Unicorn Killer Saison II
2nd Shift Brewing

 

 

 

Finally starting to go through my massive backlog of notes. Thanks to JLindros for the share.

A - Poured into my Ommegang tulip a cloud, hazy golden hue with a nice light soapy one finger head that fades quickly to leave a thin blanket with light lacing.

S - Not bad here. Fair amount of funk and horse blanket. Very gentle on the lemony saison spice as well.

T - Taste has some slight booze, more of the nice funk and light lemon. Saison spices are there by a little subdued. Dig the dry finish.

M - Mouthfeel is alright. A bit too much heat for my liking here. Good carbonation but boozey.

O - Overall, not a bad saison. Glad I got to sample it.

 

 

 

 

I haven't reviewed a beer in a while, but while in Missouri I found some great beers that deserve some attention--and this is one of them.

Unicorn Killer Saison is outstanding. My bottle reads 6.1% ABV, so perhaps that changes per batch (though the above profile reads this was only brewed once). Basic label, nothing too fancy on the outside.

But, inside rests a fine, colorful, and complex beer.

This beer pours a clear golden-yellow. At first the carbonation is overwhelming, but it settles into a nice head, which rests easily on top.

In terms of aroma, it's dry, giving notes of cereal grains, rolled oats, some citrus (lemon), and maybe tarragon.

The taste is very earthy, with those cereal grains quite prominent, backed by a nice, bitter, peppery-citrus flavor.

This is a nice, dry saison. Very drinkable, and incredibly delicious. I give credit to the bartender at 4 Hands (whose name escapes me) for directing me toward this brewery. Interesting beer names, and really great beer.

Cheers.

Thanks to Lukahn (Reddit) for this interesting beer.

Starts clear then and a bunch of yeast poured from the bottom funks it quite a bit, light fizzy head fades fairly quickly, golden yellow straw color.

Nose funky farmhouse saison funk, light golden malt, light wheat and wet hay like, light fluffy saison spices, hint of citrus.

Taste starts with light wheat like golden malts and farmhouse yeast, light saison spices and funk, citrus and light orange peel and lemony like. Finish is super dry and more yeast saison funk and spices and light malt and bit of bitterness.

Mouth is med bodied decent carb.

Overall well done saison. Nothing spectacular but tasty and well done.

 

 

Nicely quaffable take on a farmhouse ale.

Presentation: 75 cl brown capped bottle. Simple white/cream label with disjointed typography and branding of the ale and brewery. Notes main style and 6.1% Alc. by Vol. Served in a tulip glass.

A - Softly hazy medium gold pour, fair frothy head, moderate retention, fair surface memory with some nice touches of lacing.

S - Lightly spicy nose, grassy, with a citric hint over a yeasty sense.

T - Taste follows pushing the earthy sense of the yeast, maltier notes emerge, a bit grainy, with citric touches, spicy hint, bready lingering sense…

M - Medium-light body with medium carbonation, slight spicy finish with a dry sense.

O - It has a nice flow and hits a nice bracket for the US craft interpretation of the style.

Notes: Glad to have tried, and would not mind to try it again, but nothing really that makes a dent in the memory either.

Served this 750 mL brown bottle in a Tripel Karmeliet glass. No date. The body was bright gold on the first pour, cloudy on the second. The fluffy white head stayed.

The smell was of dirt. Earthy and then a bit fruity.

The taste was fruity, almost like apple tonic water. White peppercorns and understated Belgian yeast. Pears. Well constructed and easy to drink. Not too earthy but definitely a saison. The yeast smell and flavor was more intense in the second pour. Semi-dry finish. Better than expected.

The mouthfeel was effervescent and prickly on the tongue. Medium bodied. Solid.

Pours a cloudy, orange color. 1/3 inch head of a white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of yeast, slight wheat, hint of hop, spice, and a hint of pale malt. Fits the style of a Saison / Farmhouse Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of yeast, wheat, slight hop, slight grass, slight earthy malt, and a hint of alcohol. Overall, good appearance, great aroma, and good blend.

 

 

750ml bottle.

Pours a cloudy gold with a short-lived fluffy beige head that does leave some delicate lacing on the sides.

Aroma starts with some spiciness from the peppercorn and lots of Belgian yeast. Little bit of bready malts and sugary pears.

Taste also has the initial peppery kick but the backbone is much sweeter than the aroma with the Belgian yeast taking on a more estery character. The finish is sweet and not as dry as most saisons.

Mouthfeel is highly carbonated and light bodied, probably a little watery for my liking.

Not a bad saison but nothing memorable with the peppers being the thing that sticks in my mind as well as the sugary finish.