Here Comes The Sun
Alesong Brewing & Blending

 

 

 

 

a delightful beer here! these guys are quickly becoming one of my favorites, and while some of their stuff has been a bit proce prohibitive for me, this one was really affordable in comparison, and the beer is outstanding and unique. a rustic malty saison sort of base, mildly hazy light brown to burnt orange in color, with an off white head an inch tall and thick as shaving cream. lacing all over the place. the aroma here is different, a chestnut sort of earthiness in the grain base, less sweetness than expected from it, but a light brown sugar component, with a zesty fresh orange juice character and a cool yeasty spice thats delicate but distinct, belgiany. the flavor has all of these elements at work together, and integrated really nicely, the orange is fresh and its there the whole time, while the malt also is permanent, with a nutty and baked heartiness. the yeast is quite subtle, and the spice complex seems more from actual spices than from the yeast, but the balance of all of it is tremendous, and the overall result is a lively but substantial beer that brings together a lot of interesting quirks but stays within the expectations i have for the style. its subtlety is what makes it, much like blackberry farm beers, this has that same high quality and subtle flavorings, really fantastic beer.

 

 

On tap at Bailey's, served as a Biere de Mars.

A clear-ish, light-ish yellow-orange with a dense, off-white head with good retention and lacing, this looks solid. The nose is solid. Clearly a BdG, with a more rustic, more grainy character than a saison, and slightly rougher around the edges as well. A raw, mildly frothy, grainy blend of pilsner malt and spelt is present (especially the latter, which seems delicately toasted as well). A fragrant blend of citrus (orange peel) and spices (a blend of white pepper, allspice and a little grains of paradise) is present. There's also a touch of sulfur, a mildly messy (but appropriately so) yeast note that pairs nicely with the complex grain character. The palate opens delicately fruity, mildly spicy and a moderate grain character. White pepper, allspice and a mild bee pollen note are present. As with the nose, the grain character is noticeable and prominent, with the spelt noticeable. A touch of rye is present as well. This is pretty enjoyable stuff, well-crafted and a joy to smell and deconstruct.