Rockford Country Ale
Rockford Brewing Company

 

2016 vintage 7.3% ABV.Pours into a large tulip glass a deep slightly hazed burnt orange with a large blooming slight off white head atop that settles very very slowly.Stone fruit and sweetish pizza dough stand most in the nose,a faint lactic note but it's not real noticeable upfront,much more of a biere de garde look and nose than a saison.Malt forward caramel,spiced pears,and some more of the honeyed dough notes on the palate,yeasty spice with only a faint smattering of leafy/peppery hops in the finish.A biere de garde all the way in my mind.Food friendly and pleasant to drink.

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, 2016 vintage bottling. Pours lightly hazy deep orange/amber color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy off white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big apricot, pear, apple, white grape, peppercorn, clove, light banana, caramel, toasted biscuit, nuttiness, hay, straw, herbal, grass, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast and dark/bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big apricot, pear, apple, white grape, peppercorn, clove, light banana, caramel, toasted biscuit, nuttiness, hay, straw, herbal, grass, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Moderate yeast spiciness and herbal bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of apricot, pear, apple, white grape, peppercorn, clove, light banana, caramel, toasted biscuit, nuttiness, herbal, grass, and yeast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Damn nice complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast and dark/bready malt flavors; with a great malt/bitter/spiciness balance, and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light-moderate dryness from bitter/spiciness, increasing through the glass. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, fairly crisp, and moderately creamy/bready/sticky balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal alcohol warming for 7.3%. Overall this is an excellent Biere de Garde! All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast and dark/bready malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and easy to drink. A very enjoyable offering.

 

 

 

This is a malt-accentuated, lagered artisanal French Farmhouse beer. It has a bright, golden colored body that sits under a dense creamy head. The flavor has a toasty malt complexity with some fruity esters and herbal, grassy-like notes. Malt forward, rustic and unfiltered beer!