Spelt Saison
Holy Mountain Brewing Company - Interbay Brewery + Taproom

this is exactly the kind of beer i reckon these guys do the best. its a gorgeous table strength saison thats heavy on the spelt, which gives it a density, earthiness, and spice quality that sort of has a similar vibe to some rye malts, but is distinct in its own way too. this has a grissette kind of vibe to it, grain heavy session saison with a cool yeast profile. cloudy but still bright in the glass from the tap, my first beer from these guys on draft! the head is an inch high and lasting and lacy as it drinks, looks the part just right. the malts are awesome in the flavor, and i like the simplistic nature of it, i can appreciate the contribution of the spelt, which must be working with some wheat to provide this neat richer pale cereal base, fluffy feeling and very fresh. the yeast is not quite bretty, but not a classic saison type from the store either, it has a little farmy weirdness to it, the slightest belgian ester complexion, and is sort of understated and drying, perfect for this beer, which feels and tastes very old world and classic to me. creamy textured, superbly well carbonated, and the kind of beer i could drink all day and night. this is right in the holy mountain wheelhouse, and its really good! a nice illustration of what the spelt can do in a beer like this.

 

Growler picked up from Chuck’s on the 10th. Tasted 12 September 2015.

Pours a hazy pale yellow, a lovely color. Two fingers of dense white head, lasting and leaving tons of lacing up the glass. Nice.

Smell is yeasty-fruity sweet, slightly floral with a bit of spice. Well rounded, with all the pieces playing together.

Taste could be really good, and I can sense a bunch of delightful flavors running just beneath the surface. But the surface is too bitter, too grainy, too simple. And that makes the rest of it hard to reach.

Feel is good. Fairly light, with tingly small-bubble carbonation, lasting in consistent.

A solid saison. Would be much better with just a bit less hop bitterness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A very good albeit low alcohol saison, flavorful wheat base with tons of fruity aroma matched with a gentle saison yeast to keep with the refreshing nature, I can't really taste any of the hop character, but it remains a solid refreshing and sessionable saison.