L'apiculteur
Central State Brewing

 

A - Hazy body, orange with slight white tint, a huge white head, pillowy with big bubbles, quick to fade to a fat cap, and thick lines of lacing.

S - A line of funk, sour lime notes, pungent floral grass and a touch of bread.

T - Follows the nose, strong sour lime element, a malt core, and a slightly bitter finish suggesting zest and pith.

M - Prickly carbonation, moderate body, and dry finish.

O - A tasty and well built Saison that works both as a pleasant drinker and a layered beer rewarding careful consideration.

 

 

 

16 ounce can into tulip glass; no can dating, but is a recent release. Pours slightly hazy pale golden straw color with a 1-2 finger dense and rocky white head with awesome retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice thick soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big lemon, lime, peach, pear, melon, red apple, coriander, peppercorn, clove, elderflower, hay, straw, herbal, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, light honey/musty funk, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/spicy/light funky yeast, lime, elder flower, and light-moderate pale/wheat malt/honey notes; with great strength. Taste of big lemon, lime, peach, pear, melon, red apple, coriander, peppercorn, clove, elderflower, hay, straw, herbal, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, light honey/musty funk, and yeast earthiness. Moderate peppery yeast spiciness and herbal/floral/grassy bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of lemon, lime, peach, pear, melon, red apple, coriander, peppercorn, clove, elderflower, hay, straw, herbal, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, light honey/musty funk, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy/light funky yeast, lime, elder flower, and light-moderate pale/wheat malt/honey flavors; with a great malt/bitter/spiciness balance, and zero astringent yeast/hop flavors after the finish. Moderate increasing dryness from bitter/spiciness and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately crisp, and bready/grainy/sticky balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol for 7.3%. Overall this is an excellent fruit/spiced saision style. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy/light funky yeast, lime, elder flower, and light-moderate pale/wheat malt/honey flavors; very smooth, crisp, and refreshing to drink with the modestely bitter/spicy/carbonated/drying finish. Really great balance of well rounded Brett/Saison yeast complexity, lime/elderflower, and a solid pale/wheat malt backbone. Very vibrant flavors. A very enjoyable offering, and spot on style example.

I'm a big fan of Central State, but this might be my favorite beer of theirs yet. It pours from the pint can a cloudy golden, not too dissimilar from a hazy NEIPA but with more head and lacing. The honey complements the sweet and sour combo of the black limes perfectly. On the nose, the lime is super delicate, just emerging from the rest of the farmhouse ale that presents wheat, cracker, and light pepper. The floral notes come through on the palate in a sprightly dance with the lime.

I really enjoy everything about this; my only wish would be for it to weigh in closer to 4-5% ABV instead of 7.3%, so that it would be a sessionable summer sipper. In any case, I hope that Central State and New Day do this again.