Saison Noir | Rockmill Brewery

3.89/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

4.68/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

4.09/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Big and black enough to be really top notch; but, not quite balanced between malt and bitter. Palate is almost burnt in their trying to make it special.

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3.77/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

3.94/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed from the 750 ml bottle in a snifter. This unique saison pours a rugged black with subtle brown highlights and a very nice head of foam that subsides to a thick ring, light pooling layer, and nice light lacing. Nose is subtle yet complex with dark fruits, light wine notes, and brown sugars with subtle char. Flavors exceed the nose with dark cherries and subtle dark cocoa on the front and middle, dark fruits hit the sides, and tobacco and light pepper notes follow the back with light mineral notes with subtle citrus. Nice mouth feel, perfect carbonation, refreshing for such a dark brew, and a nice lightly tart and subtly dry finish. Solid and unique. Would love to visit this brewery.

Cheers

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3.92/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

4.77/5  rDev +24.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

3.69/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

4.19/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

3.84/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

3.33/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

4.1/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Why in the world this is considered a saison is beyond my beer knowledge. Looks, smells, tastes, and feels more like a porter. Overall I respect Rockmill and have enjoyed everything I've tried from this brewery. But in my opinion the only thing they got right about the description of this beer is it has touches and notes of tobacco and creme Brule.

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4.25/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

375 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 11/23/2014. Pours fairly pitch black color with a 2 finger fairly dense and fluffy tan head with good retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Dense foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a large amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of chocolate, cocoa, coffee, molasses, licorice, raisin, prune, fig, red grape, tobacco, pepper, clove, herbal, light smoke, and yeast/roasted earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/roasted malt and fruity/spicy yeast notes; with good strength. Taste of big chocolate, cocoa, coffee, molasses, licorice, raisin, prune, fig, red grape, pepper, clove, tobacco, light smoke/char, herbal, and yeast/roasted earthiness. Good amount of earthy/peppery yeast spiciness and light tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, molasses, licorice, dark fruit, pepper, clove, and yeast/roasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roasted malt and fruity/spicy yeast flavors; with a great malt/yeast balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. High carbonation and medium bodied; with a very smooth, moderately crisp/prickly, and lightly creamy/chalky mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is well hidden with only a light warmth lingering after the finish. Overall this is a very nice farmhouse imperial stout style. All around good complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roasted malt and fruity/spicy yeast flavors; and very smooth and crisp to sip on for the ABV with the high amount of carbonation. A very enjoyable offering.

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3.75/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured (well, after several attempts) from tap at Craft Kitchen, La Mesa CA. Deep reddish black with ginormous khaki head. I think that was more the tap than the brew, though. There were some clear spice notes in the aroma (coriander, pepper) but also a deep malty sweetness. The flavor carried those same spices, but the maltiness and roasty flavors dominated the palate. Really like a spicy stout. A touch of citrus pop at the end. Fairly full bodied as expected with that level of maltiness.

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4.28/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

4.16/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

3.68/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Bottle conditioned and unfiltered. It's appearance is rich black with raspberry fringe lacing. Aroma and tastes of candied fruit, sweet potato, and creme brulee. Hints of caramel and mild tobacco in finish. Tasted from a 375 ml bottle on June 20, 2015.

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2.97/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75

Tried this beer on tap..

This is an OFF FLAVOR clinic.. Smells like cardboard and tastes like band aids..

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3.31/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25