Saison Dolores
Almanac Beer Co.
Beer Geek Stats
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- Style:
- Farmhouse Ale - Saison
Ranked #1,347 - ABV:
- 6.8%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #24,991 - Avg:
- 3.83 | pDev: 8.62%
- Reviews:
- 40
- Ratings:
- From:
- Almanac Beer Co.
- California, United States
- Avail:
- Rotating/Seasonal
- Wants
- 4
- Gots
- 50
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good
Notes:
Introducing Saison Dolores, Almanac’s newest year-round beer. A bright, aromatic brew for all seasons inspired by San Francisco’s Mission District. We combine barley, rye and Sonoran Wheat grown in Mendocino County and ferment the beer with our house Saison yeast. Finally we dry hop it to create a California Saison with flavors of spicy white pepper, fruity melon and a clean food friendly finish.
Reviews: 40
| Ratings: 242
| Log in to view all ratings and sort
Reviews by Fievel:
Fievel from Pennsylvania
3.5/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Jan 22, 2015
3.5/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Jan 22, 2015
More User Reviews:
StonedTrippin from Colorado
3.62/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
for any other brewery this would be awesome, but i have higher standards for almanac, so this slightly generic brew doesnt really get me as stoked as their other stuff. the beer is real cloudy, pale, thick, and heady like a snowdrift. the nose doesnt show me as much rye malt character as i was hoping for, and the yeast, while attractive, is not all that distinct. the flavor too is sort of the same, tasty, but ive had hundreds of beers just like it. the rye could use a boost, and it seems impatient, like it could have gotten drier with more time. that said though, its excellent beer, obviously well made, and not everything has to be challenging and adventurous and unique, so im okay with this on the whole. the mouthfeel is awesomely full bodied for such a light beer, and the yeast lingers on the finish pleasantly. slight citrus to this, but more rye i think would make it even better too. overall good beer, but i always expect to be wowed by everything i have from these guys, and it just didnt happen here.
Dec 19, 2014
3.62/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
for any other brewery this would be awesome, but i have higher standards for almanac, so this slightly generic brew doesnt really get me as stoked as their other stuff. the beer is real cloudy, pale, thick, and heady like a snowdrift. the nose doesnt show me as much rye malt character as i was hoping for, and the yeast, while attractive, is not all that distinct. the flavor too is sort of the same, tasty, but ive had hundreds of beers just like it. the rye could use a boost, and it seems impatient, like it could have gotten drier with more time. that said though, its excellent beer, obviously well made, and not everything has to be challenging and adventurous and unique, so im okay with this on the whole. the mouthfeel is awesomely full bodied for such a light beer, and the yeast lingers on the finish pleasantly. slight citrus to this, but more rye i think would make it even better too. overall good beer, but i always expect to be wowed by everything i have from these guys, and it just didnt happen here.
Dec 19, 2014
mig100 from Texas
3.75/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Feb 14, 2015
3.75/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Feb 14, 2015
d_kizzle from California
3.86/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Apr 30, 2015
3.86/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Apr 30, 2015
madelf66 from Pennsylvania
4.04/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
May 27, 2016
4.04/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
May 27, 2016
TimWakimika from Canada (QC)
3.56/5 rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Apr 01, 2016
3.56/5 rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Apr 01, 2016
BabaBeer from Maryland
4/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 06, 2015
4/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 06, 2015
Bartimus9 from Massachusetts
4.13/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Dec 06, 2016
4.13/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Dec 06, 2016
Taybeh from Minnesota
3.8/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Mar 27, 2016
3.8/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Mar 27, 2016
icemanls4 from Switzerland
3.98/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Sep 17, 2016
3.98/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Sep 17, 2016
Nick29 from California
3.92/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Jul 18, 2015
3.92/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Jul 18, 2015
ccapurso from Pennsylvania
3.75/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Nov 08, 2015
3.75/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Nov 08, 2015
stwok21 from California
3.59/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Dec 19, 2014
3.59/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Dec 19, 2014
CNoj012 from New York
3.72/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
This beer pours a beautiful, vibrant, hazy golden color with a gigantic, fluffy bright white head. The retention is tremendous and there are many soapy patches of lacing.
The smell is very bright and tropical. Melon, mango and pineapple are all apparent with a bit of rubber like funk.
Taste is similar although the tropical fruits aren't as pronounced. They are the first flavors present, but are quickly swept aside by the funk which lingers into a spicy finish.
Feel is light and moderately carbonated. Nowhere near as crisp as I would like it though.
Overall a good beer. This is a middle of the road saison for me. With the hoppy tropical flavor it is not really to style, but is an interesting take.
Nov 27, 2016
3.72/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
This beer pours a beautiful, vibrant, hazy golden color with a gigantic, fluffy bright white head. The retention is tremendous and there are many soapy patches of lacing.
The smell is very bright and tropical. Melon, mango and pineapple are all apparent with a bit of rubber like funk.
Taste is similar although the tropical fruits aren't as pronounced. They are the first flavors present, but are quickly swept aside by the funk which lingers into a spicy finish.
Feel is light and moderately carbonated. Nowhere near as crisp as I would like it though.
Overall a good beer. This is a middle of the road saison for me. With the hoppy tropical flavor it is not really to style, but is an interesting take.
Nov 27, 2016
MaybeSoMaybeNot from Pennsylvania
3.83/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Feb 04, 2015
3.83/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Feb 04, 2015
swanfungus from California
3.74/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Apr 28, 2015
3.74/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Apr 28, 2015
Foley67 from Scotland
4.23/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Feb 20, 2017
4.23/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Feb 20, 2017
BowWowWowYippyYoIPA from California
3.22/5 rDev -15.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
No bottle date
Look - Pours a hazy golden yellow with big fluffy white head. Very good bubble distribution and head retention. Little clinging. 3.75 paws.
Smell - Classic spicy/yeasty saison aroma. Almost smells like a belgian golden ale. Bits of pepper, banana and clove. Slight grassy hoppiness. Touch of lemon. 4.25 paws
Taste - A large amount of bitterness up front. Slightly metallic. A bit of the clove comes through. Finishes bitter as well, really just bitter the whole way through. A bit of yeasty bread underneath. 2.25 paws.
Feel - Slightly creamy, somewhat grainy finish. Good amount of tingle on the tongue. 3.75 paws
I was hoping for better after the pour and initial smell. After all is said and done this beer is just way way too bitter for the style, in fact, the bitterness wouldn't even be pleasant in an IPA. With a brewery known for their sours, I wish they would have made a brett-saison. 3.5 paws.
Meow beer.
Dec 31, 2014
3.22/5 rDev -15.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
No bottle date
Look - Pours a hazy golden yellow with big fluffy white head. Very good bubble distribution and head retention. Little clinging. 3.75 paws.
Smell - Classic spicy/yeasty saison aroma. Almost smells like a belgian golden ale. Bits of pepper, banana and clove. Slight grassy hoppiness. Touch of lemon. 4.25 paws
Taste - A large amount of bitterness up front. Slightly metallic. A bit of the clove comes through. Finishes bitter as well, really just bitter the whole way through. A bit of yeasty bread underneath. 2.25 paws.
Feel - Slightly creamy, somewhat grainy finish. Good amount of tingle on the tongue. 3.75 paws
I was hoping for better after the pour and initial smell. After all is said and done this beer is just way way too bitter for the style, in fact, the bitterness wouldn't even be pleasant in an IPA. With a brewery known for their sours, I wish they would have made a brett-saison. 3.5 paws.
Meow beer.
Dec 31, 2014
StoutBoi from New York
3.86/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 03, 2016
3.86/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 03, 2016
MiloBuckley from California
4.1/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Oct 06, 2015
4.1/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Oct 06, 2015
Murrobert
4.22/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Jan 27, 2015
4.22/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Jan 27, 2015
MFMB from Idaho
3.91/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a clear deep golden/Amber with a clean white foam. Smells of melon, banana and Belgian yeast. Taste of melon skin, light banana and spivey pepper. Very spicy in a good way. The white pepper and spicy notes come through well. A bit of citrus on the backend. Finishes crisp and fairly dry. Light to medium mouthfeel.
Oct 09, 2016
3.91/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a clear deep golden/Amber with a clean white foam. Smells of melon, banana and Belgian yeast. Taste of melon skin, light banana and spivey pepper. Very spicy in a good way. The white pepper and spicy notes come through well. A bit of citrus on the backend. Finishes crisp and fairly dry. Light to medium mouthfeel.
Oct 09, 2016
MyakkaRiver from Florida
3.9/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Jun 08, 2015
3.9/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Jun 08, 2015
randomn8 from California
3.85/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Jul 02, 2015
3.85/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Jul 02, 2015
Saison Dolores from Almanac Beer Co.
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
242 ratings
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