glowing red and amber with a thin white head that leaves lines and spots of lacing down the glass. A gorgeous, unique color.

The aroma consists of funky yeast, hay and grass, and mild black pepper spice. Perhaps there's a touch of fruit sweetness as well, but the yeast character is dominant.

The flavor is similar to the aroma, with the tangy yeast playing the largest role, along with a bit of sweet and dark fruit flavors, wood, and quite a bit of hay and grass character. Interesting, and decent enough with food.

Medium mouthfeel with ample carbonation. No alcohol presence.

An interesting and unique saison. I'm glad I tried it, but it's nothing overly special or exciting.

On tap at The Haven.

Pours a surprising dark copper hue with some amber highlights. Topped by a nice eggshell colored head that leaves beautiful sheets of lacing all the way down the tulip.

Smells of hay, spice and some funky yeasty notes.

Taste is very dry and crisp. There is a little fruity flavor in there I'm guessing from the yeast but also a clove like spicyness that numbs the tongue in the finish. Alcohol shows up as it warms.

Mouthfeel is rather thin. It is lacking just a little bit of body that would have made it more pleasant. Carbonation is good for the style.

All in all not what id consider a saison but definitely a refreshing beer for these hot end of summer days we are having.

On-tap at Bruery Provisions

A: The beer pours a reddish-amber color with a finger of khaki colored head.

S: Smells strongly of pepper, wood, and yeast.  There is a light fruitiness to the beer, seems to be black cherries.  It's very, very spicy, and almost everything else is overwhelmed save a slight grass note.

T: The spice is almost worse on the palate.  Intense coriander and pepper flavors with just a dash of cherries. Light malt sweetness and a bit of yeast flavor.  There's an almost woody or dusty feel to this as well.  A light tartness and mustiness on the finish.

M: Medium bodied with a medium carbonation.

O: In true Craftsman fashion, this was almost nothing as described or expected.  Very strange.

Had this fella on tap at Beer-Revolution, and I was very pleased.

Color is an interesting burnt orange, if not almost copper. Nominal head quickly dissolves to some suds around the edge of the glass. Minimal lacing.

Nose is some funk on the front with a bit of pepper on the end. As the beer warms, more fruit notes emerge, mainly apricot/peach, some apple rind, and grape. Funk becomes much more prominent as the beer reaches room temperature, namely wet straw and wild grass.

Body is bright and crisp. Nonetheless, this could use a bit more carbonation, feels flat for style.

Extremely drinkable. Fruit tones and slight funk lend well, accompanied by the light body, for a solid summer sipper. That said, this feels, tastes, and smells off style. Downgrade primarily because it misses the mark of a saison in terms of style but very tasty otherwise.