Le Predateur
Off Color Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm the first review of this re-release; November 2015 probably being last previous.
So, I thought it an interesting exercise to read other BA reviews more thoroughly than usual to see if I could figure out how much recipe tweaking -- and maturing -- Off Color has done in the past five years. One reviewer is one of the two that I follow closely (Beerchitect) and the other is new to me, but accomplished (SLeffler27.) Based on reading their reviews and having drank two copies of the 2020 release, my quick judgment is: this recipe has not changed much over the five years. In short, Off Color got it right the first time.

Le Prédateur still Looks on the light side and its ample foam from a hard pour settles. Smells are both mild and simple, but also complexed and fruity. Both Taste and Feel follow the same dynamic that simple, good saisons follow: be complex, subltle and use what ever you got leftover. To me, this is the balance that saisons offer us better than most other styles .... particularly as table ales that make food better.

I probably will detail my 2-line review more (I bought a 4 pack.) I intend to comment more on how Le Predateur complements different foods (it seems versatile, in part due to its simplicity.) But, let's leave that for later. Given BA's deal with UnTappd, I think I'll record the complementing over at UnTappd.

I am a big fan of Off Color. They are fast-overcoming my #1 for uniques on BA (New Glarus) and, by far, are my #1 for volume on BA and UnTappd. So I like finding a brew that I missed tasting from Off Color when they were kids and, then, finding that they are finding their way in the Belgian tradition ... and, then, discover that they got it close-to-right the first time several years ago.

9/16/21 Had again as part of their Predateur 4-pack. I'm liking this as #2 after Apex. But we will see how the food chain evolves. I've edited the above and am keeping count over at UnTappd.

Unknown vintage; drank 1/18/16 @ the Yarchives.

Opaque dandelion appearance.

A rough pour yielded a big, bright white head; frothy lace.

Fresh banana, caramel & a hint of sea salt notes in the nose.

Medium mouthfeel.

Fresh banana & caramel flavors up front; faint sea salt notes on the finish, which includes a champagne bite on the lips.

The caramel note adds an unique, welcome dimension to this; I'm not a huge saison guy but this was up my alley.

 

 

 

Le Prédateur has bubbles that rival those of a real Champagne and its clean, bright yellow complexion is reminiscent of the clear waters and hot sun of the Riviera. In addition, it's got a keen sense of fashion, looking both posh and expensive. I'll buy this Chicago-brewed beer as being French!

The bout of immediate, summery refreshment typically brought on by the first sniff of a Saison is even more intense in this bouquet. The culprit? Australian hops are used and provide that much more lemon drop and tropical citrus in addition to the already inherently fruity French Saison yeast.

If you've ever met farmhouse yeast you know it doesn't relent - not even to the likes of brash, candied, colourful tasting, citrus-glazed New World hops (though they factor heavily into the taste too). Peppery spice and fresh-baked, crusty, rustic bread are noted as they always are...

And they're every bit as delicious as they always are too. Off Colour aught to offer this in bigger bottles - I mean huge Costco-sized packaging, a size you'd buy to share with a big group of friends (except that I'd drink it all myself). The ale is grainy, zestful, fruity, dry, effervescent and just a tinge tart.

Voila! The components of a great Saison. Le Prédateur is more than 'très bien' - c'est magnifique! If anyone you know has some and asks 'voulez vous boire avec moi (ce soir)?' you should quickly and emphatically answer ' oui oui!'. In all seriousness, it's a fantastic farmhouse ale well worth seeking out.

 

 

 

Poured from 12oz bottle into a tulip.

Appearance: lightly hazy silvery-gold hue with a finger of frothy white foam atop. The head leaves a nice creamy lace as it dissipates.

Smell: funky, tart and just a dash phenolic. There's a nice farmhouse complexity going on here.

Taste: sweet and fruity with a good pear character, like a nice tripel, but with some funk and a dash of tartness to it. This beer ticks a lot of boxes for me!

Mouthfeel: medium-light body but with a massive carbonation and very nice creaminess that I quite enjoy.

Overall: I could see this beer not being for everyone, but a funky orchardy tripel is something that's right up my alley.

 

Pale yellow with a touch of haze and a white head. Great retention and carbonation. Lemon zest, slight grain, bit of soft pepper, touch of sweetness, and hay in the aroma. Flavors have a hint of clove, black pepper, honey, citrus oranges and lemons, and a tiny bit of soapiness. It's not bad at all though just a touch. Something I tend to see in the French Saison strain (I'm assuming that's what's used here.) So drinkable and dry on the finish. I think Apex Predator edges this out just a bit but this is really great.

No label information. Brewed in the style of a Saison Ale, available in 12 oz. bottled 4 packs and on draft.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a tulip glass.

(Appearance) Pours a pastel white colored head of a foamy froth consistency over a mildly hazy straw yellow body with light, subtle carbonation. Retention is average, and lacing is light and patchy. 3.75

(Smell) Fluffy wheat malts with a moderate sweetness, yeast tones that generate aromas of pleasing phenols- bananas and light clove, apricot and grape fruit juice with a light peppery spiciness. Potency is moderate. 3.75

(Taste) The flavor largely follows the aroma, with malted wheat and biscuit cracker malts meeting an acidic and delicate fruity yeast profile ripe with banana, tangy summer fruit juices, light peppery spiciness. Very pleasant merging of flavors and complexity. 4

(Mouthfeel) Texture is smooth, lightly chewy, tangy, moderately dry. Carbonation is moderate, generating a medium frothiness and a briskly crisp finish. Body is medium+ for the style, medium overall. Balance is nearly even sweet and lightly tangy to phenolic. Alcohol presence is low and there are no off characters. 3.75

(Overall) An interesting and largely enjoyable Saison ale with the focus on a more uncommon yeast strain that generates rich fruit juice flavor and banana with a present, but much softer than expected peppery spice character. A very enjoyable saison ale, and one worth seeking out. 3.75

Off Color Brewing's
Le Predateur
3.85/5.00

 

 

If you are a fan of saisons/farmhouse style ales then you should definitely try some Le Predateur if you can find it. I tried it at Kuma's Corner. Very refreshing and easy to drink. It is translucent, good head, nice dry finish, and overall leaves you wanting more. Light, clean, herbal, little sweet. I need to try its originator the Apex Predator next.

 

La Predateur has a fair amount of chill haze in its pale straw coloration (SRM 2-3). A scant, fluffy white head immediately dissipates to a thin veil leaving no lace on a Cisco fisheye pint glass.

Big, fruity funk wafts above fermenting apples left in the wet grass. Faint orange and lemon mingle with clove, coriander, and possibly sage.

Pronounced sourness follows the nose while adding wheat and sourdough bread. The finish is mild and perfumy and fades quickly, leaving a lingering acidic earthiness.

A nylon texture and light to medium body. Alcohol is as expected, while carbonation is a tad explosive. Some mineral qualities are present, bordering on metallic.

This is a good, relaxed Saison to enjoy while watching football or with casual conversation.

I will return to write about this beer. Its delicious.

pale yellow, with a white, soapy head.

nose and taste are pretty much what you'd expect from a good, farmhouse ale. light citrusy notes, coriander and spice, breadiness, and some belgian yeast notes.

mouth is effervescent with just a hint of a lingering crispness.

a good example of a farmhouse ale.

 

Poured from 32 oz growler into snifter.

A: Pours slightly hazy lemon yellow with 2-3 finger fluffy white head. Decent retention and moderate lacing.

S: Biscuit malts, Belgian yeast, banana, corriander, and a little bubblegum.

T: Bready malts, bananas, apricot, Belgian yeast mixed with a hint of peppery spiciness. Some earthy funk lingering.

M: Medium body and lively carbonation. Finish is soft and a touch dry.

O: Very nice farmhouse ale. If I saw it in bottles, I wouldn't hesitate to pick it up again.

 

 

 

 

 

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a light straw amber with golden tint and a massive three finger white head that dissipates to a thick cap leaving lots of wispy lacing. Aroma of bready malt, saison yeast, coriander, light citrus, hints of light stone fruit, spicy; classic saison. Flavor is grainy, bready malt, citrus, light stone fruit, saison yeast; develops a quite nice mixed grain malt flavor with hints of light fruit and citrus into the finish, leaving a lingering, very pleasant rustic bread and fruit taste. Light to medium bodied with good carbonation. A very nice malty focused saison with a moderately complex mixture of grain and fruit flavors while delivering on classic saison character. The finish on this is one of the more pleasant ones I've experienced in the style; well balanced and interesting. I liked this a lot.

 

 

L: Beautiful straw yellow with apricot undertones. Very hazy, but not opaque. Brief, small head.

S: Not very assertive aromatically. Slightly oxidized overripe bananas (the way they smell when you slice them and are waiting to add them to the banana bread batter), hint of white pepper, jasmine, and Bazooka Joe bubblegum.

T: Lovely lemon curd acid, dried apricots with Golden Delicious apples. Bananas and barnyard. Really lovely creamy cheese (Delice de Bourgogne) aftertaste. Impressive palate. Long finish with mouth-watering acidity.

F: Round finish but with perfectly lively, very fine carbonation that supports the acidity.

Overall: Really, really lovely. I was initially underwhelmed by the nose, but the palate is absolutely classic farmhouse.