Amaro di Malto
Oxbow Brewing Company

 

(11.2 oz bottle, no date/code; purchased single off shelf at Bella Vista earlier today... poured into my Sapwood stemless wine glass)

L: mostly clear, dark tawny near crimson liquid; messy head struggles to build on the pour, but struggles to die off, forming a craggy, fish-eyed terrain.. barely any lace as the head settles

S: predominantly saison foundation with some funky sock honeydew overtones... cherry juicy then ginger-dram spicy tones busting out after a minute... it doesn't smell like amaro, but more like a heavily spiced vermouth, like Vya... pretty fantastic slow shift, development, and intensity of aromas... white pepper and b.o. by the end; unique

T: oh jeez, well it gets amaro-happy on the approach, certainly vermouth-y on the initial follow-through, but herbal and bitter in the vermouth or cinchona track than any other beer I can recall trying... oh wow, the amaro angle is in full effect by the fifth sip - more in the Cardamaro, Amaro Nonino spectrum... the only thing its missing, as far as its name, is the quintessential amaro (and malt) sweetness; it's more of a malty aromatized wine

F: between the booze and the bitter spices, it's pinging and prickling the palate from the onset... on par with Avec le Bon Vieux, as far as power, and dang near 'Novasalus, as far as bitter bite... light-bodied, oily upon first touch, finishing fiery phenolic... ignites and excites the palate for greasy-fatty, home-style indulgence

O: this is mad up my agricultural alley... I'm definitely going back for more, and may just buy the lot... this is as much 'Herb and Spice' as it is funky Saison (arguably way more toward the former); ultimately, it's a Saison, but it's inspired me to infuse Saisons with amari and/or find a blend of amaro and oude genever that compares... fantastic! - thanks for this Oxbow (2269)