Saison De Suitcase
Bull & Bush Brewery

On tap at the brewery, poured into a tulip.
Appearance - straw yellow, hazy with sediment; medium white head that fades to a thin layer leaving latticework lacing.
Smell - blend of citrus and stone fruit, coriander, yeast and other spices; not bad, but leaves me wanting something more aromatic.
Taste - follows the nose with flavor profile, with the slightest farmhouse funk, but very tasty and refreshing!
Feel - tangy, spicy, funky and refreshing; just the right amount of carbonation and easy to drink! Covers a nice broad spectrum!
Overall - great take on the style; I'm not a huge saison fan, but this one is up there with some I really enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

No, I don't know why they chose to call this the "Suitcase Saison". If it's good, I'll get a good laugh and call it a good beer. On to it we go:

A hazy yellow looking beer, supported with good stringy lace. The nose is on track to the saison style. It's a style that to me is hit-or-miss, but the nose is rather conversative with gumball and oddball spices (correct my vagueness somebody!). A little more comes out when tasted. Not only does is serve up notes of bubblegum, a hint of cinnamon, lemon, and tarragon, but its medium body is just right and it doesn't go over the top with the alcohol (listed at 5% at the brewpub). That makes for a good afternoon drink.

From the tap into a stylized pint glass at Row 14 Restaurant in Denver.

Note--The restaurant had this brew as a special for the GABF, and the menu mentioned something about aging the beer in chardonnay barrels. The normal Saison de Suitcase is apparently fermented in French Oak (which also might be chardonnay barrels), so I'm not sure if the beer I had is different than normal or was just marketed differently by the restaurant. With that in mind, here is my review:

A-A one-finger, off-white head capped a pale, yellowish, cloudy brew. The head slowly faded and did not leave much in the way of lacing.

S-The beer had a pleasing aroma with smells of lemon, banana, cloves, oranges, and yeasty dough. I also picked up a hint of oak and white wine. Fairly sweet smelling and not particularly funky or musty.

T-The beer tasted much like it smelled. There was a nice doughy, yeasty backbone (with a hit of banana) that carried the lemon, orange, and spice notes. There was just enough bite from the alcohol to balance the fruit taste and the aforementioned wine and oak flavors keep it from becoming a complete yeast bomb.

M-The beer was medium bodied, but a touch heavy for a typical saison. I would have preferred a little more carbonation, but it never became cloying.

O-I really enjoyed this beer. It was a nice accompaniment to the mussels at dinner, but would also stand up on its own. It was a little more fruity and heavy drinking than its Belgian saison cohorts and a little less spicy than my American saison standard comparison, Tank 7, but the slight vinous kick really worked for me.

saisons seem to be in vogue right now, and this one is a bit different than many that have been making the rounds. it pours a pretty standard pale color with plenty of sediment suspended and a frothy white head that lasts in a 10oz snifter. the smell is of wild yeast, very active and spicy, floral and earthy. not farmy like some of these, it doesnt have that funk, but it has a certain richness about it, i really like it. the taste is cool too, it has an almost cinnamon hotness in the finish, or even fresh anaheim pepper or something, but its all from the yeast, no additives at all. the malt profile is dusty and whole wheat bready in character. feel is smooth and easy drinking, even at 7% abv. its got average carbonation and a thicker body. i really like this as a fall saison, it seems to blend the summer into the winter in the flavor experience it presents. id swear there was cinnamon in it, but there isnt. yummy stuff.

 

Pours a cloudy, orange/gold color. 1/4 inch head of a white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of citrus, yeast, slight wheat, spice (pepper?), and slight hop. Fits the style of a Saison / Farmhouse Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of strong spice, strong citrus, slight yeast, slight sweet malt, and hop. Overall, good appearance, aroma, blend, and body.

This one was actually called 37th Suitcase (in honor of their anniversary) but since it was a saison, I didn't feel the need to make a new entry on BA.

Served on tap at the Bull and Bush in a heavy glass gobblet.

Yellow in color with a good amount of fine-bubbled head but it doesn't linger and there's no lacing left behind.

Aroma and taste are right on par for a saison and very well done for an american rendition.

Mouthfeel is good, medium bodied, not overly heavy. Certainly drinkable.

On tap at the brewpub this was served in a chalice and was a amber-red color. The smell was faint but a little spicy. The taste was minty and leathery which I did not care for. This was not one of the better Saisons I have had. Oh well, it was worth a try.

A good pour. Lacing from spotty head, large bubbles. Medium color, a light amber.
Rich aroma, floral, ginger, malt and hops. Faint smell and taste of dough. Dances around the mouth with spice and hops balanced by the malt and dough.
Good drinking, a bit rich for more than one.