Saison Imperiale - Belgian Farmhouse Ale
De Proefbrouwerij (bvba Andelot)

Saison Imperiale - Belgian Farmhouse AleSaison Imperiale - Belgian Farmhouse Ale
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From:
De Proefbrouwerij (bvba Andelot)
 
Belgium
Style:
Saison
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.81 | pDev: 10.5%
Reviews:
170
Ratings:
218
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 29, 2022
Added:
May 04, 2006
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  11
Brewmaster's Collection - Special Reserve
Mixed Fermentation - Saison De Flandres
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Ratings by Mora2000:
Photo of Mora2000
Reviewed by Mora2000 from Texas

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Not your typical saison, but it was still an enjoyable beer. Taste was much more funky than a typical saison, as I detected no pepper or spice in the beer but got a lot of funk. When I smelled the beer the first thing I thought of was Victory WildDevil. The beer is very drinkable, but if you are looking for a standard saison, you need to keep looking.
Oct 09, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.28 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Jan 29, 2022
Photo of mmilyko
Reviewed by mmilyko from Nevada

4/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Funny how some beers can fool you. Struggled to get the rubber cork out of the 750 ml bottle. Uninspiring "pop" when I finally got it out (might this be flat?). Barely a trace of a nice head or any bubbles for that matter (yeah, maybe flat). Smelled very boring, maybe even a little sour (not a sour guy). Not expecting much at this point. Rolled it over my tongue, swallowed, and surprise, tasted great. A different kind of Saison/Farmhouse for sure, but bottom line, a delicious and enjoyable brew. Who da thunk?
Sep 24, 2021
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.94/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
Ok. I get it finally... after eight of their beers. These guys are a great enhancement of already the greatest brewing tradition. (Of course, that is my bias.)

Do as I did: go on their website and read their Philosophy which they digest down to "The Point" (it has its own menu.)

In a brewing culture as rich and varied as Belgium's, they actually might be multiplying that richness with their strategy: find good recipes and apply science and make the recipe better. The issue really is whether there is a marketing network to carry this enhanced quality to a newer and larger market. But Proef gets to Chicago and that is good enough for me.

As for this ale: interesting and different.
I like renditions that are different, but not radical. This ale says: "We amped the sugar for a saison, darkened the malt and reduced the hops. What do you think?" An intelligent question that deserves a more intelligent review that I'm about to give: I like its moderation in almost every respect. It even increases the alcohol by at least 1% for a saison... and I don't even notice until the bottle is done. I promise a longer review second time around.
Jul 10, 2019
 
Rated: 4.19 by MacStinson from Michigan

Sep 11, 2018
 
Rated: 3.94 by mamaraza from Texas

Jan 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.78 by aufie from Texas

May 26, 2016
 
Rated: 4.5 by AngusOg from North Carolina

Feb 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3.43 by BirdsandHops from Oregon

Feb 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3.96 by South2NW from Oregon

Nov 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.26 by Skew from Oregon

Nov 08, 2015
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
From a 750 ml bottle served in a craft pub glass.
A: Pours hazy chestnut with a lacy, persistent 2” white linen foam cap.
S: Ripe to slightly over-ripe fruit, plums, earthy hops, toast, alcohol, spice.
T: Fruit, light funk, plum and prune, darker malt flavors, subtle tartness, a hint of anise. M: Very creamy texture, medium body.
O: Darker than many saisons but the darker malt flavors play well with the yeast driven saison flavors.
Apr 02, 2015
 
Rated: 4.1 by bonkers from New Jersey

Dec 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by MammothTarantula from Colorado

Nov 26, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by akttr from Michigan

Nov 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by afsdan from Colorado

May 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by Axnjxn from North Carolina

May 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Broke from Illinois

Jan 01, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by sloelco from California

Nov 04, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by Kerrie from Michigan

Oct 15, 2013
Saison Imperiale - Belgian Farmhouse Ale from De Proefbrouwerij (bvba Andelot)
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 218 ratings