Rocky Mtn Saison
14er Brewing Company

Bought a single 12 oz. can at Applejack's in Wheat Ridge, CO.

In my excitement to add a few beer cans to the craft collection, I read the label of the can, "Rocky Mtn. Saison" (OK, so its easy drinking) and the top of the can on one side, "Uniquely Crushable" (OK, a witty double entendre), but I missed the "cilantro jalapeno" on the other top side, that is until after I drank a swig.

No date on the can, but it was certainly fresh enough - the cilantro freshness comes through.

Poured into a pint glass and immediately flashed back to my pre-drinking youth and the "morning after" one of my dad's epic softball team parties - a huge whiff of bloody mary cocktails. At first I thought it was something spilled on the can in the warehouse, but after several more whiffs of the pint glass - no, it is surprisingly the beer itself. Never smelled anything like it. Tastes like it smells - a bloody mary with hops. Just a hint of jalapeno.

The feel is the highest rating - nice and crisp. Oddly crisp, in fact, with a bit of black pepper burn.

Overall, not what I was expecting for sure...and not something I'd prefer to drink but if jalapeno bloody mary beer is your thing, this is an excellent offering.

P.S. After letting it sit for 30 minutes, I went back for another sip - the jalapeno really starts to come through as the beer warms, but it doesn't have the "light your head on fire" burn that an actual jalapeno has.

L:. Pours a hazy yellow with a very foamy rocky head and no lacing on the glass.

S:. A bit of spicy jalapeno, mixes with a slightly sweet pepper, and notes of the cilantro, also have the saison yeast strain coming through, very unique and interesting aroma.

T:. A light spicy jalapeno, mixed with a sweet pepper, and the notes of cilantro and lime. Also a nice Belgian yeast, this is a very different beer but it works well.

F:. Light to medium body and slightly prickly carbonation.

O:. I think the jalapeno and cilantro blend really well with the saison base.

 

 

 

i found myself parked out front of this place on walnut street on friday and had to walk in and check it out. i guess they arent actually making beer in here yet, but have a spot close by where they are, which apparently also has a bar area. either way, this is a real interesting beer, a spiced saison done with peppers, not at all what i expected from it, but i think its about as successful as this kind of thing really can be. its spicy sure, but its also light, pale, and pretty crisp for a saison. the pepper has a little heat in the throat but not on the tongue, and it almost gets me thinking about a bloody mary, like celery seed and black pepper and such, although im not sure what else all is in here. they even have a version on tap where it is blended with real dill bloody mary mix, a fine morning elixir. there is a freshness to this that i really like from the peppers, a greenness, and its compatible with the mild french type saison yeast, which is pretty subtle on the esters and fruitiness, but works well with the vegetable aspect of this. it induces just a little bit of heartburn after a pint, so im not sure how much of this i can drink, which runs counter to how i think about saisons, the ultimate drinking beer, but i did enjoy one of them. maybe nice as a morning beer or in a red beer context. better technically than some of the other 14er beers i have had so far.

 

 

12oz can. Poured out a hazy, golden orange color with a small, tan head of foam. It smelled strongly of jalapeno, and some lime. Nice spicy jalapeno flavor with some lime and caramel sweetness. I don't really detect any cilantro and it doesn't at all seems like a saison.

 

Poured into a Duvel glass.

Absolute first impression: Jalepeno heat is there but not overly hot; excellent earthy, leathery pepper skin notes with a good lime and cilantro finish. In other words, it really tastes like the ingredients are authentic, especially the pepper. Aromas are equally distributed with cilantro being the least represented. Mouthfeel is light with just a touch of heat on the throat. This beer is what it says it is and all flavors and aromas work well together.

You like it a little hot? You like it a little spiced? If so, this little gem is worth a swig. A yummy, light and crisp saison with a pepper bite on the back end and refreshingly forward herbal hints on the nose. Perfect for a day on the river or in the mountains, or in my case, in the desert. Get on it.

 

AROMA: Chili heat, vague vinegar.

Chile heat, vague vinegar, pils malts.

Mediocre.

C / AVERAGE