Saison
Dovetail Brewery

 

Unreadable canned on date. Poured into a Samuel Adams Perfect Pint.

A: Hazy gold with foamy, 1-finger head with average retention and copious lacing.

S: Beautiful saison aroma of bubblegum, banana, earthy yeast, wheat tang, herbal and lemon hop notes

T: Classic saison flavor with pils maltiness, earthy yeast character, white pepper, lemon, wheat breadiness, and bubble gum fruitiness. Bitterness is low-medium.

M: Very lean and dry but not watery with light-medium body, high carbonation, and dry finish but comfortable.

O: Exceptional saison that I hope we see often moving forward, especially this summer. Great job Dovetail - excellent beer for style and general enjoyment.

 

Got in a BIF from FBarber. 16 ounce can into tulip glass, no can dating. Pours fairly hazy/cloudy medium golden yellow color with a 2 finger dense and fluffy white head with fantastic retention, cap, and spotty soapy lacing on the glass. Lasting fluffy head retention and soapy lacing on the glass. Aromas and flavors of big banana, bubblegum, peppercorn, clove, pear, apple, white grape/wine, cracker, white bread, wood, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Moderate pine/herbal/woody bitterness and peppery yeast spiciness on the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium body. Balanced bready/grainy malt and sticky hop mouthfeel. Fairly crisp with lingering hop resin dryness, and no hop astringency. Wonderful strong Belgian yeast complexity (WLP550?) with nice Strisselspalt and Hallertau Blanc hop flavors, and clean crisp malt backbone. Loved it. A fantastic saison for the style.

 

 

This is a good Saison and Dovetail is a prime example of "too many brewers, too little time." Prior to Saison, I've had one Dovetail (a Pilsner now erased as a lightweight review.). Dovetail specializes in fruited Lambics and Lagers, both of which I like, but not so much. Neither styles have positions in my stable of go-to table ales... which is what I drink mostly. So, I avoided drinking Dovetail. But they are in my backyard; crowded with quality micros. But, I'm glad I found Saison and I want more to test it with a variety of foods because it has potential to be a good table ale.

I'll probably add to this review when I find this again. But Saison does well most the things that we expect from saisons: it stimulates appetite, it cleanses palate and it seems slightly unpredictable because it's not clear what grains are in it or who made the yeast and did the brewer know how to keep it or got a shared strain that might have suffered some inexperience. Most elements are likely in Dovetail's interpretation, but the test is with food. Stay tuned.

I also owe a micro-review to Dovetail. They are interesting. Two serious students of brewing creating two different Ls, Lambics and Lagers. Both styles pair with food, but a more selective range than my preferred table styles. Dovetail's founders have run a taproom for several years to explore their craft and create community. Are their Belgians getting better ?

6/25/23 I found a 4-pack at The Beer Temple and am glad I did. Tonight I had leftovers and Dovetail made a pleasant meal out of not much. For that, I increase my Overall Hugs. This is a good table ale and based on the '22 reviews, it seems like Dovetail is an improving Saison.

2023-06-12
300ml pour at the brewery in Ravenswood (or near there, not sure of actual borders). Entering review from notes.

Pours a foggy golden amber, with a big rocky head. Very funky aroma, something earthy, maybe some peach.

Taste is pretty straightforward saison - funk and grass, earthy, hint of vague fruitiness, a fair hop bitterness bite at the end sets it aside a little bit.

Mouthfeel is medium and dry. Overall, it's pretty good.

 

2023: 4.25
Fruit forward, leading with apricot and pear, white pepper, much less phenolic this time around. Dry and crisp. A great Summer refresher.

2022: 4.07
Pours a pale golden yellow, bright clarity until the yeast is poured in. A finger or two of foam, some spotty lacing, though the surface skim eventually breaks apart.

Floral aroma, lilies and bubblegum, dried pear, tiny bit of sulfur. Fruity taste, pear and apricot, a light graininess, some crunchy Topps bubblegum shards that broke in the pack. Somewhat phenolic, grainy and finishes dry. Medium bodied, ample carb. Overall a nice rendition, wonder if they’ll do a mixed ferm version someday.

Released 3/18/22; drank 3/21/22 @ the Yarchives.

Cloudy orange/yellow appearance.

A rough pour yielded a big, noisy white head; decent lace.

Orange peel, banana & clove notes in the nose.

Medium mouthfeel.

Soft wheat & banana flavors up front; mild orange peel & faint clove notes on the finish.

Almost a Hefeweizen vibe here; I found it pleasant & enjoyable.