Pastoral
Oxbow Brewing Company

 

 

 

Taster flight in taproom. Cloudy golden body, silky head. Aroma is floral, savory. Velvety feel with a taste that offers light yeasty notes, floral, fruity and savory. A lot going on, but each of flavor is distinct. Flows smoothly across the tongue. Apple, floral. Smooth.

The golden straw Saison is almost clear (SRM 2-3) with a 3" creamy white head, tinted pastel yellow. Fine carbonation slowly proceeds upwards in random, sparkling constellations. Patches of lace form continental patches on the Pretentious Glass C. Tulip glass.

A dusty sourness is mild, with apple and light floral notes. Faint smokiness is suggested and lost as warmth brings lemon.

Bitterness is balanced by moderate sourness and tartness. The green apple is prominent, and the finish is long and dusty.

Exceptionally dry, with a texture of nylon and alcohol as advertised.

This was a good choice for a spectacular late Spring afternoon. One can relax and sip this beer while soaking up the sun as if there are no other cares to be tended.

L: Cloudy, pale yellow, thin head

S: Yeasty, funky, hints of lemon

T: Cidery, quite sour, citrus again.

F: Light and bubbly

O: On one level it's impressive that they have made something that tastes like a Maine Gueuze. On the other, it's not a very good Gueuze; it's too simple, with little to balance the sourness. File under 'interesting experiment' rather than 'nice to drink'.

 

04/08/20 bottle from the brewery in Portland during 2020 trip to Maine. Pours mildly opaque pale yellow either two fingers of white head and good lacing, smell is sweet floral and funky cut grass, hints of green apple and lemon flesh, taste follows the nose with floral sweetness, lemon-lime soda, hints of grass and funk, feel is incredibly light and bright with excellent carbonation. An extremely refreshing and quaffable farmhouse champagne!

 

Mixed fermentation saison beer with blend of European and American hops. My favorite out of the six beers on tap when I visited the brewery. Aged in stainless steel.