Herbane
Plan Bee Farm Brewery

Poured from a bottle (no date I could find) into a small plan bee glass

L: slightly cloudy yellow gold, small white head with decent lacing

S: lots of lemon, basil, herbal/vegetal. Maybe because they’re scents used in soap but it’s making me think of cleaning supplies which isn’t ideal. Aroma a bit “thick” not as clean as I expected

T: follows the nose, mostly with that lemon. Nice spicy swallow, short finish

F: a little more body than I would like, somewhat viscous. Decent carbonation

O: might just not be my flavor profile, setting that aside know plan bee executes other beers better. Not a drain pour, just a few issues I’m not digging

This is one of the lightest colored beers I've ever had. Very, very pale yellow and very clear (I can easily look through the glass and read what's on my screen). Aroma is wonderful, even if it's hard for me to describe. It's deeply herbal but with some lemon flavors that lighten it up a bit. Nice, light earthy funk.

Taste is really interesting. The lemon verbena & basil work together to create a taste that I don't think I've experienced in a beer before. Usually, that spells trouble with brewers throwing all sorts of crap into their beers, but this comes across as organically authentic, if that makes sense. As with the nose, it seems like the basil creates and earthy dynamic that keeps the lemon in check. I can't pick up the barrel, but I'm sure it's adding something to this overall as well.

Overall, very light and refreshing. If I'd known how much I'd enjoy it, I wouldn't have let it sit in my cellar for ~4 years!

 

 

 

 

 

not the first beer i have had from these guys to employ basil, but another special wild farm beer from them, what an incredible and unsung brewery they have going here! this is done with a few kinds of basil, lemon verbena, and spent time in the coolship, pretty funky stuff, insanely herbal and summery, smells and tastes healthy, like this is better for me with the herbs and grains and yeasts than its bad for me with the little bit of alcohol, probably true! it almost seems like there are dozens of herbs in here, delicate thyme, savory, lemongrass, white and green tea, geranium, dill, its organic and bright, floral and not at all fruity, a very different combination of ingredients that seem to always get put in beers that also contain fruit, so its cool to see them stand on their own. i love the complexity of this, the raw and earthen grain base full of minerals and soil character, and i love the brightness of the herbs in here, the basil is obvious but its also unique, light citrus notes, fleshy coconut, elderflower, a little wild acidity on the fermentation side and plenty of rustic brett character, but also delicate there too. nice carbonation, and infinite drinkability. i wish i could have a bottle or two of this every day, especially when its warm and sunny out. this transports me to summer, a gorgeous beer, one of their best, thanks to my brother for sharing it!

Pale cloudy yellow, like slightly diluted lemonade, and the pulp strained out. Quickly-dissipating white head , that leaves a 1/16" ring, and a surface layer of bubbles, that never goes away.

Smell is lightly acetic, basil, and the leafy/vegetal part of the verbena. There is some light lemon aroma, and tannic (wet) wood, but only briefly, when first poured or swirled.

Taste is .....ooooo!.....quite complex, and nothing tasting specifically like the ingredients that went into. Imagine an impressionist painting, turned into beer . I'll TRY to unpack it .
First thing is an acetic note, but it's not vinegar-tasting. About as if you added a few drops of vinegar to pork chop pan drippings, and seared it. Then there's the woody note. Doesn't taste like typical oak barrel essence. Closer to the first instant of taste of an old/dry or over-baked crescent roll, but somehow it still says : "Wood" . That is followed by a sour/spicy herbal melange, presumably from the three herbs. It has some that tingly herbal sensation as is found in French Tarragon, but without the anise/licorice flavor. It finishes with some light funk that bounces between "old tire" & "old wet dog"* *, and something that reminds me of whorehound cough drops/candy, but more lemony.
Some light bitterness, especially at/after finish.
*(Not that I go around tasting old wet dogs, but if something tastes like they smell.....;) )

Feel is light , with very,very,very fine carbonation tingle. Finish mildly astringent and drying.

Overall, very enjoyable, and would recommend it. The acidity and funk have a light touch , so probably a good introduction to wild ales , for the uninitiated/unenthusiastic .