Truth Against The World
Une Année

 

One of the better dark saisons I have had. It was quite light on the spice, but an overall very enjoyable beer.

My first from this brewery, poured into a tulip glass.

A: Pours a dark brown/ruby red color with a bit of unfiltered haze. A dense two finger khaki head forms with good retention initially. The foam gently recedes to a ring that sticks throughout. Light lace.
S: Big husky wheat, spicy, lightly phenolic yeast. Baked bread, toast, lightly fruity. The peppery note builds as this warms. Lots going on. Interesting and enjoyable if a bit unrefined.
T: Like the nose, this is all over the place. Initially husky wheat, baked bread and biscuit flavors. A bit of sweetness in the middle, then finishes dry with an earthy, peppery yeast. Maybe some fruity flavors going on as well. Not sure what to think of this, but it is enjoyable if unrefined.
M/O: A medium body that is effervescent and finishes dry. Though thin and watery. Enjoyable to drink, and I am not sure if I have made up my mind about this. So I will certainly be getting more to try.

The large and varied wheat character is very interesting. This also has a nice earthy yeast character that is a requisite for the style. A bit all over the place, and dark Saisons are usually not my thing. Though still very enjoyable. I am looking forward to trying more from this brewery, and this is nothing to ignore either.

 

500 ml bottle into tulip glass; no bottle dating, but was recently released to Michigan. Pours lightly hazy deep ruby red/brown color with a 2 finger fairly dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Spotty foamy lacing clings around the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of pear, apple, grape, light banana, pepper, clove, caramel, toast, brown bread, brown sugar, light chocolate, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast and dark/bready malt notes; with solid strength. Taste of big pear, apple, grape, light banana, pepper, clove, caramel, toast, brown bread, brown sugar, light chocolate, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Fair amount of earthy yeast spice and light wheat tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of pear, apple, grape, light banana, pepper, clove, caramel, toast, brown bread, brown sugar, light chocolate, and herbal/yeast earthiness on the finish for a while. Damn nice complexity and robustness of fruity/spicy yeast and dark/bready malt flavors; with a great malt/yeast balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a very smooth, crisp, and lightly creamy/bready mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is well hidden with zero warming present after the finish. Overall this is a damn nice dark saison style. All around great robustness, complexity, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast and dark/bready malt flavors; and very smooth and crisp to drink. A very enjoyable offering.