Madame Basil
Holy City Brewing

 

 

this is awesome beer, my first from these guys, and just a wonderful use of basil, the likes of which i have not really seen before. its so natural, rich dark green, oily and aromatic and italian and just tremendously real, its not overdosed at all, but its not super subtle either, it really leads the way in the nose and the taste, and i think its incredibly compatible with the saison yeast strain they have used in this crisp, clean, and delicate take on the style. there are some belgian type fruity esters in here, but its not fermented too warm or anything, and while i like my saison quite a bit more earthy and rustic and grounded than this one is, i appreciate its high refinement and tidy nature, it lets the basil do its thing in such an undisturbed way. i have seen basil in a ton of different types of beers now, but this is where it works the best i think, it needs the yeasty fruitiness, and it likes the dry wheaty base too, its super summery and pungently aromatic, with light white grape and apple notes from the yeast, kind of french strain tasting to me later on. uplifting carbonation and a soft basil finish where hops might show up normally. clever and nicely executed stuff, big points for creativity and spot on use of an uncommon ingredient. delightful brew!

 

Poured from the tap into a pint glass at the brewery. Slightly murky golden yellow color with a small white head. Strong basil flavor. Unique, very good.