Snowball Saison Ale - White Wine Barrel Aged
To Øl

its been too long since ive had the base beer to levy a good comparison between the two, but i liked this one a lot, quite old now in the little green bottle. these guys have always been one of my favorites, and its beers like this that interest me the most, although i wish i cracked into it a little sooner, it tastes perhaps a bit past its prime now. its not as dry and funky as i remember the base being, less brett to me and maybe maltier, a perception created by the staleness in the malt i reckon. light amber color, tall off white head, some sediment in the bottom of the bottle, green glass weirdness in the nose, i love old belgian styles but this one is a little cardboardy now. good barrel character still though, some sharpness from the wine, still a fruity element there, even floral with the saison yeast and what i can appreciate from the brett, peach and apricot nuance, wet wood, farmy and different, but tired at the same time. good carbonation here is helpful at this juncture, and the weight from the barrel adds needed richness, but i wish we didnt wait so long, there should be more brett to this, it should be drier, and it shouldnt taste as fatigued and simple as it ends up. white vinegar and green tea and grasses and oak, earthy and belgian and good, but less wild and less refined than i hoped it would be...

 

 

I guess I am bucking the trend here because I really thought this beer was creative and well executed. The highly carbonated orange body opens up the aromas for the nose: grape must, barrel funk, oak, dry white wine, lots of old world malts, and pear, but there is a funky chemical smell in the background that distracts. Taste the chemical is gone, and the flavors are allowed to shine, while picking up grape sweetness with the must, some apple with the pear, and some general earthiness in the malts. Body is highly carbonated yet slightly chewy, and in general vinous and funky.

 

Pours a two-finger off-white head that stays forever leaving a thick lace. Hazy amber color, a few floaties. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Sweet malt, some citrus nose and flavor is tart citrus that is mellowed by the sweet malt. Very light bitter aftertaste. Higher ABV is hidden. The 375ml green bottle was a gift.

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a light, golden amber with tons of bubbly head with a slight golden hue. Head had some serious staying power, it got thinner as I drank, but held til the end; while sticky lacing clung to the glass. Aroma is light, bready, toasty malt; sweet grassiness, perfumed floral; white grape; orange zest; vanilla; some faint vegetal hop spice; and a slight must. Taste is everything from the aroma but in a playful and ever-evolving way: one sip bright orange zest, another more mustiness, the next floral. So very light and velvety on the tongue. It surrounds the palette with surprisingly low carbonation.

Run of the mill saison. White wine seeps through, but doesn't make or break this beer.

 

I really like the regular Snowball Saison and this was a nice take on it. Aged approx. 18 mos. in the cellar.
Poured a deep golden color with beautiful head and excellent lacing.
Aroma of funk, white wine and mild oak, with the rest of the usual saison aromas.
Taste was funky with moderate wine characteristics and mild oak presence.
Very nice light mouthfeel, easy drinking for 8%, gonna be hard to save the last bottle but I'm curious what another year of aging will do for this beer.