Ferme Agrume #6
E9 Brewing Co.

Review from notes.

375mL (April 2016, bottle 112 of 456) into a tulip. Pours a clear golden color w/ a big fluffy bright white head, lively carb, clumpy lace.

Aroma is citrusy and bright, with a touch of saison funk. Grass, green apple, grapefruit. Tangy and tart.

Taste is likewise bright and crisp, same saison funk. Nice clean citrus.

Mouthfeel is balanced w/ a semi-dry finish.

Overall a tasty, balanced, citrusy saison.

This an elegant Saison with a white wine hint. Something faintly citrusy, though I didn't read the label until now to see there are oranges involved. And the hops are Azacca, which I don't taste either. Fortunately there is nothing sour about it, and I'd be happy to try more of their Saisons. Mouthfeel is pleasantly sudsy. Lots of white foam in the Ciiney snifter.

Overall this is a brew with a modest yeasty taste and a sharp edge, but thoroughly drinkable. This is my favorite of the E9 brews so far. From the 375 ml bottle purchased at Elizabeth Station in Bellingham.

 

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a hazy light to medium golden amber with a thin, but active head and moderate lacing. Aroma of grainy malt, saison yeast, light orange and Belgian spicing. Flavor follows aroma, starting with grain, saison yeast, light orange, almost subdued at first, but with interesting spicy grain, wheat, orange and a nice hint of brett. Finish has light spicy hops. Medium bodied with peppery carbonation, almost a bit over carbonated, which may contribute to the lighter flavor at the start. A nice, light saison style ale that ends up delivering a pleasant and fairly complex finish. The hops and oranges are present, but delicate and fit in with the farmhouse malt base well. Hops are more forward than traditional in this style, but these Azzaca hops have a good spicy flavor. Because this brewery produces a lot of sours, which are not a favored style for me, I gambled on this as a traditional saison and it turns out to be just what I like; moderately dry with interesting flavors from the oranges and hops. Well done. I'll try anything from these guys that is not tart in the future.