Surfer Rossa
Oxbow Brewing Company

Surfer RossaSurfer Rossa
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From:
Oxbow Brewing Company
 
Maine, United States
Style:
Saison
Ranked #338
ABV:
4.5%
Score:
89
Ranked #11,111
Avg:
4.05 | pDev: 3.46%
Reviews:
6
Ratings:
15
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 29, 2023
Added:
Feb 16, 2020
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SFC21:
Photo of SFC21
Rated by SFC21 from Florida

4.06/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Jan 30, 2021
More User Ratings:
Photo of SLeffler27
Reviewed by SLeffler27 from New York

3.95/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Muddy yellow, with a 1" white froth. The head is semi-translucent and short lived, holding a thin blanket and a thick ring for the duration. The small, dimpled mug from Pretentious Glass Company supports a fine webbing of lace.

The aroma opens as lemony salt marsh, followed by coriander and faint white pepper. Some orange works its way out as it warms, along with a mild floral sensation. Earthy bread dough become obvious and acts as a background drone for the duration.

It’s more bitter than anticipated with dryness being pronounced. A mild sour/tartness becomes earthy, while coriander and lime fill the voids. The finish is very strong, too strong, as it overwhelms both the delicate and the pronounced flavors. All except the dryness. Warmth continuously amplifies the marsh-brine.

The body is light with the soft texture of angora wool (furr?). The alcohol is surprisingly noticeable, all-be-it mild. The carbonation is soft and creamy, giving an overall fluffy sensation to each sip.

This is a pleasant Saison, less sessionable than as an accent to the afternoon. My imagination wants to try it with crab cakes and a salad composed of roasted corn and peppers with feta in the mix. Closing my eyes, I’m transported to a sunny August on the shores of the lower Chesapeake Bay.
Dec 29, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by Gen1411 from Hawaii

Nov 09, 2022
 
Rated: 4.06 by M4CDO from Massachusetts

Dec 24, 2021
 
Rated: 4.24 by smb71481 from Vermont

Jun 21, 2021
Photo of Slatetank
Reviewed by Slatetank from Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
enjoyed chilled from the can in a willybecker glass
The color is a hazed marigold shade with 3 fingers of white foam that subside to a ring of beads.
The nose hase a strong yeast scent coupled with fruity blood orange odor that is berry-like and tart smelling
The feel is great with tangy citrus and zest elements with yeast that is earthy and dry moderate carbonation and mild sweetness with lingering astringent aspect

The flavor is very tangy and tropical fruit heavy with moro/blood orange sweet yet limey acidic and tangy flavor yet light rind-like middle with more astringency and dry impact of salt on palate with peppery spice-like yeast in the back as it finishes and has a long yeast intermingling with the tropical tang of orange and lime in taste and subtle salt toward the end after the swallow.

This grisette/farmhouse style is so nicely done with citrus of orange dominant yet salt and lime add a dry acidic tastethat makes it very drinkable with a dry quality that does not come off as too tart or tangy just a mellow acidity on top of a base beer that has a satisfying dry quality
Jun 07, 2021
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.81/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bought from Beer Drop, my first from them that was not a Colorado brewer. Since Oxbow gets Chicago distribution, I'm glad Beer Drop is developing more marketing clout... or at least emerging as an alternative distribution network.

As for Surfer Rossa, I find this a quenching grisette. The lemon/lime and salt slacks thirst like a margarita. The modest brett adds to the flavor instead of trying to steal the show. While the Brett character is balanced, it still does not say "take me to your table." (Maybe I should try this with guacamole and chips, like a margarita.) There is modest traditional yeasty activity and foam in this saison. While that is not a fault, this drying sensation also would suppress most food flavors instead of enliven them like a good saison should. (So speaks the traditionalist in me.)

This is only my fourth from Oxbow. I am shy of their Brett-y interpretations and have not rated one of the four above the average. They are not yet on my NABIBL (Norther American Belgian-Inspired Bucket List.) But if I ever make it to Allagash, I suppose I should consider Oxbow.

7/16/21 Had the second can to quench a thirst (done well) and enliven appetizers (done well enough.) I edited the above review and am satisfied and am keeping count over at UnTappd.
Jun 06, 2021
Photo of DefenCorps
Reviewed by DefenCorps from Oregon

3.99/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Can from Saraveza. Canned 20 Nov 2020.

A mildly hazy light yellow with a dense white head with good retention and lacing this looks solid. The nose is quite lovely. Soft, fruity citrus, floral rose notes, firm grain notes, a nice spice character with funky pepper and light clove. Lemon, mild earth, faint yet ample saison yeast notes.

The palate opens bright, tart and refreshing with crisp, clean, softly acidic lime juice, orange fruitiness and a delicate salty note. There's a crisp, clean grain character that follows. While the adjuncts do overwhelm the base beer, it is nicely executed and in harmony rather than a hostile takeover. Fruity, spicy yeast, mild sulfur notes are present on the mid-palate. Drying, clean, zippy on the finish, this is light in body, moderately carbonated and very tasty.
Apr 05, 2021
 
Rated: 3.99 by Jsalz21 from New Jersey

Feb 12, 2021
 
Rated: 4.04 by CreightonSM from New York

Jan 09, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by BEER88 from North Carolina

May 30, 2020
 
Rated: 4.14 by GC2020 from New Hampshire

May 20, 2020
Photo of cbutova
Reviewed by cbutova from Massachusetts

4.04/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A- 12oz can pours into a chalice with a fairly hazy deep golden to light orange body. A foamy cap rises up to a few fingers high but falls somewhat quickly down to a small ring at the edges. Rare spotty lacing.

S- Blood oranges and Saison yeast make up the majority of the aroma. Spicy Belgian yeast notes come on strong with orange zest, cooking herbs, coriander, floral, bready and slightly tart citrus note with the yeast.

T- The oranges and the strong Belgian yeast are again the defining aspects of the brew and you know immediately you are drinking a Saison based on that strong spicy, herbal and fruity flavor profile. Both estery and phenolic with oranges complimented by notes of coriander, mild pepper, orange zest, lemon, pear, slight apple and pale grape notes. Slight saltiness and very very light tartness.

MF- Fluffy and very puffy texture to this light bodied beer. The carbonation is fairly high and it ends with an herbal bitterness lingering on the palate.

No surprise that blood orange and Saison go well together with Oxbow at the helm and considering the flavor profile of both entities. Always love trying different Oxbow brews.
Mar 28, 2020
 
Rated: 4.12 by nmann08 from Virginia

Mar 07, 2020
Photo of Sheppard
Reviewed by Sheppard from Massachusetts

4.24/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours golden, slightly milky in appearance. Theres definitely a briney sea salt aroma on the nose. The mouthfeel is creamy and it is lightly tart. There's a touch of citrus and a light phenolic note. This is a very unique and well executed beer.
Feb 16, 2020
Surfer Rossa from Oxbow Brewing Company
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 15 ratings