Old World Saison
Simple Roots Brewing Company

This was poured into a tulip. The appearance was a glossy burnt yellow color with a slim little white head that quickly dissipates. Barely any lacing forms, but a slight little concave lace forms but slides with the beer as it’s consumed. The smell starts off with a light sweet to lightly spiced (peppercorn-esque) sort of lightly herbal to sweet and bitter pine underneath. Bready/biscuity malts touch gracefully underneath all of it. The taste was semi-sweet through the citrus hops, bready/biscuity malts and piney hops. And then the piney hops show a gentle bitterness with a light spice from the peppercorn. There’s a quick semi-sweet to bitter citrus finish with no aftertaste. On the palate, this one sat about a light on the body with a really nice sessionability about it. Carbonation seems to hit appropriately enough to allow some light harshness to hit my tongue, but I’d say its good harshness. Overall, old world saison with a Simple Roots twist of almost adding that twist of "new world"-esque effervescent champagne-like feel slightly coming in underneath. I’d have again and wouldn’t mind with some New York Strip steak with bleu’ cheese crumbles.

Bottle opens with a bit of a pop (thanks to the previous reviewer for the warning). Hazy golden pour, fair sized pillowy head. Crisp aroma, grass, lemon. Lemon zest, cellar notes, wheat, grass, slight honey sweetness in the taste. Very clean. Lighter body with a dry finish.

It's been a really long time since I've gotten soaked by a beer just by opening it. I think the last time it happened was sometime in college or shortly thereafter at a party where some dude tossed me a lager from across the room and I popped it open too violently and wound up with a nice dousing.

This was worse.

I swear, I had it cellared well - the bottle may have been banged around a bit while I was rummaging on the shelf, deciding what to drink, but it was otherwise well kept. But as soon as I even tried to pop the cap, KABLAMOOO! Soaked arm, spattered wall behind me, and it just kept going too. Even after I took off the cap the rest of the way and sucked some foam and drank some beer, it kept foaming. I thought it must have been infected, but it actually tasted pretty good, and like a nice saison should.

The beer is clearly unfiltered, but a pale straw yellow (with lots of head, duh!). The smell has a pleasant wheat quality to it, with some faint lemongrass notes, some cut grass, and just a hint of wet cardboard yeast. It is definitely true to its style of old world saison - it tastes like something brewed in a barn and would go well with a nice lunch after a day of farming (or dinner after a day of cleaning the house in my case). Totally enjoyable! I only detract points from the "Feel" category for how wet it made my arm feel, for no good reason!

A traditional saison with a pretty strong up-front flavor and a bit of a malty finish that clings.

 

 

 

 

 

If I were a thirsty farmhand, I would definitely want this saison from Simple Roots to quench my thirst. Unlike a lot of breweries who brew this style to occupy an obligatory place in the craft beer market, Simple Roots obviously enjoys drinking saison and has dialed in a refreshing, dry, and clean example of the style that does justice to its history. There are no frills or additive flavors to offset this beer from other saisons, just classic farmhouse yeast-derived flavors that are perfect for summer drinking, food pairings, and yard work. Well done.