Estival Dichotomous (2015)
Jester King Brewery
- From:
- Jester King Brewery
- Texas, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Saison
- ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 90
- Avg:
- 4.04 | pDev: 8.91%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 14
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Apr 16, 2020
- Added:
- Oct 01, 2015
- Wants:
- 5
- Gots:
- 13
SCORE
90
Outstanding
90
Outstanding
Estival Dichotomous was brewed in June 2015, with Hill Country well water, two-row malt, raw wheat, spelt, and hops. After the beer had fermented for several weeks in stainless steel tanks, we added four different varietals of melon—cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew, and galia—all grown by our friends at Johnson’s Backyard Garden. The melons were all cut by hand and pureed before being added to the tanks of finished beer in late July. The fruit and beer fermented to dryness over the course of another two weeks, after which it was packaged on August 17, 18, and 19. 2015 Estival Dichotomous is unfiltered, unpasteurized, and 100% naturally conditioned in bottles, kegs, and casks. It is 6.0% alcohol by volume, 27 IBU, 4.38 pH at the time of packaging, and has a finishing gravity of 1.000.
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Reviewed by SHODriver from North Carolina
4/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Poured into a Duvel tulip to a bright golden yellow topped by a dense and rocky finger and a half of white head which fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with some lacing
S: Smells of honey malt, light sourness, dough, spicy yeast, melons and some orchard fruits. Smells like seltzer water at times.
T: Taste is bright melons up front with some lemony tartness. Slight chalky and seltzery note as well. Spice and hints of orchard fruits. On the swallow this one is more melons, lemony tartness, bread dough, honey, and some lingering melon sweetness.
M: This beer is on the lighter side of medium with a syrupy feel on the palate. Carbonation is effervescent and slightly prickly while the beer has a drying finish.
O: Overall this is an interesting beer. It isn't bad and it definitely has some really nice things going for it. The complexity is great and the flavors are also quite good. The seltzery and chalky notes disappear after a few sips which really helps to improve the experience.
Mar 18, 2019S: Smells of honey malt, light sourness, dough, spicy yeast, melons and some orchard fruits. Smells like seltzer water at times.
T: Taste is bright melons up front with some lemony tartness. Slight chalky and seltzery note as well. Spice and hints of orchard fruits. On the swallow this one is more melons, lemony tartness, bread dough, honey, and some lingering melon sweetness.
M: This beer is on the lighter side of medium with a syrupy feel on the palate. Carbonation is effervescent and slightly prickly while the beer has a drying finish.
O: Overall this is an interesting beer. It isn't bad and it definitely has some really nice things going for it. The complexity is great and the flavors are also quite good. The seltzery and chalky notes disappear after a few sips which really helps to improve the experience.
Reviewed by macrosmatic from Florida
4.29/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Reviewed from notes. Poured from a 750 mL bottle into a Cigar City Brewing goblet.
A: Pours a mildly hazy light gold with a good amount of visible carbonation. Forms at least a finger's worth of white dense head with great retention. This is certainly a pretty beer.
S: Melons up front – both fresh watermelon and honeydew, and some watermelon Jolly Ranchers. Light cracker malts, saison yeastiness, and a modest barnyard earthy funk. Light grassy and tropical fruit hops. The melon aroma isn’t terribly artificial, but there is a mild candied aspect (though not sweet).
T: More melons – again watermelon and honeydew (I'm not picking up much if any cantaloupe). Grapefruit and some tropical fruit hops. Light cracker malts, a light earthy funk and mild fruity tartness. The tart flavors grow through the swallow, with the melon predominating along with some fruity hop bitterness.
M: Fairly light and crackly body, though this is plenty hefty enough to not feel watery. Great level of carbonation sensation. Very low if any alcohol presence.
O: I’m not a huge fan of melons – either the fruit or flavored candies. That said, this is really tasty and enjoyable. A nice balance of tart, fruit, hops, funk. This nears the golden mean, but nothing that anyone would call “sour”. The grapefruit clashes mildly with melons to me. But otherwise quite good and an easy drink. Were this something available in cans, or even 12 ounce bottles, it would be in occasional rotation as an easy drinking change of pace.
Feb 18, 2017A: Pours a mildly hazy light gold with a good amount of visible carbonation. Forms at least a finger's worth of white dense head with great retention. This is certainly a pretty beer.
S: Melons up front – both fresh watermelon and honeydew, and some watermelon Jolly Ranchers. Light cracker malts, saison yeastiness, and a modest barnyard earthy funk. Light grassy and tropical fruit hops. The melon aroma isn’t terribly artificial, but there is a mild candied aspect (though not sweet).
T: More melons – again watermelon and honeydew (I'm not picking up much if any cantaloupe). Grapefruit and some tropical fruit hops. Light cracker malts, a light earthy funk and mild fruity tartness. The tart flavors grow through the swallow, with the melon predominating along with some fruity hop bitterness.
M: Fairly light and crackly body, though this is plenty hefty enough to not feel watery. Great level of carbonation sensation. Very low if any alcohol presence.
O: I’m not a huge fan of melons – either the fruit or flavored candies. That said, this is really tasty and enjoyable. A nice balance of tart, fruit, hops, funk. This nears the golden mean, but nothing that anyone would call “sour”. The grapefruit clashes mildly with melons to me. But otherwise quite good and an easy drink. Were this something available in cans, or even 12 ounce bottles, it would be in occasional rotation as an easy drinking change of pace.
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