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Saison Imperiale - Belgian Farmhouse Ale
De Proefbrouwerij (bvba Andelot)
- From:
- De Proefbrouwerij (bvba Andelot)
- Belgium
- Style:
- Saison
- ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 86
- Avg:
- 3.81 | pDev: 10.5%
- Reviews:
- 170
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 29, 2022
- Added:
- May 04, 2006
- Wants:
- 7
- Gots:
- 11
Brewmaster's Collection - Special Reserve
Mixed Fermentation - Saison De Flandres
Mixed Fermentation - Saison De Flandres
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by twiggamortis420:
Reviewed by twiggamortis420 from Texas
3.7/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.7/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a surprisingly dark amber color with a typically huge, fluffy saison-esque head. Just like the color of the brew, the foam is very dark for the style...I dont remember it being so dark last time I had a bottle. Excellent mountainous retention and sticky lacing.
Nose is mostly sweet base malts, alcohol and a bit of saison funk, but not enough for me.
Boozy malts and woody Belgian funk are foremost in the flavor. For me, this beer does not taste very saison-like, but it is an enjoyable beer nonetheless. Maybe more like a Belgian Strong Dark ale blended with a Farmhouse ale. Toffee malts give it an earthy funk enhancer, while the grainy malts remind me more of a kolsch. Alcohol is a bit much as well. Overall, it tastes good, but DeProef has better beers out there.
Apr 29, 2009Nose is mostly sweet base malts, alcohol and a bit of saison funk, but not enough for me.
Boozy malts and woody Belgian funk are foremost in the flavor. For me, this beer does not taste very saison-like, but it is an enjoyable beer nonetheless. Maybe more like a Belgian Strong Dark ale blended with a Farmhouse ale. Toffee malts give it an earthy funk enhancer, while the grainy malts remind me more of a kolsch. Alcohol is a bit much as well. Overall, it tastes good, but DeProef has better beers out there.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by mmilyko from Nevada
4/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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, 2021Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois
3.94/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
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, 2019Do 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.
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
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, 2015A: 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.
Saison Imperiale - Belgian Farmhouse Ale from De Proefbrouwerij (bvba Andelot)
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
218 ratings
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