Garden Biere
Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project

On tap at Fort Collins. Strong herbal content such as thyme. I always liked these variants as different takes on saisons to explore. Good summer offering.

 

Despite my seeing shelves with their ales more and more, this is only my second from Crooked Stave. That means I got shy several years ago because that first Wild was too tart for my buds. This second is balanced, enough so that it paired well with a lunch that included Belgian Endive and a hummus medley. In the intervening six years, I'd like to think that Crooked Stave has improved their craftsmanship... and that I've mellowed my mouth; or raised its tart threshold. As I finish this 16 ounce can, I think both is true.

Garden Biere almost could be a saison given that style's expansion. (UnTappd styled it as a Saison.) But Wild is appropriate here. For Looks, slightly above average foam for a non-foamy style; but I've given extra points for a creative can that reminds me of a botany book; but it also might make a good culinary apron. Smells offer mostly tart, but balanced. This continues in the Taste from attack to dry finish. It cleanses my palate enough for another bite, which is a lunch ale's job.

I owe Crooked Stave a micro review. Over 12 years ago, its founder actually did a masters thesis on using Brett in brewing; open-sourced the thesis and, I'm guessing, this contributed the academic backbone of brett's brewing trend. For all that, I give Stave high Overall marks.... all this from a Euro-Saison Head. A Votre Sante' !

8/11/23 Appropriately poured into my Lindemann's tulip, I drank the second can from Beer Drop and edited the above not much because this time I had similar bitter lettuce, curly endive.

S: Citrus, tart, lime, a hint of funk, oak, apple.
T: Bright, tart flavors right off the bat. Citrus, lots of grapefruit, apple, a few floral notes, lingering tartness on the tongue.
F: Sharp, acidic.
O: Vibrant

16oz can. Poured out a slightly cloudy, golden yellow color with a small, white head of fizzy foam. It left some thin lacing. It smelled of funky phenolic notes with yeast, caramel and grains. Nice funky taste with caramel, spices and toffee.