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 NeroFiddled:
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Corked and caged, I could not find any date marking on this bottle. It opened with a solid 'crack' (or should I say snap, or pop), but it didn't foam up. It poured a disappointingly hazy chestnut brown with an orange cast. I chalked the haze up to having not let the bottle sit long enough. Raised to the nose I got sharp fruit. There's a little bit of tang there. Green apple and dark fruit. Plum/prune, cherry, red grape/raisin. Leather, mineral and earth. Dusty. A bit of mud and a bit of barnyard and a bit of horse hair and sweat. Damp wood or straw perhaps. And spice. Soft spice... it's all kept in check. I'm thinking coriander, but also cinnamon and anise and even all-spice. And nutmeg. I'm thinking there can't be nutmeg, but I kind of get it. Who knows? It all comes back to prune though. Green apple and prune... I'm thinking that's the main note. That's what cuts through. And that's perhaps the main note of the flavor too, after you run through all of the aromas that I've just listed, and then break your way through the dry finish - because what differentiates the aroma from the flavor is the solid, dry, raspy and woody bitterness that runs through it! It's solid, and wide, but not sharp... maybe blunt is the word... no, I think perhaps raspy better suits it. Yes, it has a solid, blunt bitterness, but there's also an edge - raspy. And that must be because of spices. And for me, anyway, that kind of works. There's also a kind of herbal and dry-grass quality to it, and that seems to work with the low-level Brettanomyces. It's unusual in that way, with such a bark-like and woody bitterness. There's not as much fruitiness, but then again, it's also pretty malty. Those residual sugars are clinging to the palate and holding the bitterness and spice with them in the finish. So I have to think about it... what is Saison Imperiale? Well, obviously, it's a big saison. And with that comes bitterness. Right? Or is it too bitter and not big enough? Hmmm...? Well, it's not over-the-top in malt. I think it's just enough to keep from going over. And that needs to be balanced. Either by tartness or hop flavor or hop bitterness or spice. This has a little of each. I think it's well-done and well-balanced. It's interesting, and rich in character. I find it compelling as each sip seems to offer up a little bit more of the story. On the other hand, it can build on the palate after a serving or two. So final thoughts in five words... interesting, rich, full, worth-trying.
Dec 02, 2008
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