Grange Farmhouse Ale
Atwood Farm Brewery

 

Attractive orange brew with a big, long-lasting foam in the Kasteel chalice. Quite sudsy in the mouth, a cloud melting on the tongue. Fruity aroma and at first sip, an inviting light flavor of fermenting peaches.

This has the "meaty" taste, or umame, which is not quite funk but give it a savory and intriguing depth. Just a slight sharp edge, but mostly it's the slightly sweet malt taste enlivened by orange. Just a little of the dry Belgian yeasty finish. One of the best Saisons I've had lately. From the 750 ml capped (not corked, thank you) bottle purchased from Elizabeth Station in Bellingham. So is this the most northerly brewer in the United States?

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a hazy orange amber with a big three finger white head that was slightly fizzy, but still had great retention and lots of lacing. Aroma of grainy, husky biscuit malt, saison yeast, a bit of mineral; malty enough to resemble a biere de garde. Flavor is whole grain biscuit malt, apple juice, a little caramel, saison style yeast, slightly earthy with a hint of wild yeast. Finishes semi-dry with somewhat complex mixture of light fruit and grains. Medium bodied with sharp carbonation. This is quite nice. A bit more malt and caramel than a typical saison, but still fits the style. Good light fruit at the edges with a pleasant malt body. Perhaps a bit sweet (although still with a nearly dry finish) and malty for a saison, but fits a rustic farmhouse really well. This is very flavorful and balanced. A great introduction to a small local brewery with no real distribution to our area, which I hope changes quickly. Excellent. This is my kind of farmhouse ale. I had never heard of this brewery before I got this bottle, and it is a very pleasant surprise.