Saison Citron
Golden Road Brewing

It pours yellow and hazy with a huge head, much like an authentic Belgian Saison. The aroma is similarly very Belgian, with spicy notes and with the added element of citrus. The flavor is fairly mild but quite complex, with a nice balance between the sweet, citrusy, and tart elements. The body is very light and probably my least favorite aspect of this otherwise really enjoyable, beer.

 

 

Mild lemon character with a pop of spicy, floral hops. There's a little yeast spice aroma. I'd like some brighter, stand-out notes, but overall it's a tasty brew.

 

 

Delightful sudsy mouthfeel. In six words: Tangy and yeasty. Grainy and malty. Salty and Meaty. Some malty sweetness with a bitter yeasty finish. Another excellent brew from Golden Road. This is from the 12 oz can, and I'm delighted to find a decent Saison in a can. I say, lose the corks!

 

 

 

 

i was excited to open this can, but perhaps that's where i went wrong. poured a hazy yellow-gold with the characteristic champagne-like carbonation. citrus is hard to detect anywhere; the nose is yeasty and a little herbal, perhaps more like a lemon blossom than the actual fruit. flavor let me down - drinks more like a dry wheat beer than a typical farmhouse. finishes on the dryer side, but with lingering yeasty esters. more spice and more funk would have been appreciated, or some grassy, dry hop qualities to push back the banana notes that dominate the palate. i like it better out of the can than in the glass.

 

 

 

 

 

Poured into a tulip glass.

L - An aggressive pour yields a clear golden straw color with a couple fingers of white foam that quickly settle to a thin cap atop the beer. Not much lacing on the drink down.

S - The aroma is bright and clean. Notes of spicy Belgian yeast, crackerish grain, citrus peel, and earthy fresh-cut grass combine to create a generally pleasing aroma; but there is also a strange, almost putrid, quality to the smell that I find sometimes in highly-hopped Belgian beers. A good swirl reveals some mild funk.

T - The flavor is light and ultra clean. The spicy and citrusy notes of the aroma are present, but very mild. A fairly dry finish leaves behind a slightly metallic flavor that is somewhat off-putting.

F - The texture is medium-bodied, with moderate carbonation.

O - A very "California-style" Saison, with the addition of lemons, its squeaky-clean quality, and a good dose of hops. The flavor is lacking the definition that the aroma promises, and the finish leaves a strange aftertaste. I really like Golden Road, and I love Saisons; but this one kinda missed the mark for me. Definitely worth a try, though; and I could see this beer pairing well with a backyard BBQ hang.

Really surprised me. I love saisons and do not like them blended with any other flavors, but this hit the spot. Overall this one is on the lighter end of the saison spectrum, but that, combined with the subtle citrus addition, makes it a perfect warm weather ale. At the price point it is available here in San Diego it's a steal. If you're looking for a refreshing, affordable saison....this is it.