La Vie En Rosé
Pure Project

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: Saison
Glass: Monks House of Ale 12-oz. tulip
Price: $17.00 for a 4-pack
From: Pure Project Brewing in Balboa Park (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: n/a; Received April 18, 2022
Consumed: May 7, 2022
Misc.: Canned on April 5, 2022; Split (1/4) with Sonny (1/4) and Kevin (2/4)

Got a can of this from Kevin along with two others. Had this once before, giving a taster at 3.50 on Aug. 9, 2019 and writing, “Interesting with that honey & hibiscus. Probably in 3.65 range for me. Good.” Pure Project’s website called it “La Vie en Rosé returns to our lineup: a traditional farmhouse-style saison that was one of Pure’s original beers. This newest batch is uniquely can-conditioned with locally sourced, raw orange blossom honey from Mikolich Honey. Add in organic hibiscus from Burkina Faso and wild crafted grains of paradise from Morocco and you’ve got some magenta-colored magic in your glass. Saison yeast-induced essences of pear and clove mingle on the palate with notes of dried cherries, freshly cut flowers, and peppercorn. Welcome back to the life in pink.”

Poured a medium garnet semi-clear color with three fingers of frothy off-white head. Plenty of bubble streams coming up along the sides of the glass. Very good foggy lacing. Outstanding retention. (Sight - 4.25)

Smelled floral, hibiscus, honey, plum, purple grape, spicy clove, unsweetened iced tea, tart cherry, white bread and hints of black peppery spice. Better as it went down. Just as good from the can. (Smell - 3.50)

Tasted better than the nose overall. In order got hibiscus, floral, honey, plum, purple grape, unsweetened iced tea, spicy clove, orange peel, tart cherry, black peppery spice and white bread. (Taste - 3.75)

Medium body. Oily-to-creamy texture. Lively carbonation. Spicy, abrupt finish. (Feel - 4.25)

This was very good. Glad I picked up a can. Better than the taster I had a few years ago. (Overall - 3.75)

3.77 | 85 | B+

 

 

a neat little pink saison here, clean, not wild, i know these guys do some lambic types, but this isnt one of them. its a belgian type ferment, lightly estery, spicy, and with both white wine and green pear notes to it, but not overdone at all. i think the honey in here leaves an indelible floral thing, but the sweetness and actual honey flavor is largely fermented out, and i kind of miss it. i get a second use fruit thing, and while i know its hibiscus flowers, i cant help but think spent raspberries, there is that kind of tartness to it, bright and natural, but not the full essence of it. that is a credit to the hibiscus here, which isnt like perfume at all, rather natural as well, subtle in the right ways, and beautiful with this yeast complexion even if it isnt wild. light sweetness but it doesnt come across to me as obviously honey derived. light tang and minerals in the finish, great carbonation, and another wash of dry raspberry. overall a solid beer, complex in a different way that i have gotten used to from these guys. its great to see theirs stuff on tap here on colorado, i hope it keeps up!