En Honneur De Toi
Blackberry Farm Brewery

 

another absolutely glorious and totally distinctive saison type from blackberry farm, who has easily become one of the best in the country if not the world at this sort of thing. this one is incredible, oddly strong and oddly funky for how overtly belgian it is. the yeast is a little more estery than some of their others, maybe the same strain just fermented a bit warmer, or maybe the higher initial gravity has brought even more character out of it, but its bright with minerals, green pear, and white grape, along with quite a bit of almost wild funkiness, rustic and old worldy for sure, but cleaner when i taste it and real tidy in the finish, both dry and fast finishing. everything from coriander to orange zest, but also more obscure hints like white cranberry, fleshy peach, and pink peppercorn floral freshness. peonies, elderflowers, apple blossoms, lots going on here, a little more nuanced and robust to me in the nose, but the flavor is killer. i like the bigger grain base on it to balance the forwardness of the yeast, and there isnt a trace of alcohol or sweetness from it hardly at all, much to my surprise. carbonation is champion, and the herbal and springy elements give way to a more earthy cereal grain thing at the end. perfect with the fade of the yeast. brilliant beer, but they all are from these guys. i have not yet seen bottles for sale in colorado, but i will keep my fingers crossed...