Saison Dolores
Almanac Beer Co.

The beer pours out into a Duvel glass a clear golden yellow color with a 1" fluffy white head that slowly recedes to a thin layer of foam, leaving lots of interesting patches and legs of lacing on the sides of the glass. Sipping creates some scattered patches and legs of lacing, some of which slide back down to the liquid.

The aromas include some spice, some fruit (apricot?), some rye, a bit of wheat, a touch of citric zest, and a hint of white pepper.

The flavors are a complex combination of players that include the rye up, the zest, some lightly sweet fruits (apricot and mango), with a bit of spicy white pepper and a touch of bitterness throughout.

The mouth feel is medium bodied with some slightly prickly carbonation. The finish is on the long side of medium length with the sweetness and fruit flavors fading more rapidly than the rye and pepper thus allowing the hop bitterness to emerge more strongly as the dry, spicy pepper and bitterness move to the back of the palate and a fairly long dry, spicy and lightly bitter aftertaste.

I'm enjoying this beer while it isn't quite what I'd normally expect in a Saison the rye and fruit flavors are showing nicely. It is definitely a complex well-made beer and I certainly could have another without any difficulty. That said, it doesn't make it onto my list of saisons-to-have-again simply because it would have to bump off either the Boulevard Tank 7, the Goose Island Sofie or Dupont's Avec Les Bons Voeux which are my top choices for my regular rotation.

Whoa! What a saison!!! What a farmhouse ale!!!
It is misleading to label it a Belgian Saison... although it does contain sone of that remarkable yeast, thanks to the mastery of Almanac, it is something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. The fermented yeast is somehow totally blended into the fruity multitude of hops and is interwoven into the rich layers of taste. It is almost like an IPA with its hop fruitiness and the yeast supports those fruits in these perfectly: I'm getting peaches, melon and candied stuff. It feels rather sweet fruity and overall perfect - there is nothing that could be better with this beer! Simply because it is a dry-hopped Californian Saison, a category on its own. The local rye and wheat play an essential part in it's perfect taste.
I am extremely satisfied with this brew - I am confident to state that this is simply the BEST (Belgian style?) yeast-y saison that I've ever had. Long live Californian saisons!

Got this as part of a Christmas beer assortment from my sisters, so I don't know where it was bought or what it costs. It came in a 22oz brown bottle with no freshness date. This will be my first beer from this California brewery.

The beer poured a clear rich golden honey color, which was a little surprising since they use wheat in brewing it and wheat usually leaves beers cloudy looking. The beer made a 2-finger white head that lasted about a minute before dissipating, and left some decent lacing on the glass.

The beer had a nice citrus smell - mostly oranges and tangerines, along with some spice and some funky yeast.

Sweet and citrusy taste along with a hefty dose of spices - mainly rye and white pepper. Very little bitterness, but very noticeable Saison-like yeast flavor.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

My first offering from this brewery, and so far so good. I liked it.

 

 

 

This was poured into a tulip. The appearance was a glossy burnt yellow to orange color with a sly transparency about it. Carbonation rides up at a nice pace. Quickly dissipated head. Barely any lacing. The smell started off with a sweet herbal to earthy aroma rolling over some light grassy tones. Some white pepper. Light floral qualities. Light breadiness. The flavor brings it all together, mainly leans sweet. Sweet herbal aftertaste with a smooth sweet finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a nice sessionability about it. Controlled stickiness. Overall, really nice saison that I would come back to.

 

A big thanks to the commander of the canquest, woodychandler, for this beer. Poured from a 12 oz. can. Despite no agitation, this beer can gushing out, resulting in a dark golden color with a 1 1/2 inch head. Smell is of yeast, fruits. Taste is fruits, citrus stands out, spices, some yeast, tasty. Feels medium/full bodied in the mouth and overall is a quality beer.

Pours a lovely golden clear with a large fluffy white head. The head breaks slowly and there is some really nice lacing left behind. The smell is very nice with typical Belgian candi notes, some citrusy hops, fruitiness, and a touch of that peppery smell. Taste is a little sweet citrus and then the bitter of hops. There are the elements of pepper and other spices present as well. You can also taste the rye. The feel is medium with medium zingy carbonation. There is a nice citrusy and bitter aftertaste which eventually becomes a bit sweet.

Overall, a nice beer. I enjoyed taking my time with this beer, and experiencing all the flavors. My first experience with an Almanac brew, and based on this, I will get more.

 

 

Pours a slightly hazy honey gold with a large fluffy white head. Lots of carbonation as to be expected. Aromas and flavors are phenomenal! Nelson hops and rye wheat bring out tropical fruits, melons, pineapples, subtle spiciness, and rye bread qualities. For a six-pack saison this may be my new go-to, incredibly fresh and wonderful.

 

 

 

 

 

Something weird on the nose, almost like vinyl, clear hint of New World hops too. Palate isn't dry enough for a saison, IMO, too reliant on the fruity hops. This fits in the Almanac brand, but it's not my cup of tea.

Pours a clear yellow color with white head. Herbal, very floral and some other odd soapy tones on the nose; follows onto the palate. Medium bodied. Finishes with the same weird flavors.