Helsing Junction Farmhouse Saison
Three Magnets Brewing

solera wild beer, super old now with some beer from 2014 in this blend, sort of a gueuze process with multiple vintages together, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 all barrel aged, and some fresh 2018 too, so cool! not sure if this is intended to be proper lambic or just rustic saison, but the time on it all has blurred the line, really cool bottle, not even sure where i got this one, but ive had it squirreled awhile. lightly brassy tinted golden color, slight haze, great carbonation giving rise to a fading inch plus of airy white head, and a really striking nose showing its maturity. less green glass stink than anticipated, no real sulfur or anything to it either, tons and tons of funk without even really being that acidic, like that element didnt take over, which is cool, great wild yeast profile to this, perhaps a mix of different brett types in play, a fair bit of grain character in tact here still too, dry cereals and some breadiness, subtle white and red wine notes, oak, and fresh green grape, an herbal bitter tea-like layer, and some piquant lemon and light copper tinge at the end. the flavor follows, really nice complexity and it does tease lambic a little bit, some faint cheesiness as it warms, are there aged hops in this too? really funky brett profile with the wood, some fresh floral and even stone fruit notes too, clover honey, granola, citrus acidity. the carbonation comes out of suspension a little bit but this still feels pretty bright for how old it is. light oxidation and paper, horsey and weird as it warms, but really complex and good. i like the blend a lot, love the project, and hope to try some different iterations of this, the fruited ones sound awesome! this is the side of three magnets i like the best!

Had the cuvee 2014 to 2017 blend. Excellent grisette very balanced tart after a fifth foamed out.

Dark and lightly turbid, oxidized orange juice color. Active white foamy head that recedes fairly quickly to a collar
Yeasty sourdough smells, verging into the realm of overipe apples and melon
Taste is a pleasant mix of yeasty funk and mild, fruity acidity. A bit watery and a bit of stale/cardboard. Past its prime
Feel is dry and light. A bit tingly, a bit thin.
Overall a nice beer that, at 2.5 years old ( I just bought it last week) of has gone over the hill. Drink em if you got em

 

 

I had this beer on-tap in a snifter at WABL Belgianfest 2015.

Appearance: very cloudy, bright yellow hue with a very thick head of creamy ivory foam; a very nice head for this festival setting.

Smell: funky with a nice, dry grassiness; a simple but well-wrought farmhouse character.

Taste: very grassy flavor, even moreso than the aroma. There's a smooth maltiness with a moderate funk as well; quite good.

Mouthfeel: medium body with an alright carbonation and creaminess. It's not too bad.

Overall: I think this is a very successful saison, despite it's somewhat lackluster texture. Definitely worth trying.