Summer’s Eve Hibiscus Saison
Boiler Brewing Co.

coming directly off the hibiscus saison over at zipline, this one really was a letdown, but its a tough standard to hold a beer to that one, and this is actually pretty nice, despite being at least the second best hibiscus saison in town. a little murky in appearance, just slightly pink, without a ton of head and some real density. it smells floral and yeasty too, quite obviously hibiscus, but less refined in a number of respects than it needs to be, not sloppy, but pretty raw yet. the flavor is more yeast driven than hibiscus driven, which i am okay with, sort of belgian and saison strains collide, without the usual dryness or funk. its good but it isnt great, and the lack of a clean finish and bright mouthfeel really temper my appreciation of it. its not flat, but its not lively either, and it seems to be less summery and seasonally right as i would hope. the hibiscus is forward enough, but its not quite as dramatic as other examples of the style. drinkable enough, a good beer overall, but far from the best of what i saw these guys were capable of, and in need of a little cleaning up to reach its full potential.

 

 

On tap poured into a snifter.

Appearance - Hazy orange hue.

Smell - Belgian yeast and citrus.

Taste - Tart with notes of hibiscus.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied. High carbonation.

Overall - Nice Saison.

Grade (B+)