Saison
Columbus Brewing Company

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From:
Columbus Brewing Company
 
Ohio, United States
Style:
Saison
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
85
Avg:
3.74 | pDev: 16.58%
Reviews:
4
Ratings:
17
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Sep 21, 2016
Added:
Jun 06, 2010
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BeerMeBro720:
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Rated by BeerMeBro720 from Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +0.3%

Nov 19, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.55 by MilesRaymond from Ohio

Sep 21, 2016
 
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Nov 26, 2014
 
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Oct 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Stinger80OH from Ohio

Oct 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Adamostella from Washington

Nov 14, 2011
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Reviewed by Ryan011235 from Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On tap in some sort of tall chalice-looking critter at the brewpub on 6/16/10

Antique burnt amber in color with golden highlights. Clear, yet it has a faded look about it. Poured a thin skim, so not much retention, just a ring around the inside. Hardly any lace (though it's better with my second glass).

The aroma is pretty hoppy: notes of lemon zest & orange peel. Smells juicy. Modestly floral with a pervassive, mild grassiness, that could stand to be stronger. Swirling drags up a hint of mustiness & yeast. Rather tame; needing regular agitation to make the most of the aroma.

Moderately bitter & spicy to taste; sharp & dry upfront. Prominent light fruits. I'm thinking a touch of clove. Earthy hop bite with a spot of citrus. Bringing up the back end are undercurrents of Belgian-style yeast. Grassy notes are worked in too, though seemingly lacking in this respect, especially considering the style.

Medium-light body that seems too slick for the style. Carbonation is lower than average, offering just enough vigorousness (this is especially so when it's cold; warmth finds the carbonation tapering off). Finishes spicy & dry with light fruit & yeast tones lingering.

Columbus Saison is an enjoyable beer for sure. Nevertheless, how well it fits the style is shaky, in my opinion. The Belgian influence is undeniable & that is very impressive. However, this is without question a CBC beer. I think it could use a lighter, grassier treatment.
Jul 13, 2010
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Reviewed by PDXHops from South Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Ryan011235 for this growler, poured into a Duvel tulip.

A finger or so of frothy bright white head sits atop a hazy caramel/apricot body. This shrinks at a moderate rate to a thick collar and a skim of foam. Lacing is modest in volume, but leaves intricate crackly patterns.

The nose is very pleasantly fruity, although perhaps a bit heavy-handed on the citrus. Lots of ripe tangerine, pineapple and orange, with a bit of overripe orange in there, too. Tangy yeast, cracked white pepper, sweet baking bread. Quite lively. It doesn't exactly smell like a saison, but it's certainly appetizing.

Very tasty, although again, not really to style. Kind of tastes like a hybrid of a saison and a nice citrusy/juicy American IPA. Actually, the tasty Columbus IPA comes to mind here. On the saison end of things, there's a nice spiciness, the white pepper again with a clove presence that's increasingly strong as the beer warms. The tangy yeast flavor is assertive. The IPA characteristics take over midswallow, with loads of citrus and a jolt of bitterness.

Things dry out at the finish. The bitterness lingers for a couple of seconds before a bready/yeasty combo and a bit of clove sneak in to try and get the last word. The body's on the thick side of medium. Pretty creamy, with a carbonation that's moderate yet tingly at once.

Overall impression: It's not exactly a textbook saison, but it's pretty damned tasty. Recommended for sure.
Jun 29, 2010
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Reviewed by MbpBugeye from Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A very nice surprise to see on tap at the restaurant. I would have totally missed this beer if it weren't for prototypic's review. It got me a little excited so I did a little detective work and ended up heading down the the bar for a growler of this. I didnt expect any other new beers to make an appearance during their Hop Odyssey.

A- The color leans towards copper, a touch on the dark side for a saison. Its coppery orange with a decent haze. The head doesnt make too much of a fuss, it fades but leaves a little bit of rich lacing.

S- Hops are pretty strong for a saison. It has a big punch of citrus. Mostly pineapple and lemon with a touch of orange. There is also about equal parts of grain/malts that give an earthy background. There is a little bit of musky, dusty, dank yeast but it isnt very powerful. There is also a light pinch of peppery spice.

T- Again, this is a hop forward take on the style. It really tastes a lot like their pale ale but much more "rustic". Its like the pale ale with Belgian yeasts, musk, herbs and a dash of pepper. The strong hops are very citric. Pineapple, lemon and flowers. The finish is where this saison really comes into its own. The finish is really where it actually becomes a saison. The Belgian yeast comes out from behind the hops and gives a really nice earthiness that works very well with the lemony bright hops.

M- Enough carbonation to give you a bite back, which is something I look for in a saison. A drying finish and a medium body.

D- Really drinkable. Its crisp, refreshing, very refreshing actually. The effects of the alcohol dont even pose a problem. This seems like the ABV is down around the range that a traditional farmhouse ale was meant to be.

I think this beer is quite well constructed and very enjoyable. My only criticism is that it seems that many of these CBC beers are beginning to become a bit too similar. The hopping of many of the beers coming out this year seems to be dangerously close. That said, this beer is well received by me. The style is not something I expected from CBC or any place in Columbus for that matter and Im glad this style is gaining the notoriety it deserves.
Jun 18, 2010
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Reviewed by prototypic from Ohio

4.3/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Many, many thanks to csmiley for the growler!

Saison pours a nice copper color. It's definitely hazy, and looks a little orange when held to light. The head is foamy and white. It's about a finger or so tall, and doesn't last long. It recedes to a surface covering quickly. Light strands of lace line the glass.

The nose is good, but smells just slightly underpowered. It's earthy, grainy, and herbal throughout. Fortunately, there's nothing vegetal report. There's a peppery spice aroma, but that's the only spice I'm getting. Belgian yeast is notable. That's a huge positive, in and of itself. Not many American brewers get that right. Hops are stronger than I would've expected. There's a light, citrusy flavor, but they seem a little noble, as well. In any event, I'm unsure of the hop bill. Alcohol is not noticeable.

The flavor is a notch above the nose. Damn! This is impressive! Initially, it's very earthy, herbal, and grainy. In tandem, those flavors work extremely well and no words I can muster would do them justice. It's a very vibrant combo of flavors. It's a little spicy, but not much. Pepper is all I'm noticing. Belgian yeast has a thunderous presence! I'm extremely proud that the brewers at CBC nailed that aspect. That's damn impressive! It's definitely hoppier than expected. I'm getting light grapefruit and some floral notes. I still think some form of noble hop is here somewhere. Has to be. Alcohol is masked well. I wish I knew how strong this is. Great stuff! Wow!

Saison has a medium body that's nice and smooth. Carbonation is dialed down to just the right level. It's not quite creamy, but is definitely smooth. Drinkability is very high. This is one tasty Saison. Much more flavorful than I expected. It goes down like a dream. I've got a growler. It's going to be finished. No question.

This might be the most impressive beer I've had from Columbus brewing. I just never expected them to do a Saison this kind of justice. No joke...if I were blindfolded, I'd believe this were an authentic Belgian. It's that good and that spot-on. Whoever at CBC is responsible for this one, my hat's off to you! Phenomenal job! Highly recommended! Thanks a ton for the growler, Chris!
Jun 06, 2010
Saison from Columbus Brewing Company
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 17 ratings