Unicorn Killer Ale
2nd Shift Brewing

 

 

 

 

Young, yeasty and with a wily fruit-forward character, 2nd Shift's Belgian-style farmhouse ale exploits what's best about the beer of the low country. Unicorn Killer certainly slays the notion of what saison could be.

Hazy yellow and canary-like in its hue, the beer's ample carbonation fuels a foamy white froth. Rife with banana, papaya, apricot, pear and musken brine, the nose is rich with yeasty dough and tropical fruit. To taste, the supple sweetness of sugar cookie, sourdough and candied citrus lay on the front of the tongue like pastry.

As the ale rolls onto the middle palate, its sweetness slowly relaxes and its fruitiness further evolves. Berry, grape, orange and pawpaw fruits join the estery fray and patiently await a spicy white pepper, clove and vinous balance. Low bitterness only allows for the fruit and lasting maltiness to tease that palate with German wheat beer flavor but with a spicy wine-like counterpart.

Malty-sweet, fruity and medium bodied, the abundance of carbonation does little to thwart the sweetness and fruitiness, or elevate the spicy, peppery, funky and grassy taste that makes saison so famed. Well suited as a Belgian golden, strong ale the beer measures up well with Delirium Tremens, BosKeun and Piraat but as saison, it misses the mark on what's expected of those dry, zesty, peppery and earthy farmhouse nuances.

 

 

 

i really expected this one to be a little weirder, is just not as interesting on the yeast as i had hoped, and as a lot of other beers from these guys are. its a great beer even still though, just may need some cellar time to develop a little. i love the malt element, its a more dense, fuller bodied wheat, lots of cereal and fresh baked flavor to it, more heft than many. the yeast is belgian in nature, and does an excellent job drying this out without breaking down the flavor too much, and it does contribute a little fruity quality to this, green apple and white wine come to mind, but its clean, not much funk here at all. notes of straw and hay and summer harvest from the wheat and yeast together though, and even without a developed brett profile or anything, it still has a nice rustic grain driven flare to it. awesome carbonation and bigger mouthfeel more generally. these guys do some great beer in this style, and while i did wish it had a bit more wildness to it, its still quite distinct as it is. im sure it will age really nicely too...

 

Pours a hazy, straw color. 2/3 inch head of a white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of strong yeast, wheat, slight hop, slight spice, hint of citrus, and a hint of alcohol. Fits the style of a Saison / Farmhouse Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with a high carbonation level. Tastes of strong yeast, slight citrus, wheat, hint of pale malt, hint of hops, hint of alcohol, and a hint of spice. Overall, a complex, yet subtle body and aroma, with a good appearance, but too carbonated feel.