Rumblefish Hoppy Saison
Birds Fly South Ale Project

Picked up a 500 ml bottle from the BFS brewery 2-17-23 for $8.00. Bottled 7-3-19; consumed 3-2-24. Cold stored since purchase.

Beer poured orange with little to no head.

Nose is very nice, horsey forward with notes of citrus and tropical fruits.

Taste is a light malt base that is inoculated with Brett which steers this beer in the barnyard direction. Getting notes of leather and horseblanket. Hopping lends a touch of juicy lemon and orange. Finishes tart.

Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied and refreshing.

Overall this beer has aged fairly well by BFS, a liquid Sweet Tart, nicely done!

Appearance: Pours clear and golden colored with a two finger head; decent retention with spots and streaks of lacing

Smell: Peppery funk with citrusy bitterness; the Brett and hops deliver powerful aromatics

Taste: Tart and peppery, at the outset, with barnyard funk and green apple tones; through the middle, the lemon and tangerine pith add bitterness; strong mineral flavors in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate to high carbonation

Overall: A really interesting combination of flavors here but I find it more interesting than enjoyable (not that I am not enjoying it)

This Saison is almost clear (SRM 5-7) with a rich amber color that tends toward bright copper. The head is shallow, off white and iridescent. The beer takes on a blood-orange glow and fogginess once the yeast is added. Spotty lace is left on an Offer oversized wine glass.

Brettanomyces is quite strong, as is a woodsy aroma. This has a fruity brightness, balanced against old leather and light mustiness.

Tartness is light initially, quickly building to a moderate level, while bitterness and sweetness are faint. Light citrus mixes with dark spices, though nothing is prominent. Neither are these flavors muddy. There is a pleasant lingering, spicy finish that laces everything together.

A medium body and soft, smooth texture. Alcohol is as advertised. The carbonation is light, as is the dryness.

Rumblefish was a fun and tasty, almost candy-like, version of a Saison. There is no mistaking it for anything but a Saison. I enjoyed it while listening to a very interesting lecture about female spiritualist painters. It was a mellow afternoon. The beer also reminded me of my sister's fascination with the book, Rumblefish.

 

 

Looks like a hand written date on the bottom right corner that says "10 - 18."
Poured into a tulip, the appearance was a semi-dark bronzed chill hazed copper color with a sly transparency. Level foamy white head settled down fairly slow leaving some concave lace.
The aroma had some juicy citrus fruit pith/pulpy character flowing into some sour Bretty to tart funky character. Subtle grassiness.
The flavor brought a thorough blend of juicy citrus fruit to tropical fruit with an ample backing of sour and funky tones running in and out of each other. Aftertaste seems to be like "cement." Weird but yes, (I once knocked out my front teeth when I was little so I know what cement tastes like). It's a clean cement as if it was just poured two hours ago.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied, perhaps just a touch over, but I can endorse this one to be full bodied. I'd say somewhere between a sipper and somewhat sessionable. Finish seemed somewhat jolly rancher - ish but scaled down a bit with a really nice juiciness.
Overall, really nice sour saison, well worthy of coming back to!

 

 

 

A hoppy saison, yes please!!! A loud crisp carbonation release upon popping the cap... Huge fluffy white head comprised of big chunky bubbles... Lacing clings to the glass... Interesting nose - All the normal Saison components are present but there is also hints of lemon and melon along with a subtle hoppiness... Simple and straight-forward flavor profile, not over complex... Lively carbonation and smooth mouthfeel... An enjoyable and interesting American Saison...

L: pours a hazy lemon yellow. Nearly a full two finger head. Head lasts a medium length and leaves nice thick lacing.

S: fairly reserved scent. Lemon and yeast. A touch of earthiness

T: good sour yeastiness. A tiny bit of black pepper and some mild lemon. Pretty much a standard saison ale character.

F: A bit creamy up front and the flatness carries through to the back of the palatte. The lemon and yeast don't quite kick it into the right level of sour.

O: A good saison with some interest to it but not really enough character to make this memorable. Overall it is just good and drinkable but not really worth the premium price.

This is a really good Saison. The strong hoppiness did not take from the overall quality of the beer. I drink Saisons for the yeast/barnyard/musty/horseblanket thing and it was very apparent in this beer. Pours a somewhat hazy gold color with a medium size delicately bubbly white head. Head retention is better than average but not much lacing on the glass. Aroma should satisfy a saison lover. Yeast/Brett and some lemon zest rule the roost here. There is some hint of the hoppiness to come but the aroma is good classic saison. Taste has a nice funky/musty lemony presence to it but there is also some up front grassy hops bitterness that blends nicely into the more traditional saison flavors. Funk and hops seem to work well thogether (at least with this beer). The funk and hoppiness are nicely balanced and the tongue can enjoy both of them. Mouthfeel is rich enough with both saison and hoppy presence. THis was one of 21 beers I bought in Columbia SC. If I could get my hands no more of them, I would buy some!!!!

Pours a lightly hazy pale yellow color big billowing white three finger head . Beautiful beer can watch single bubbles releasing from the bottom of the tulip raising slowly to meet the massive head that leaves gobs of lace everywhere.

Aroma is definite Farmhouse musty horse blanket grainy malt background, light lemon grass mingled with real lemon citrus notes, and earthy spices. Can detect slight notes of Brett sprinkled about giving it a light tartness to the nose. While the nose is good it is lightly subdued at least to me, still nice just not as in your face.

Taste little different then I expected, not as citrus like as the nose. Malt with light funky moves to lemon notes covered in Brett but not overly sour lemon grass adds some earthy, herbal grassy notes to the mix that finishes with light brett , spices clove, coriander, hints of mint and light lingering funk. The more I drink it the more I appreciate it, nothing over the top just well made and easy drinking goodness here.

Mouthfeel is lighter medium considering the big head the carbonation on this one is also more towards medium, it is not overly fizzy or overdone at all.

Overall I like this beer might not be as big in your face as some, not overly fruity or overly funky, just the right small touch of Brett and enough hops to keep it balance. I would defiantly have this often if it was available, just a solid well crafted brew.

 

Poured from a bomber into my snifter.
Look: Old gold body with a decent faded white head.
Smell: Lemons and earth. Wish this would open up more.
Taste: earthy, mossy, fresh cut grass. Lemongrass. Hoppy lemony citrus notes. Slight black pepper spice on a crisp finish.
Feel: Medium bodied and very drinkable. Very refreshing after a run on the treadmill. The finish wants me to take another sip.
Overall: It's almost overwhelmingly lemony/hoppy but they pull this one great. Ideal for a hot day. Would love to try this on draft as well. Solid offering from Birds Fly South.