Barrel-Aged Klutzy Buffoon Saison
Spiteful Brewing

Barrel-Aged Klutzy Buffoon SaisonBarrel-Aged Klutzy Buffoon Saison
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From:
Spiteful Brewing
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
Specialty Saison
ABV:
5.8%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.56 | pDev: 18.54%
Ratings:
32 | reviews: 7
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 02, 2018
Added:
Sep 13, 2014
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  7
Klutzy Buffoon Saison was aged in a Letherbee Absinthe Barrel from July 3rd 2014 to August 18th 2014. Bottle count: 264
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.44 by sweemzander from Illinois

Feb 02, 2018
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Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

2.96/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
2014 vintage; drank 12/4/14 @ California Split.

Poured from the bottle into a glass.

Murky strawberry rust hue.

Off-white head; minimal lace.

Black licorice & menthol nose. Gross!

Medium mouthfeel.

Mild cherry & mild black licorice flavors; almost tasteless (thankfully!). Horrible noise, bland flavor; epic failure.
Nov 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.81 by BeerOps from Illinois

Oct 09, 2015
 
Rated: 4.05 by Gourmet2390 from Florida

Jul 17, 2015
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Reviewed by ccg from Virginia

3.57/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Bottle 234/264 of batch #1.

Appearance: about a finger of froth, light yellow color with a touch of cloudiness.

Smell: Absinthe-forward with a bit yeastiness following.

Taste: after reading other reviews, I expected a strong, dominant absinthe flavor, but it's actually fairly subdued. Maybe it's good that I cellared this one for almost a year.

Feel: Medium body, light carb. I prefer more substantial beers. To me, this one feels a bit too much like a macro lager on the tongue.

Overall: I probably should have cracked this one open sooner, but I'm one of those weird people who really enjoys absinthe. That said, I'm not sure how well absinthe works with a lighter saison like the base here. I think I preferred Spiteful's absinthe-barrel-aged porter (La Diabolique Fee Verte), probably because the porter was able to withstand the absinthe barrel better than this saison. If you like absinthe and want to try an absinthe-barrel-aged beer, I'd start with that one.

Kudos to Spiteful for experimenting with those absinthe barrels!
Jul 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4.03 by hilgart1 from Illinois

Jun 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.72 by vermilcj from Ohio

Jun 23, 2015
 
Rated: 4.12 by dannycohen62 from Illinois

May 23, 2015
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Rated by Rimbimhoot from Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Batch 1

Earthy, absinthe, oak, licorice, light buttery, very light vanilla
May 20, 2015
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Reviewed by mfnmbvp from Illinois

3.83/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
22 oz. bottle, no apparent bottled on date present. "Klutzy Buffoon Saison Was Aged In Letherbee Absinthe Barrels From 12-4-14 to 1-5-15". 5.80% abv. I've had the version with cherries added, so we'll see how this one goes.

Poured into a clear balloon snifter.

A - Pours a fairly simple golden looking body, nothing out of the ordinary, with about a finger of soapy white head. Some scattered spotty lacing left behind.

S - The aroma is a huge licorice / anise / absinthe bomb. Don't expect to find any semblance of beer in the aroma. Slightly musty. Interesting.

T - The taste is again mostly all licorice / anise / absinthe. Very herbal and liquor-ish tasting, though the yeastiness of the base beer does creep through on the finish. Fruity in perhaps a berryish sort of way. Slightly spicy on the finish.

M - The feel is crisp, smooth, & clean. Slightly thick and on the heavier side of medium-bodied though. Not quenching or easy-drinking. Dry on the finish.

Overall, a unique and interesting brew, to be sure, but not something I would seek out again. Definitely interesting to see further use of Absinthe barrels from Spiteful. I am giving it the 4 mostly for creativity, and not for drinkability.

Spiteful Brewing Absinthe Barrel Aged Klutzy Buffoon Saison -----4/5.
May 20, 2015
 
Rated: 4.19 by WTKeene from New Mexico

Apr 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by rodmanfor3 from Vermont

Mar 20, 2015
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Rated by SpasmWaiter from Vermont

4.13/5  rDev +16%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
If you don't like Absinthe then you wouldn't like this. I really like Absinthe so naturally I enjoyed this.
Mar 16, 2015
 
Rated: 3.42 by imperialking from Illinois

Mar 09, 2015
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Reviewed by larryarms847 from Illinois

3.09/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a slightly hazy golden straw yellow with a slight orange hue and a fingers worth of straight white foam.

Black licorice, oak, saison yeastiness, and more licorice.

Saison yeasty funk, slight farmhouse notes, and tons and tons of black licorice.

Light-bodied, medium carbonation, slight funk, licorice bitterness that clings to the tongue.

At first pour and smell, this looks approachable, but the heavy licorice flavor that sticks around forever is a turn off for sure.
Mar 07, 2015
 
Rated: 3.6 by whitenads from Michigan

Feb 16, 2015
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Reviewed by bcm75 from Illinois

4/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle notes - aged from 12-4-14 to 1-5-15 in Letherbee absinthe barrels. I am presuming that this is batch 2, possibly aged in the same barrel(s) as batch one.

L - a little orangish for my taste but still looks like a saison.

S - lots of absinthe. I think this is what is putting people off.

T - less licourish than on the nose, but it's still prominent. Does not completely overwhelm the delicate saison flavors, though.

F - medium bodied for the style.

O - if you don't like licourice flavors, stay away. Otherwise, very enjoyable.
Jan 30, 2015
 
Rated: 3.59 by bigbluebeerguy from Kentucky

Jan 28, 2015
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Rated by tbart75 from Georgia

3.88/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A very strange beer. If you do not like the taste of black licorice, stay far away from this one.
Jan 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.62 by guido19 from Rhode Island

Jan 01, 2015