Ingenue
Miskatonic Brewing Company

 

Only my second from this local micro, I'm impressed by Ingenue.
There is a slight difficulty in that Ingenue could be a biere de garde by Looks. But, saisons are a hoppy ale. And Ingenue has firm hops. However, Ingenue Looks great: a nice full foam followed by a subtle settling that leaves a nice amber body (unusual) and just enough lace to cover that bod... and leave the imagination working overtime. Smells are less alluring; an average yeasty melange of fruit. Tastes are balanced and subtle; just enough hops to check sweet malts, but a shot of peppa comes through. Refreshing and medium-mouthed. This is a very good table ale. Glad that I just bought a 4-pack @ The Beer Temple. I will keep all 4 for myself. No Christmas presents from this.

Miskatonic I should have more of. Based on Ingenue and another saison, I think Miskatonic is figuring out the Belgian yeast very well for a six year old. A Votre Sante here in the Midwest !

11/17/21 Had a second can next to my most favorite saison (Apex Predator, aka juicy-fruit) and it showed me that while Apex is a masterstroke in expanding the style... Ingenue falls in the classic school led by Dupont. Whatever, I'm keeping count over @ UnTappd.

my first beer from these guys, solid and fresh and drinkable, but way more belgian than farmhouse, which i do not always love in the saison style. i think it can really be nice when its well done, but more often than not it takes the most interesting element of the style and makes it more generic, takes it away in a sense, and i thus generally prefer the more rustic, old world saison types. this is decidedly american to me, with an over the top belgian yeast ester profile of green apple and spices, white pepper and clove notes, not flawed or phenolic or anything, but not farmy or funky to me at all, too clean for that. smells and tastes like it was fermented super warm, and there isnt a ton of earthy grain balance that i look for to counter that, but the flavors are warm and pleasant and summery, and this drinks pretty swiftly for its higher abv. definite orange and clove notes in here, traces of black tea bitterness and citrus, elderflower and clover honey, pale wheat and pear notes too. good not great, i will look for more beer from these guys next time i am in the area, looks like they do some pretty cool stuff!

 

 

 

Tasted in a 12 oz tulip from draft at Jake Melnick's on November 24, 2016.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On tap, poured into a balloon snifter. The aroma is initially a bit funky bit a barnyard tone, but shifts to something more tropical, with notes of fresh squeezed orange juice, some honey, and a light pepper as it settles. It pours a clear, deep amber hue with a dense white soap head that leaves no lace and has only a light retention. The taste is a medium sweet, medium light bitter, and light sour combination. The texture is oily and slick with a fizzy carbonation and a medium body. The flavor profile is a mild, but notable, vegetable pepper with just a hint of spice, a light honey sweetness, and orange juice. The finish is a crisp pepper spice turning to orange juice that sticks around in the aftertaste that's mildly dry and astringent.