Saison du Poivre
Ethereal Brewing

 

As one of the most skilled Saison makers in the Bluegrass, Ethereal Brewing knows that the yeast spices will never measure up to the dry, pepper forward, hoppy taste that farmhouse aficionados crave so they add fresh cracked peppercorns to the brewing procedures to pull the balance without lofty expectations.

Tarnish goldenrod and cast in a yeasty gaze, Saison du Poivre builds a soft ivory froth that carries a spicy citrus scent onto the nose. The radiant peels of grapefruit, orange and lemon spring to life on the backs of the peppercorns. A mild leather and oak medley stem from the scent and invite a bready, sourdough sweet, honeysuckle taste that adorns the front of the tongue.

But the tables turn on the malt as the ample carbonation carries off the drying grain sweetness and leaves the middle ground open to the battle of fruit and spice. Hints of apple and pear join the citrus in creating an estery lead and in a slight white wine kind of way. But the vinous spice open the door for the peppercorn to spring to the front along with natural spices of white pepper, clove and a campfire subtlety of cumin. The bitterness of hay and citrus peels come in and further reinforce the spices for the win.

Medium bodied and trending light, the beer's wine-like alcohol, the drying nature of hop resins and the peppercorns work perfectly to shift the balance to a highly traditional, rustic yet refined farmhouse flavor and feel. A longer-than-you'd-think linger of hops further reinforce the authenticity that's expected of the style.