Bière de Garde
The Collective Brewing Project

 

 

 

 

In Mason jar at the Bearded Lady, Fort Worth, TX.

Very hazy brown-yellow beer. Sticky off-white head with some retention.

Lots of phenols, clove, bananas, Juniper berries. There are a lot of things going on here. There's an iciness from the Juniper and overall smells something like rosemary foccacia.

Sweet, malty with flavors of banana and dark bread. Cloves, rosemary, yeasty phenols, but not so much Juniper.

Full bodied with soft carbonation. Clean finish.

The menu here has this as bier de garde with rosemary and Juniper at 7.3% ABV. Interesting as my first of the style. It's certainly on the sweet end for Belgian pales.

On tap at Hay Merchant in Houston.

A: Pour with a light haze. Pale golden orange/yellow color. A dense two finger white head forms with good retention and lace.
S: Earthy and peppery spice up front. A light funk with some fruity esters and apple skins.
T: Like the nose, up front is earthy, peppery, light funk, lightly phenolic. Even a kind of peppermint flavor comes out. Then fruity esters and the tart apple skin flavor that seems to be a signature for CBP.
M/D: A medium body with good carbonation. Effervescent, crisp and smooth at the same time. That finishes semi dry. Enjoyable and easy to drink, and well made for the style.

I really enjoyed this. A strong yeast presents that has a lot of character, and everything is well balanced. A good example of an American made Biere De Garde. I wish there where more like this easily available.

 

Pours a murky/cloudy darker yelllow orangish golden color with white colored head. Rosemary, juniper, light funk, and a light tartness on the nose; follows onto the palate. Medium bodied. Finishes with a nice juniper berry note.