Saison Tettnanger
Cloudwater Brew Co.

Traded for this a while ago, as the date on the bottom of the can read 080917 with a BBE 0218 below that; as SAISON JAISON was written below that. I've had a few of their collaborations with Other Half and like those beers, this was a bit different than what I was accustomed too. Quite a list of ingredients in this but the end result was something full, full-flavored, and certainly unique and in a crowded marketplace for beer that exists today, it was nice to have something that stood out from what I usually buy and enjoy!

The pour to this was decent as the liquid was cloudy, golden, an only had a bit of sediment in it. Plenty of head topped it off although the lacing was sparse and quickly slid down the side of my pint glass after each sip. Tons of malt in the nose - some of it was grainy, some like meat, with Spelt and Wheat in the mix as well. A bit of white grape from the Nelson Sauvin and exotic Tettnanger emerged from the hops as there was a lot of hearty vegetables too. That reminded me of Minestrone soup and the taste was just as deep, dank and complex. Can't say that I've ever had a beer with C02 extract in it but that was in the list of ingredients here a hints of Saison yeast and celery emerged once this fully warmed up...

Thankfully, the booze was on par with everything else as it complemented the range of vegetables and malts quite nicely, without overpowering them. This was a Fruit / Vegetable beer as much as it was a Belgian Saison as the funky, rustic aspect of this was at at minimum. Not quite like anything I've ever had before, this was fun and enjoyable without being too inaccessible. Shame that this is no longer being brewed!

A 440ml can with a BB of Feb 2018, so it's a little out of date. ABV is stated as 6.5%. Acquired a while back from the Brewdog webshop. Described on the label as a saison brewed with 8 malts, 3 yeast varieties and 2 hop varieties: Tettnanger and Nelson Sauvin. The recipe also includes chuckleberry juice.

A: Poured into a tulip. Can-conditioned. A rich, hazy amber colour with good carbonation and fine suspended sediment. Produces a huge head of creamy white foam that hangs around for a while before subsiding to a persistent surface layer. Some lacing.

S: Aroma of fruity saison yeast with hints of phenolic esters, mild berry juice, subtle spice, earthiness, grainy malt, leafiness and faint stewed husks. Complex, balanced and dry - good stuff.

T: Tastes of earthy saison yeast with notes of fruity esters, mild spice, subtle phenolics, a hint of berries, grainy malt, leafiness, hay and a faint tartness in the background. Very dry, followed by a modest leafy bitterness upon swallowing.

M: Mouthfeel is smooth, tingly and dry, with lively carbonation and good body. Quite astringent; dries the palate. Aftertaste of earthy saison yeast, esters, mild spice, faint berries, grainy malt and leafiness.

O: Pretty good - some definite Belgian character. Looks great, while the aroma and flavour showcase earthy yeast, mild spice, subtle fruitiness, grain and leafy hops. Nice body. The beer's namesake hop doesn't come across much, but then it is relatively subtle. While this is well put together, I can't help feeling that it is a tad muddled - too far from the simple origins that the style usually embodies. Good but not world-beating; though worth trying if you come across it.

 

 

 

 

Hazy orange color with off-white head. Aroma has spicy yeast notes and fruity hops. Taste is vegetal, herbal with some turnip and other similar notes. Slightly tart, quite spicy. Medium body and carbonation. Really interesting saison but a bit weird.