XReserve Peach & Ginger Saison
Saucony Creek Brewing Company + Gastropub

 

I just continue to eradicate The Bottle Backlog here at Chez Woody, finding new beers to drink & review every time that I turn around. It is kind of exciting in a strange, perverse way.

From the bottle: "2015 GABF (R) Belgian Style Fruit Beer Gold Medal Winner"

Prior to Pop!ping the cap, I agitated the beer while still inside the bottle to put any lees that may have developed back into suspension. This action on my part caused a LOT of foaming on the beer's part, creating two-plus fingers of foamy, soapy, rocky, eggshell-white head that slowly fell. It also caused the room to fill with the scent of peaches, which was very pleasant. Color was a hazy, almost cloudy, Amber (SRM = > 7, < 9). Nose was very sweet with a pronounced peach presence. Mouthfeel was medium. The taste was initially both peach and the dry, slight funk of Saison yeast, but unlike a previous reviewer, I began to get the spiciness of the ginger pretty shortly thereafter. It was not as biting as some ginger-infused beers that I have drank recently, but it was definitely bringing some spice to the equation. Finish was dry and spicy with the fruit's sweetness as an afterthought. Very refreshing!

Review from BA Mag Issue #120 ( Jan 2017 )

Interesting, Extreme, Approachable, Fruity
First and foremost I have to applaud Saucony Creek Brewing for actually making a pretty killer Saison base for this extreme mash-up of a brew. A big, floral, peachy character throughout finishes with a kiss of tartness, though the ginger element is very tame. But that Saison flavor stays in the mix, all crisp and dry. A bit of ginger does come around with some spicy heat in the back of the throat. Aside from that, this is quite a stand up brew and I am very glad to have run into it. [Jason]

Look 4.00 | Smell 3.50 | Taste 3.75 | Feel 4.50 | Overall 3.75

Undated bottle into pint glass. Pours a clear gold color with a substantial white head consisting of fine bubbles. Initial impression is a quite tart beer, with a definite dose of ginger and some peach in there too. Mouthfeel is medium; carbonation is on the high side of medium. Finish is dry and refreshing.
I'm not a fan of sours; I'm not fond of Farmhouse Ales, and I don't like fruity beers. This one didn't have much to offer me.

 

Great pale yellow color but way too much carb. Just like champagne. Taste is nice with the peach and ginger but hard to contain in the glass. Cut the carb and you have a winner

**
08/14/15
On tap at blend. Yellow Orange color white head. Aroma is peach, other fruit, grass. Taste is mostly ginger.....too much if you ask me. Medium carbonation, asrtringent. Not a fan."

**

 

Had this from keg and bottle at same time, and they were so different. Bottle was much more carbonated and flavorfull. I think this beer should be served a tad warmer as the flavors come out more when warm. Not overall sweet but the peach definitely comes through. I would put this on tap again, but would prefer bottles.

Ahhh, another one with some tartness. I have to be more careful when selecting beer. However, the tartness here is reasonably subdued, and the ginger provides just a hint. I can smell the tartness, some ginger, and just a bit of peach - but it's actually not bad! Likewise the flavor. I was pleasantly surprised. The first sip threw me a little. Subsequent sips tasted much better.

This beer sports one of those bubbly, large white heads that would make Belgian imports proud. As it subsides, it leaves a thin, soapy lacing - for those to whom that is important.

I'm still not a fan of tartness in beer, but if I absolutely have to drink one, I can do much worse than this one. Overall, pretty decent.

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a golden color with a 1 inch head. Smell is strong of ginger, some peaches. Taste is ginger, pepper, a bit spicy, malts, subtle peaches in the background. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a solid beer.

 

 

 

Pours a straw color with a big two finger head. The peaches really come out in the nose. The flavor is dominated by the essence of sour fruit and a trace of pepper. I did not really get any ginger.

 

Strong ginger with a bit of peach but far too much carbonation. Overall decent but not for the price.

Latest snag at the House of 1,000 paid the almost 5 dollar single price into a pint glass.
A - Crazy carbonation on this gave me 2+ inches of the foamy good stuff. Color is a clear yellow with tons of floating bubble and some sediment in the glass makes me think this brew is a bit old but has lasted the test of time.
S - Good aroma juice peach and some peppery funk is greeting me. Rounded out ginger really leaving just a subtle sweetness on the nose.
T - Good level of peach and some lemon peel but I feel it has faded a bit since the ginger is there but barely has any punch.
M - A very bubbly almost champagne like saison not bad just have to drink it slow (no chugging!)\

Overall it's an interesting well rounded brew but for the price I paid I was surely underwhelmed.
Shame since it was a "new arrival" beer at my local beer pub but clearly it has passed over the 6 month mark.

Had on tap. Pours hazy, orange-brown in color with 1/3 inch head. Taste is big ginger and light peach. More traditional elements of a saison like funk and pepper appear slowly as the beer warms. One of the more ginger forward beers I have had. Tasty, enjoyable, and different. I would get this again.