Saison du Grande Cru
Mollusk Restaurant & Brewery

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a medium golden amber with a slight haze and a half finger white head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of lightly grainy malt, saison yeast, apple and pear, hints of light stone fruit. Flavor is rich mixed grain malt, saison yeast, earthy and malty with hints of cinnamon and toffee, although neither is clearly distinctive. Finishes with a nice earthy, malty taste with a light touch of Brett. Medium bodied with nice peppery carbonation. Although clearly a saison, this has a deeper malt flavor and some spicy, earthy flavors that I was unable to tease out. I've found this brewer's beers to be interesting in the past, but this one is different and interesting in a "dang that's good" mode rather than challenging. Saison Dupont is clearly an inspiration here, but this does not seem to be an attempt at a clone, it's very nice in its own way. Recommended. The higher than normal ABV brings out the flavors nicely, but is well hiddne. Nicely done.