From Maine, With Love #04
Allagash Brewing Company

Pours nicely enough, crystal clear gold with the white pillow head. The head drops quick leaving a thin sheet of bubbles.

The smell is very weak. Vaguely herbal, I can pick out the lemon verbena since we grow it and use it for tea, but it is barely present. Grassy and some mild estery notes, but not a lot going on. Minimal yeast signature.

The taste is equally mild and non-descript. It has elements you would expect from a saison, just not much of it. The herbal and grassy notes dominate initially but eventually the lemon verbena wins out and dominates. Kinda unpleasantly, to be honest. The peppery and spicy notes I'd expect from an Allagash saison do try to come and play, but it just isn't working.

The feel is a light body, but severely under carbonated for the style. Yet it is giving an aggravating kind of burn in the front of the mouth. Bone dry. The lemony herbal residue on the tongue becomes annoying after a bit, and the clash of the titans going on in the flavors is disappointing and not an enjoyable interplay.

Allagash makes some of the best beer I have ever enjoyed but this ain't one of 'em. Even for a pilot brew this is a significant let down and quite a disappointment. If this one makes a 3.5 it will be gracious. Simply not a good effort here and not what this brewery should be peddling, imho.

Poured from a 4 week old can into tulip glass.
Weak grassy yellow color with light froth.
Nose of typical saison notes, grassy, vegetal, yeast and bread.
On the palate, immediate impression is of a petite saison. Flavors are muted and the saison profile very mild. The lemon verbena is there if you search for it.
Overall, I live saison but this was just too mild for me, even seemed tired and oxidated.