Saint Stephen
Selkirk Abbey Brewing Company
- From:
- Selkirk Abbey Brewing Company
- Idaho, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Saison
- ABV:
- 7.9%
- Score:
- 88
- Avg:
- 3.92 | pDev: 10.2%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 8
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Dec 09, 2018
- Added:
- Mar 25, 2014
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 2
SCORE
88
Very Good
88
Very Good
Saint Stephen is our take on the classic Belgian saison. Traditionally brewed in the winter months for drinking during the heat of the summer, these farmhouse ales feature a complex flavor profile. Spicy yeast aromas combine with the finest European malts and noble hops to produce a beer with uncommon depth of flavor.
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Reviewed by Radome from Florida
3.89/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.89/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Tasted from a bomber bottle bought in Ogden, UT.
L - Orange-ish color could be called the deepest gold or the lightest copper. Slightly hazy. Off-white head quickly recedes into a tiny ring around the glass.
S - Unique spicy/herbal/sweet aroma. It may all be from the yeast or there may be a spice addition. No malt or hops aroma stand out. There is a bit of cotton candy and bubblegum that lingers, reminding me more of a tripel or Belgian golden strong than saison, although the strong spice that dominates is customary for a saison yeast.
T - Cracked grain pilsner malt flavor stands out, along with black pepper and tamarind notes. Similar to the aroma, there are flavors of cotton candy and bubblegum. Lightly sweet finish.
F - Medium to light body with little carbonation. Moderate hops bitterness is evident despite the lack of aroma or flavor contributions from hops. Alcohol is evident, not as a burn but as a sweetness and esters.
O - This is an enjoyable beer that can be described as generally "Belgian", but it is lacking the crisp dryness and strong carbonation I normally expect from a Saison.
Dec 09, 2018L - Orange-ish color could be called the deepest gold or the lightest copper. Slightly hazy. Off-white head quickly recedes into a tiny ring around the glass.
S - Unique spicy/herbal/sweet aroma. It may all be from the yeast or there may be a spice addition. No malt or hops aroma stand out. There is a bit of cotton candy and bubblegum that lingers, reminding me more of a tripel or Belgian golden strong than saison, although the strong spice that dominates is customary for a saison yeast.
T - Cracked grain pilsner malt flavor stands out, along with black pepper and tamarind notes. Similar to the aroma, there are flavors of cotton candy and bubblegum. Lightly sweet finish.
F - Medium to light body with little carbonation. Moderate hops bitterness is evident despite the lack of aroma or flavor contributions from hops. Alcohol is evident, not as a burn but as a sweetness and esters.
O - This is an enjoyable beer that can be described as generally "Belgian", but it is lacking the crisp dryness and strong carbonation I normally expect from a Saison.
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)
3.75/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
22oz bottle - wow, haven't seen these 'bros' up around here for a long, long while!
This beer pours a slightly hazy, pale golden yellow colour, with two skinny fingers of puffy, loosely foamy, and somewhat fizzy dirty white head, which leaves a bit of grotesque coral atoll lace around the glass as things slowly sink away.
It smells of edgy Belgian yeast, muddled pome and stone fruity notes, some indistinct earthy spiciness, gritty and grainy caramel malt, and understated leafy, weedy, and floral green hop bitters. The taste is grainy and slightly crackery caramel malt, a sort of phenolic yeastiness, muddled pome and domestic citrus fruit rind, subtle black peppercorn and clove spice, and more tame earthy, weedy, and herbal verdant hoppiness.
The carbonation is fairly laid-back in its gentle frothiness, the body a decent medium weight, and sort of smooth, as both the yeast and the emerging alcohol kind of trip over each other at this juncture. It finishes off-dry, the big malt holding fast, while the fruit and yeast banter between themselves.
Overall, this is a pleasant enough version of the style, albeit bordering on BSPA territory, for what it's worth. The near 8 points of the ol' wowee sauce certainly play into the equation, as such, but are well-hidden, for the most part. Yes, a genial example of what can happen with New World reinterpretations of Old World standards.
Mar 03, 2017This beer pours a slightly hazy, pale golden yellow colour, with two skinny fingers of puffy, loosely foamy, and somewhat fizzy dirty white head, which leaves a bit of grotesque coral atoll lace around the glass as things slowly sink away.
It smells of edgy Belgian yeast, muddled pome and stone fruity notes, some indistinct earthy spiciness, gritty and grainy caramel malt, and understated leafy, weedy, and floral green hop bitters. The taste is grainy and slightly crackery caramel malt, a sort of phenolic yeastiness, muddled pome and domestic citrus fruit rind, subtle black peppercorn and clove spice, and more tame earthy, weedy, and herbal verdant hoppiness.
The carbonation is fairly laid-back in its gentle frothiness, the body a decent medium weight, and sort of smooth, as both the yeast and the emerging alcohol kind of trip over each other at this juncture. It finishes off-dry, the big malt holding fast, while the fruit and yeast banter between themselves.
Overall, this is a pleasant enough version of the style, albeit bordering on BSPA territory, for what it's worth. The near 8 points of the ol' wowee sauce certainly play into the equation, as such, but are well-hidden, for the most part. Yes, a genial example of what can happen with New World reinterpretations of Old World standards.
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
3.43/5 rDev -12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.43/5 rDev -12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Bottle from Boise Co-op. Medium gold pour with airy head. Grains dominate the aroma, followed quickly by the yeast and some grassy notes. Taste right on target, bready, grassy, coriander. Nice slippery body, slick. This one gets better with each sip.
Dec 10, 2015
Reviewed by JohnGalt1 from Idaho
3.97/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle picked up at the COOP... Poured into my small Teku... slightly hazed orange brew with a pillowy white head that dies back pretty fast... phenolic forward nose with some background orange essence and lesser apricot.. pepper and clove move slowly across the palate, light pale malt with hints of dry toast help bloom a slight fruity essence that reminds me of pears.. Pretty proper saison... Very well done.. Good bubble and light body.. Even for a nearly 8% saison, this drinks nicely.
3.5/4/4/4/4/
Aug 28, 20153.5/4/4/4/4/
Reviewed by socon67 from New York
4.25/5 rDev +8.4%
4.25/5 rDev +8.4%
This beer pours a clear copper color and a thin wit foamy head. Initial scents are of some fresh fruit; I got some pear, green grape, and melon notes.
The yeast gives a tangy tartness which really complimented this beer.
Really an easy drinking saison that is true to style. Smooth body and light feel makes it a breeze to drink.
Selkirk nails Belgian styles and this is no different.
Sep 10, 2014The yeast gives a tangy tartness which really complimented this beer.
Really an easy drinking saison that is true to style. Smooth body and light feel makes it a breeze to drink.
Selkirk nails Belgian styles and this is no different.
Reviewed by Orca from Washington
3.99/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22oz into a tulip. Pours a hazy pale copper w/ a loose white head, good carbonation.
Aroma is fruity and grassy, delicate; pear and apple, spice, Belgian yeast, floral hops.
Taste is likewise fruity and floral, subtle. Just a touch of grassy funk that increases as it warms. Bready. Not sure if wheat malt was used, but it has some of the characteristics of a wheat beer.
Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, balanced, drinkable. Refreshing.
Overall a really nice saison with a nice juicy, citrusy, floral twist.
Aug 20, 2014Aroma is fruity and grassy, delicate; pear and apple, spice, Belgian yeast, floral hops.
Taste is likewise fruity and floral, subtle. Just a touch of grassy funk that increases as it warms. Bready. Not sure if wheat malt was used, but it has some of the characteristics of a wheat beer.
Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, balanced, drinkable. Refreshing.
Overall a really nice saison with a nice juicy, citrusy, floral twist.
Reviewed by flagmantho from Washington
3.84/5 rDev -2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev -2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
I had this beer on-tap in a Selkirk Abbey pint glass at the brewery.
Appearance: light golden hue with a strong effervescence and a thin layer of white foam. Not bad!
Smell: lightly funky with a nice sweetness which has a good fruity element which almost reminds me of plums. There's a little spiciness too, which rounds out a nice subtle complexity.
Taste: very sweet with a lot of that plummy fruitiness. There's a light funk too; it lacks balance, though. Just a bit sweet for my taste.
Mouthfeel: rich body with a huge carbonation and very good creaminess. I like it!
Overall: good; but a bit sweet for me.
Jun 22, 2014Appearance: light golden hue with a strong effervescence and a thin layer of white foam. Not bad!
Smell: lightly funky with a nice sweetness which has a good fruity element which almost reminds me of plums. There's a little spiciness too, which rounds out a nice subtle complexity.
Taste: very sweet with a lot of that plummy fruitiness. There's a light funk too; it lacks balance, though. Just a bit sweet for my taste.
Mouthfeel: rich body with a huge carbonation and very good creaminess. I like it!
Overall: good; but a bit sweet for me.
Reviewed by MDDMD from Pennsylvania
4.1/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A-slightly hazy golden color with a nice white head and decent lacing/retention
S-grain, light lemon, yeast, hint of caramel, little fruit
T-toasted grain, Belgian yeast, light caramel, lemon, light pepper, light apricot, mild bitter finish
F-medium body with moderate carbonation, crisp
O-well-made Saison with good flavor and true to the style
Mar 25, 2014S-grain, light lemon, yeast, hint of caramel, little fruit
T-toasted grain, Belgian yeast, light caramel, lemon, light pepper, light apricot, mild bitter finish
F-medium body with moderate carbonation, crisp
O-well-made Saison with good flavor and true to the style
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