Carolina Gold
Fonta Flora Brewery

4.29/5  rDev +4.9%
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

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3.79/5  rDev -7.3%
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

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4.24/5  rDev +3.7%
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

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4.65/5  rDev +13.7%
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

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