Salad Days
Pale Fire Brewing Co.

 

 

Giant white head on top of golden yellow. Lacing down the chablis glass with a consistent head. Yeast settling on the bottom of the glass. Hoppy ssison with a peppery taste. Delightful mouth feel. Very well done.

On-tap at Merroir, Topping, VA

A: The beer is clear yellow in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a quarter finger high white head that left lacing down the sides of the glass and a short head covering the surface.
S: Light to moderate aromas of floral hops and yeast are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell and has flavors of floral hops, notes of yeast, and additional hints of lemons.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and dry on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is very light, easy to drink, and has refreshing qualities.

Serving type: on-tap

I am slowly but surely getting rid of all of my Bottle Backlog here at Chez Woody. This was a new one that recently arrived at the FGBS & it helped me to fill a mixed six.

From the Bottle: "Strike Anywhere"; "35 IBU".

Thanks to my boy. Billy Shakes, for coining the term for which this beer is named! In the meantime, I'm listening to Ian MacKaye & his Minor Threat swan song as I do this review.

Oooh, listening to hardcore still sets me off! I Pop!ped the cap & started a slow, gentle C-Line pour but it suddenly became a nearly inverted pour as I tried to crush the bottle in my grip. 8=O

I used to be a tough guy in the Navy, boxing, street fighting, brawling, breaking bottles for self- & other-mutilation, but I don't engage in that as much as before. I am not a big guy, but people could sense my psychosis & steered clear. Those who didn't had a great time, coming about as close to anarchy as we could get. The girlfriends were equally crazy with some too much, even for me.

Okay, deep breath, like I was taught several (!) times in Anger Management class. My antics caused the formation of three-plus (!) fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, bone-white head with decent retention that left behind a load of lacing. Color was solid Gold (SRM = 5) with NE-quality clarity, prompting an impromptu visit from The Gelt Gang of Midas, Croesus & Mammon, all clamoring for a taste. Nose had a light barnyard funkiness, but it was not overpowering, as some have been in my experience. Mouthfeel was medium, but very prickly from the inherent carbonation. I really liked the taste of this on since it had the funky flavors associated with the style without beating me up with them. I have had some that left me wondering where a good beer ends & a bad beer begins. This was good, IMHO, but also stylistically correct as no one says that it has to be overpowering. Finish was semi-dry to dry & very refreshing, Yeah, it might not be as intense as some Saison freaks might like, but for me, it was just right.

And now, for a lees pour: Now, it became as murky as turbid river water. Nose was a bit more funkified. Mouthfeel was about the same. The taste was noticeably & perceptibly more funky, but still not enough to be off-putting. Very nice.

 

Poured from a 12 OZ bottle into a pint glass. The appearance is a cloudy golden yellow with a huge white head. The aroma is all floral hops. The taste is sweet and matches the nose.

Hoppy, bitter flavors. Maybe a hint of lemon. My favorite beers are on the lower end of the spectrum for hopiness and bitterness so there's no way this was going to rank sky-high for me. It's probably quite well crafted for what it is - it's simply not toward the top of what I like.

One of my favorite Saisons. Doesn’t get enough respect. Has a light color and is earthy and aromatic. Surprisingly strong in terms of alcohol content for how smooth and easy to drink it is

this would definitely fall into the clean americanized belgian type saison, not rustic or malty or funky at all, but really well done, better than so many others in this style where the yeast is something belgian and its all clear and super refined, in this case thankfully not fermented so warm that its all belgian yeast esters. by cooling it down a bit they have left room for some other cool nuance, white grape and candied citrus and lemongrass and honey, some soft peppery spice to it as well, and a of life, vibrant and herbaceous and effervescent, with popping carbonation, a drier finish, and a vinous element that makes it quite unique even though the yeast itself is somewhat unremarkable aside from its efficiency in fermenting this so dry. golden raisin and pale barley, a little clean wheat, simple but well made. this is the first beer i have had from pale fire, and its a tasty bottle of beer, something i would drink quite regularly this time of year if it were available to me here, it feels right for the spring! i enjoyed this one a whole lot!

Poured from 12 Oz bottle into tulip glass. Cloudy deep gold in color with big golden tinted head that maintained. Hints of pineapple, peach, pine, and bubblegum on the nose with taste following the aroma but with a bit of spice. Semi-Light to medium bodied. A bit of a dry finish. A very well crafted and tasty beer that seems true to the style.

Rosy orange in color with a 2 finger thick white head that leaves incredible lacing. (had to knock the look up a quarter cause there was a T-Rex in the lacing)

Grapefruit and pine with hints of peach and bubblegum in the aroma. A bit of woodiness.

Pretty dry in taste. Grapefruit rind and pine with just a bit of woody funk.

Frothy at first, but settling down to a light prickle of carbonation and a syrupy/drying finish.

The funk's a bit laid back, but it's a good Saisson. Definitely more hoppy than a traditional Saisson, but I like that.

 

I found this saison to really be very well crafted and authentic to the style. Surprised to find a 12oz bottle option that really hits home for the style.

 

 

L: Poured from a tallboy can to a tulip glass. Had a pale yellow color and a cloudy consistency. There was an absolutely massive, creamy / rocky, extra-long-lasting head. Excellent lacing. A great-looking beer.

S: A nice aroma of citrus fruit, spices, hops, and yeast.

T: Tasted of light fruit flavors (bananas), light yeast notes, a bit of spices (pepper, in particular), a surprising amount of hops, light malt, and a hint of bubblegum. An interesting flavor for a saison, with the hops adding a new dimension. Very light, fruity and sweet.

F: A well-carbonated beer with a somewhat dry finish. Medium-bodied.

O: This isn't your typical saison, which is a good thing. Well worth a try. Definitely drinkable.