Longshot Barnstorm Saison
Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Company)

Poured into a small chalice: color is darker gold, head is light tan with fine to small bubbles, head presents 1/2 inch thick and then laces the glass sides.

Smell is on the sweet side, grainy, honey like notes, light clove, hint of banana.

Taste is also on the sweeter side for saison: sweet flavor is neutral grains and ester note indicating some sugary additions; spice from yeast includes some clove, lighter banana, very feint pepperiness.

Mouthfeel starts to lean dryer than the aroma and flavor, with a lingering bit but still some full sweetness on the tongue sides.

Overall, just a sweeter than most saison with decent and subtle aroma/flavors.

Boston Beer Co. "Samuel Adams Longshot Barnstorm Saison"
12 fl. oz. brown glass bottle
$2 @ Wegmans, State College, PA

Notes via stream of consciousness: Although the label is not notched to indicate freshness I know it's got to be old. Hopefully that won't be an issue. It's poured a clear deep amber/copper colored body beneath a short head of white. The aroma is sweetish and grainy with floral and clove-like notes. Maybe even some banana. I'd say it's a touch spicy as well, and maybe even a hint leafy. The flavor follows. It's sweetish with grain and a bit of a candyish character from the clove-like phenols, but it's also subtly spicy and balanced by a moderate bitterness. The alcohol never shows and it finishes semi-dry with residual clove, some leafy/floral hops, and a light touch of peppery spiciness. As a saison, yeah, it fits the bill, but it's definitely on the sweet side and the yeast character is limited (although fairly bold). Additionally, its moderate carbonation isn't really enough to balance the sugary medium-body; and I wonder if a higher level of carbonation might have accentuated the gently peppery spiciness and brought it a little more into balance. As it is, it's not bad but neither is it great, and I have to wonder how this won the Longshot Competition.

 

L: Clear amber with a creamy white head. Moderate retention to a thin foamy cap, with spotty lacing.

S: Very sweet for a saison; like banana bread and banana Runts candy. Some bready malt, brown sugar, and a touch of clove as well.

T: Lots of banana bread and banana candy, a little bit of pink bubblegum, with a sweet bready malt backbone, hefty with a touch of brown sugar. There's a tiny bite of clove near the finish, but mostly the sweet banana candy flavor remains. Abv is well-hidden, but it's quite sweet.

F: Medium-bodied, slick with sugariness, but medium-high carbonation.

O: Tastes like a homebrew. Not terrible, but not a very well executed version of the style. Way too sweet.

 

Aroma is malts, sweet bread and slightly funky toffee/candy corn. The flavor is malts, toffee and a slightly funky sweet/grainy/hint of spices finish.

 

Looks crystal clear, with a few bubbles rising; light amber in color with an off white foamy head that settles to a thin layer. In the aroma I get some bubble gum and that familiar green apple. Smells mild, but fruity, and jammy. In the flavor, first thing I get is big cloves, almost like chewing clove gum. Some apple skin, and again, jam. Good solid carbonation, fairly dry, and medium feel. Going back, I get some cloves in the aroma, but they are really up front in the flavor. Decent brew. I like brews that make you have to keep pulling out new things; but not a heavy hitting Saison, like the classics of the style.

Pours a golden color with a small head and some lacing. It has a slightly sweet smell with a nice flavor that's hard to put a finger clove maybe with a definitely peppery flavor in the swallow. Nice mellow taste and no aftertaste.

 

P- Second beer sampled from the "Long shot" assorted 6 pack.Poured from a 12 oz bottle, into a large Funky Buddha snifter.Best by September 2017.

L- Frothy white colored head that stands 1 finger tall,with good retention and sticky lacing.Darker gold / amber colored body,with good clarity.Very light amount of carbonation.

S- On the nose I get wheat,spice,and bubblegum notes.Light amount of floral hop,and sweet malt presence as well.Getting some faint banana notes also.

T- The palate follows the nose with wheat and malt up front,banana and bubblegum in the middle,and some spice and floral hops on the back end.A little bit of alcohol but very well hidden.

F- The mouth feel is medium thin,with a good amount of oxidation on the tongue,and a dry finish.Chalky texture after the sip.

O- This is an okay Saison,but not the best I ever tried.Saisons typically aren't my favorite style,but I expected a little more flavor.If you like siasons give it a try,if not stay away.

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Samuel Adams tulip

Appearance: Pours a darker copper in color. Nice size head slow dissipates up the glass and completely disappears. Streaming bubbles of carbonation here. Nice looking beer.

Smell: If you have smelled saisons before, your getting the exact same properties here. I'm getting banana from the yeast, and that typical bubblegum malt aroma. Its effervescent, and the aroma really kicks your nostrils into high gear.

Taste: Beautiful balance between that yeasty-bubble gum esque flavor, and some really nice pepper notes on the back end. Taste finishes clean with just the slightest hint of esters. Alcohol burn is there but actually subdued.

Mouthfeel: Clean on the tongue, tickling carbonation which is typical for a well made saison. Finishes a bit dry but this is not a bad thing.

Drinkability: Perfectly sessionable saison. Samuel Adams is missing something like this from their lineup, but for a Longshot exclusive, it goes to show how much appreciation they have for this style. I like how this is a no-fuss saison. Is it mind blowing? Not by any means, but it is a well crafted saison that will fill your need if this is the style your seeking.

Bottle from Bert's
Pours a brilliantly clear deep golden color with a thin bubbly white head that dissipates quickly. Light spice and pepper on the nose with bits of sweet bread and light banana. Flavor follows the aroma. Lightly sweet with a medium body. Clean tasty beer, but for the style I was expecting a bit more dryness and spirited carbonation