Vieille Artisanal Saison
Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project

Vieille Artisanal SaisonVieille Artisanal Saison
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
Saison
Ranked #419
ABV:
4.2%
Score:
89
Ranked #10,564
Avg:
4 | pDev: 9%
Reviews:
174
Ratings:
1,019
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 20, 2023
Added:
Apr 08, 2013
Wants:
  28
Gots:
  135
Artisan ale aged in oak barrels

Translated from French as “old-tradition”, Vieille is our barrel-aged classical saison. Using time-honored techniques, our saisons employ traditional methods to restore complexity and the rustic character lost in modern day saison. Saisons were the original wild ales, brewed for the farmhands to be a refreshing and sustaining beverage. Each batch of Vieille takes on a soft Brettanomyces character and a complex acidity while conditioning in our large oak foeders. After conditioning in oak, we lightly dry hop the beer to finish it, lending a subtle citrusy hop aroma. Leading with lemon and lime citrusy hop notes, a subtle herbal spice, and a crisp tart finish, Vieille’s character epitomizes artisan saison.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Guden:
Photo of Guden
Reviewed by Guden from Maryland

4.23/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
A- slightly hazy light gold with a huge white head that sticks to the edges while falling in the center.

S- tons of Brett derived character leap from the glass (and bottle for that matter). Horse blanket and wet earth lead with some lemon, tangerine and pineapple also peaking through. Some buttery, Chardonnay like oak shows more as it warms.

T- much less funky than the nose would suggest with a tart pop on the front and a mix of subtle earth, light oak and fruit in the middle with a long smooth, tart finish.

M- extremely creamy, with enough pop to get all the flavors where they should be. The mouthfeel might be derived from the oak tannins but its hard to be sure.

O- it's hard to think of another beer similar to this one. On the nose it seems like many funky, Brett beers but the mouthfeel and moderate tartness make this one entirely unique. A very enjoyable drinking experience all around.
Aug 02, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.55 by Chilmer from Iowa

Dec 20, 2023
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.87/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I'm not a fan of really dry saisons. This Vieille is really dry.
I'm not a fan mostly because dry saisons have a very narrow range of foods that they pair well for me; mostly bitter vegetables and salads. Tonight I had Greek spinach pie, and spinach usually is bitter. But this spanakopita was not bitter enough. And this Vielle paired poorly with my vegetable soup. So, I already know I made a mistake of buying a 4-pack.

I give average points for Vielle's dull Looks; I gotta have active protein swirls at the table. Smells are impressively chardonnay-like. Tastes are beyond lemony tart and into acidic territory... maybe even antacid territory. This does cleanse my palate, but at what cost to my buds is that tart?

Despite its pairing poverty, Vieille gets pretty good Overall Hugs because Crooked Stave is a thoughtful innovator in the Brett-tart segment. But, this is only my second brew from them and I think I know why.

2/19/24 Over 3 months I postponed a second copy. Then I compounded the anxiety by pairing Vieille with the same simple soup that it was no match for in November. Best for me to admit this was a mistake to buy a 4-pack and give the rest away.
Nov 12, 2023
Photo of Marohn
Reviewed by Marohn from North Carolina

2.16/5  rDev -46%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Must have gotten a bad 4 pack. Excited to try it, as a Saison is among my favorites, but this was pretty awful - sour was the main theme. Opened up 2 cans and both were similar- threw the other two away.
Aug 03, 2023
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Canned 6/16/23; drank 7/14/23 @ the Yarchives.

Opaque yellow/orange appearance.

A rough pour yielded a nice, noisy white head; minimal lacing remained.

Lemon, oak & mild barnyard funk notes in the nose.

Medium mouthfeel.

Lemon, wood & mild funk flavors; a balanced, slightly tart, very enjoyable saison.

I'd have another!
Jul 15, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by DOCRW from Kentucky

Dec 20, 2022
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.61/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
March 2015: 375 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. 2014 / Batch 11. ABV is 4.2%. Golden colour, low white head. Pleasant brettanomyces aroma, notes of farmhouse kitchen and mild spices, hints of oaked cider. The flavour has a moderate acidity, slightly tart, with fruity (esp. lemons) and spicy notes. Easy drinking and refreshing.
May 29, 2022
Photo of bubseymour
Rated by bubseymour from Maryland

4.77/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Had this beer with 6 years bottled aged. Nice and funky and a touch bretty but not tart or sour at all. Really enjoyed.
Dec 18, 2021
Photo of hman43
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina

3.97/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: It pours pale gold with a white head. Head retention is moderate.

Smell: It has lemon aromas with grain, leather, and spice.

Taste: It has lemon and spice flavors with a bit of grain and leather. There are some low herbal notes.

Feel: It has a medium low body with a sour and dry finish.

Overall, well blended flavors with the classic dry saison finish.
Nov 23, 2021
 
Rated: 3.5 by NickMunford from Wyoming

Jul 17, 2021
Photo of AElfwine_Nerevar
Reviewed by AElfwine_Nerevar from Connecticut

3.71/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Batch 12 (2014)

L: Pours a deep gold with excellent clarity. A decanted pour yields a small ring of head. There is the occasional carbonation bubble rising from the bottom of the glass.

S: Typical Brett smell, barley perceptible vinous notes, and a little hint of lemon. The nose seems a bit faded to me.

T: I get a bit of lemon, some funky notes, some cardboard (dammit), vinegar, and a bit of tartness on the back end and maybe a bit of oak (which I probably wouldn't have been able to pick out if I didn't already know this was aged in it). Not much going on here.

F: It has a light body with pretty low carbonation. Mouthfeel is a bit watery.

O: This beer was definitely faded and a bit oxidized, but for a 6 year old saison it wasn't terrible. I would love to have a chance to try this fresh.
Feb 02, 2021
Photo of rex_4539
Reviewed by rex_4539 from Greece

3.28/5  rDev -18%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25
L: Slightly hazy golden color, minimal head, messy lacing, light carbonation.

S: Sour-ish.

T: Sour-ish, some oak character.

F: Light bodied, not much going on.

O: Nope.
Nov 16, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by Velivolus1 from Vermont

Aug 01, 2020
Photo of StoutElk_92
Reviewed by StoutElk_92 from Massachusetts

4.42/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours mostly clear yellow with racing bubbles and a creamy white foam head. Smells rustic and funky, floral and earthy, herbal, grainy sweet, with yeasty farmhouse, leather, peppery spice, and mild fruity esters. Tastes real fruity like pineapple, lychee, berries, lemony citrus, tart apple, pear, apricot, banana, rustic grains, oak, funky farmhouse yeast, mild leather, peppery spice, with floral earthy herbal hops. Feels medium-light bodied, creamy with smooth moderate carbonation. Overall a nice oak aged saison.
Apr 28, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by Velivolus from Vermont

Mar 24, 2020
Photo of Bluecrow
Reviewed by Bluecrow from New York

4.1/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
-hazy yellow bottle pour with a 1.5 cm fluffy foam cap and a lemony, prickly aroma. The brew is tart with lemon, oak influence and earthy/herbal hop notes. I taste little saison spiciness (due to a bit of age?) and there is some funk in the finish. This is a light-bodied pleasure.
Mar 19, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by Elicoleman from Colorado

Feb 19, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by jewellrunner from Missouri

Jun 25, 2019
 
Rated: 3.83 by mattmarka1 from Minnesota

Jun 17, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by MonkeyPilates from Minnesota

Jun 05, 2019
Vieille Artisanal Saison from Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 1019 ratings