Cellar Reserve Plum & Basil Saison
Blackberry Farm Brewery

i have just come to an understanding that everytime i have a beer from these guys its going to blow me away, they seem to never miss, and this rarity really impressed me. bottle a couple of years old procured from the proshop type gift shop at their farm, and enjoyed three ways in our hotel room a couple of nights ago. its a wonderful beer, a special edition of their base saison, here spiked with plum and basil. its amazing how forward each of these elements are in here, somewhat less subtle than i have come to expect from blackberry farm, but in balance still and really fresh tasting, especially considering the bottle has some age on it. it has a hazy pinkish hue and a tall white belgian looking head. the basil is fresh and herbaceous and distinct, the plum is tangy and sweet and ripe and more obviously plum than it often is in beer, less generically fruity, more specific. interestingly, the beer also smells and tastes more wild than the original saison, perhaps picking up some funk in the bottle over time, not quite bretty but more rustic and less directly belgian than their classic saison is on its own. the earthy freshness of the basil juxtaposed against the mature yeast and hearty cereal grain base is really interesting even without the plums, but the summery sweetness they add and the way the linger somehow through a dry finish is really incredible and makes this memorable for me. unbelievably high carbonation, this is tricky to pour and it never really settles down, also probably a product of its age, but its dry and alive and incredible. of all the beers we got to drink from these guys over a magical couple of days, this one stands out as among the very best! do not pass this up if you see it out there in the world!