Carolina Gold
Fonta Flora Brewery

tone77 from Pennsylvania

3.37/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a bright golden color with a 1 inch head. Smell is mild, lemons, a touch of grains. Taste is of lemons, spices, grains, a touch of funkiness. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall it ain't bad, but one is enough for me.

Sep 15, 2020

unlikelyspiderperson from California

3.99/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

You know that old barn? The one your friend's parents have on their property but don't really use for anything, and it's kinda falling down but seems to be holding together pretty good all told.
Imagine you went in there one day right at dawn and as soon as you walked in you startled an old barn owl who flew across the space and knocked over a few old bags of aromatic rice spilling them everywhere from the loft.
And you're just standing there, in this lovely early morning golden light, illuminating this bleached wood and antique straw space filled with the smell of unused horse gear, musty straw, and richly aromatic rice. The air is crisp and the dust you're breathing in has an odd but pleasant funk to it.
That's this beer.
Absolute gusher for no discernible reason, cost me 1/3 of the beer.
Otherwise a pleasant, mild saison, with some ever so slightly funky character and a crisp body. Wouldn't pay the cost of admission again but could see enjoying it on tap in the future

Dec 18, 2019

jlindros from Massachusetts

4.29/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

No can date, lagered saisons are not common, so this could be interesting
Pours a large foamy bubbly head with lower retention, a little lacing, hazy lighter gold color... it's lagered so it should be clear, but it's a saison so not necessarily... not sure on the appearance

Nose is like a good French saison, nice grainy bready cracker malts, some wheat, and an earthy like grain, light lemony citrus, light fruit in general, little cereal grain, lemongrass, hint of floral hop

Taste starts with more grainy cereal doughy malt, wheat, more of that interesting light earthy character perhaps the rice, then quickly into lemony citrus and light fruity esters, a little lemongrass, crisp lager, mild peppery spicy phenol notes in the background, a little orange zest, hint of floral grassy hop and light bitterness, dry crisp finish with a bit of floral spicy hop bitterness

Mouth is med to a little lighter bod, spicy effervescent carbonation, drier finish

Overall a very nice enjoyable French saison, nice malt character, light yeast phenols and esters, good citrus, good bitterness, lagering adds a little softness and crisp bitterness, not sure how much I get the heritage rice, perhaps that mild earthy character although that might be the yeast, or it adds to the softness of the body, not sure, but still enjoyable

Aug 08, 2019

brentk56 from North Carolina

3.79/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Arrives golden colored with a slight chill haze: the head settles at two fingers and leaves a few streaks

Smell: Porridge aromas reminiscent of Cream of Rice; a little grainy and grassy

Taste: Slightly sweetened Cream of Rice mingles with the grainy tones; grassy and somewhat peppery, through the middle with a strong Saison yeast aspect to the finish

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with moderate to high carbonation

Overall: Interesting concept to lager a Saison and brew it with rice, no less; I’m just not a fan of what the rice brings here

Jul 21, 2019

rudzud from Massachusetts

4.24/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Enjoyed on tap at the Dive Bar tap takeover.

A - Poured into a tulip a chill haze pale straw hue with a thin white head that fades to leave light lacing and a thin blanket.

S - Aromas of clean crisp rice, good soft lightly sweet malts. Really pleasant lager notes.

T - Taste is similar to the nose with loads of slightly sweet rice and flakes, good sweeter malts. Really like the malt profile going on. Finish crisp.

M - Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated, crisp, clean.

O - Overall this was a very solid lagered saison. Really like the rice notes.

Serving Type: on tap

Jul 19, 2019

StoutElk_92 from Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Crisp, clean, creamy rice, nice lager, saison yeast, peppery notes, banana, some spice, hints of apple and pear, grainy malts, wheaty, earthy floral hops, smooth creamy medium plus body

Mar 10, 2019