Napoleon Reserve 2014
Free Will Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look: Slightly Cloudy Straw into a Snifter, with an aggressive pour there's almost a finger of head, which dissipates quickly. For a saison, it's disappointing, but because it has Brett Brux, I'd say great for the style.

Smell: Like Lagunitas Little Sumpin Wild: White grapes, vanilla, not expecting much complexity. . .

Taste: .. but like Sumpin Wild I was expecting a something simple but pleasing; though, this turned out to be a much more complex beer than the smell would lead you to believe and the beer opens up like wildfire on the palate: apples, grapes, pears, wine, vanilla, then some oddly brown malt flavors, hibiscus petals, finishes with a complex, dry, very hay-infused funk. Hold on, I will let this warm to see if it comes together or stays separate. Definitely more cohesive once warmed to 55 or so. Oak starts to come through and brings everything together.

Feel: Exactly like a St. Germain Champagne cocktail, a brut-like dry finish with lingering sticky sweetness. Actually quite nice. Once it warms, the carbonation is less sharp, way more smooth, almost nitro smooth, despite much less carbonation.

Overall, a must try beer. I'd like this further aged in tequila barrels. What do you say, Free Will?

 

 

From a bottle, pours a clear dark golden orange color with an off white head.

The nose is very floral, berries, hibiscus, with great barnyard yeast backbone. The flavor is much more sweet than I was anticipating, vegetable, floral rose tips. Just a faint vanilla hint that makes me wonder if the barrel could help this out more.

This is very light bodied, with a dry finish. Overall, this was just ok. Not a big fan.