Sour Grand Saison
Grand Teton Brewing Co.
- From:
- Grand Teton Brewing Co.
- Idaho, United States
- Style:
- Specialty Saison
- ABV:
- 7.5%
- Score:
- 88
- Avg:
- 3.92 | pDev: 10.2%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 18
- Status:
- Inactive
- Rated:
- Mar 30, 2020
- Added:
- Apr 09, 2015
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 6
SCORE
88
Very Good
88
Very Good
he brewers of Grand Teton started by reproducing The Grand Saison 2011 recipe. The first “thread” follows centuries of tradition, using European hop varieties—German Hallertauer Tradition, UK Goldings, Czech Saaz and French Strisselspalt. They used a very light base malt accented by just a touch of German Wheat and Munich malts. Finally, they fermented it very warm with a classic Belgian yeast strain to bring out the spicy flavors that are common to saisons.
The second “thread” fermented with Brettanomyces Drei (also known as Brettanomyces Trois.) This wild yeast from Belgium produces a very delicate tartness with lovely aromas of tropical fruit like mango, peach, pineapple and guava.
Finally, Grand Teton’s brewers produced a third “thread” of saison, this one soured with Lactobacillus, a common and beneficial microorganism that we encounter every day. It gives yogurt its tang and helps to ferment pickled vegetables such as sauerkraut. In Grand Teton’s Sour Grand Saison, Lactobacillus provides a delightfully tart, tangy and crisp, citrusy-sour flavor.
Each of the three “threads” were carefully tasted and combined to create the wonderfully complex and delicious Sour Grand Saison.
7.5% ABV, 34 IBU
The second “thread” fermented with Brettanomyces Drei (also known as Brettanomyces Trois.) This wild yeast from Belgium produces a very delicate tartness with lovely aromas of tropical fruit like mango, peach, pineapple and guava.
Finally, Grand Teton’s brewers produced a third “thread” of saison, this one soured with Lactobacillus, a common and beneficial microorganism that we encounter every day. It gives yogurt its tang and helps to ferment pickled vegetables such as sauerkraut. In Grand Teton’s Sour Grand Saison, Lactobacillus provides a delightfully tart, tangy and crisp, citrusy-sour flavor.
Each of the three “threads” were carefully tasted and combined to create the wonderfully complex and delicious Sour Grand Saison.
7.5% ABV, 34 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by NickThePyro:
Rated by NickThePyro from Washington
4/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Feb 28, 2016
4/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Feb 28, 2016
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by SLeffler27 from New York
4.22/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.22/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Four plus fingers of fluffy white head lasts a very long time. Rapidly rising clouds of fine carbonation add texture to the iridescently clear amber beer (SRM 6-8). A thick patching of lace adds geography to a Cisco fisheye pint glass. The head eventually becomes a sparkling meringue.
Fermented orchard fruit such as apricots and peaches dominate against wheat and brettanamycies. Pepper and celery are firmly in the background with lemongrass.
The sourness is modest, more tart than sour.
There is a nice bite of bitterness which balances well against the sweetness. Lemons seem to be the solitary fruit, with strong grain flavor reminiscent of Triscuits and Wasa Rye Crisp crackers. The mild, lingering, dry finish carries celery. Warmth brings out a light curry and accentuates the acidity. A medium to full body with an itchy, wool texture. Alcohol is within expectation, with a slight nibble of carbonation that is fizzy and fine.
This is a solid Saison with lots of subtle components and a few bold ones. The sourness is less than I anticipated from the label, and was a pleasant addition to a cool, sunny afternoon after a hard day in the yard.
Bottle was sampled three years after packaging.
Sep 30, 2018Fermented orchard fruit such as apricots and peaches dominate against wheat and brettanamycies. Pepper and celery are firmly in the background with lemongrass.
The sourness is modest, more tart than sour.
There is a nice bite of bitterness which balances well against the sweetness. Lemons seem to be the solitary fruit, with strong grain flavor reminiscent of Triscuits and Wasa Rye Crisp crackers. The mild, lingering, dry finish carries celery. Warmth brings out a light curry and accentuates the acidity. A medium to full body with an itchy, wool texture. Alcohol is within expectation, with a slight nibble of carbonation that is fizzy and fine.
This is a solid Saison with lots of subtle components and a few bold ones. The sourness is less than I anticipated from the label, and was a pleasant addition to a cool, sunny afternoon after a hard day in the yard.
Bottle was sampled three years after packaging.
Reviewed by BTodd from Illinois
4.4/5 rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
No time for the big review but nice fluffy head with champagne bubbles. Great barnyard, fruity, sour aromas. Tastes almost as good as it smells and feels nice going down. Tempted to buy a case of this one.
May 13, 2016
Reviewed by thorkelson from Minnesota
4.49/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2015 cellar reserve.
Pours a beautiful straw orange with a fluffy effervescent head. Gorgeous!
Smells wonderful, spice, earth, huge sour overtone.
Nose is slightly tart but no overwhelming sourness. Light and fluffy and wonderful.
Wonderful beer with no hint of booze. Perfectly sour. In love with it. Not rated highly enough.
Dec 28, 2015Pours a beautiful straw orange with a fluffy effervescent head. Gorgeous!
Smells wonderful, spice, earth, huge sour overtone.
Nose is slightly tart but no overwhelming sourness. Light and fluffy and wonderful.
Wonderful beer with no hint of booze. Perfectly sour. In love with it. Not rated highly enough.
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina
4.19/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: A bit of a foamer but it settles down quickly, in the bottle; pours a cloudy honey color with a massive head; gobs of lacing hang around
Smell: Wild yeast dominant, with bread, lemon, tropical fruit, grass, leathery funk and grainy tones
Taste: Lactic lemon and tropical fruit tones; grainy, grassy and funky through the middle, with peppery spice developing, after the swallow; a hint of vanilla but the Brett is pronounced; definitely some band-aid phenolics in the finish
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate to high carbonation; very Belgian
Overall: A lot going on here and I think the beer is starting to come together (noting that a number of earlier reviews commented that it wasn't); just slightly tart, but that is not the point as the tartness is a complement not the thing itself
Thanks, ta_hagen, for the opportunity
Dec 19, 2015Smell: Wild yeast dominant, with bread, lemon, tropical fruit, grass, leathery funk and grainy tones
Taste: Lactic lemon and tropical fruit tones; grainy, grassy and funky through the middle, with peppery spice developing, after the swallow; a hint of vanilla but the Brett is pronounced; definitely some band-aid phenolics in the finish
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate to high carbonation; very Belgian
Overall: A lot going on here and I think the beer is starting to come together (noting that a number of earlier reviews commented that it wasn't); just slightly tart, but that is not the point as the tartness is a complement not the thing itself
Thanks, ta_hagen, for the opportunity
Rated by IDABEERGUY from Idaho
3.12/5 rDev -20.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.12/5 rDev -20.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Not sour at all. Kinda bland..... Maybe I got a bad one but for the price this one won't get a second taste unless someone gives me one.....
Sep 05, 2015
Reviewed by Bitterbill from Wyoming
3.04/5 rDev -22.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
3.04/5 rDev -22.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
Pours a clear gold with an ample head of foam that shrinks to near nothing rather quickly.
The nose is good. Typical Saison characteristics that I'd expect from it. Horse blanket, some of the usual spices, only a hint of any sourness.
The taste starts off good. Spice, horse blanket, slightly sour. Then a chemical slash medicinal flavour moves in that's very band aid like. Totally distracting and it ruins the beer for me.
Good mouthfeel.
This could have been awesome, I think. Ended up being on the low end of my rating scale for the style.
Aug 23, 2015The nose is good. Typical Saison characteristics that I'd expect from it. Horse blanket, some of the usual spices, only a hint of any sourness.
The taste starts off good. Spice, horse blanket, slightly sour. Then a chemical slash medicinal flavour moves in that's very band aid like. Totally distracting and it ruins the beer for me.
Good mouthfeel.
This could have been awesome, I think. Ended up being on the low end of my rating scale for the style.
Reviewed by GSSW88 from California
4/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I think this beer would be better if I aged it for a few years. 2015 reserve, I think it's got a little youth to it that needs to age. Overall not bad, but I bet this will be so much better in 1.5-2 years. Pours typical golden yellow saison color, nice white head that reduces to a tiny white fizz after a few moments. Smells nice, a little bit of lactic sour smell at the beginning, grains, small hop character, fruity, and leather. Taste is mainly the first saison they used in this blend, consisting of tons of German grains. This beer has tons of lager flavor! You really taste the German wheat and Munich malt. Slight acidic taste but this guy is just a little too young, and fruity flavor (mango, peach, pineapple, guava, they really weren't kidding in the description!) Mouthfeel is nice and light, medium to high carbonation. Overall, not bad, just needs to age more. Kind of a let down with all the tags and ribbons stuck on the bottle, but I think I'll buy another and let it sit for a while.
Aug 21, 2015
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