Citra/Citrus
Tired Hands Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tried a few Tired Hands brews on its recent invasion of Brooklyn, but this was my favorite. As hoppy saisons go, this is one of the best I've tried. The earthy spice pairs perfectly with the juicy hops and there's just enough malt backing to support the big, fruity and floral flavors.

 

Bright golden color, light haze, nice medium white head and good lace on the glass. They promised citrus and they delivered. Notes of bright citrus zest, lemon, mandarin, kumquat, lime, light funk, and citrusy dank hop. Bright carbonation, refreshing, clean and dry on the finish. This is a style I typically do not care for but they just continue to amaze with their beers. Big citrus and hop flavors deliver a hoppy saison experience that's truly great.

I'm thinking Pizza Boy had a bad keg of this. So much diacetyl on the nose and palate. Hardly any saison left to speak of. I'm not really sure if I should be rating this - it's really the only issue I've ever had with a TH beer. This keg was a butter bomb for sure though, which was a big surprise given the reviews of this beer up to this point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

32 oz growler filled in 2/19, poured on 2/28.

Definitely a unique saison. I actually ordered this for a growler fill accidentally by confusing it with another of their saisons, after trying it and thinking it was just ok. But this is a new experience

Tired Hands does a great job of using the citrus smell and hop flavors to play off of the slightly lemony-pithy tartness from their yeast.

A: Clear golden yellow. Like a pilsner, about. Very small head for a saison. What head was there dissipated quickly. A thin foam film lasted.

S: This is what is unique. At first I wasn't impressed, though just letting it develop in my senses a bit it was very complex. Grapefruit and mango surrounded by leafiness. With some lemon to sharpen it up. A slight hint of resin. I find myself clenching at the smell of it, though it isn't actually that tart. It just gives you that reaction from knowing what grapefruit and lemon tastes like. Pretty cool.

T: Actually, it tastes more watery than it smells as it warms. To be honest, this was the opposite when it was cold. Though it's about equal either way. A nice lemony-orange sweetness followed by slight puckering, though not enough to make you clench. Like a sweet lemonade with a bit of orange and grapefruit. Pretty nice.

M: Well it's smooth and goes down well. Without scrutinizing, it's good. Being picky, it could use more carbonation. Could be due to the growler being in my trunk a few days.

O: I can see why Tired Hands was going for, here. It appeals to hop heads but also has a nice complexity for the um...more acquainted. It's lacking for the intermediaries, though -- which may sound weird, but it strikes a very subtle balance between hops and tart saison that one needs to sit and ponder and know about to appreciate. That being said, it's nice. Would probably choose their standard Saison Hands over this, though both are good beers.