Ohgma's Blessing
E9 Brewing Co.

a really delicious spelt saison here, a little darker than pale, sort of a tarnished penny tone, but still bright in the glass and fairly clear for what it is, a short airy layer of big bubbles from the bottle, which is a batch one, didnt see a date but its well mature now. a little oxidation and fading malt on the nose, toasted and caramel notes but also deeply earthy, almost a spicy rye element and some oak tannin, definitely a barrel treatment, maybe wine, this is peppery and tart to me, interesting on the grain side, spelt might not have held up great, like this doesnt likely have another year or two on it, but its appealing now, maybe at its peak. the flavor is great, a touch of sweetness left to balance the tart, its bacterial but also bretty and with an estery french type saison, well established at this point. not overly acidic, a briny sort of minerality to it, still some weight to the malt in feel, mellow and consistent funk through it, pretty dynamic overall and pretty old world, enough carbonation but not effervescent. i know these guys for innovation and fairly assertive flavors in beers like this, but this one is quite traditional and timeless and i appreciate their ability to do this sort of thing as well. if you have one of these you might want to drink it pretty soon, at least if its a batch one, you will not be disappointed! a grain showcase instead of a fruit one, a nice change of pace.

Look: Like pink-tinged honey with a light head that disappears quickly, leaving a thin halo around the perimeter.

Smell: Smells sour, strongly of lemon, and musky. Not a smell uncharacteristic of well-made sours.

Taste/Feel: Quite sour, slow finish, mostly smooth mouthfeel aside from the addition of effervescence. Lemon flavor is the most pronounced, but there are also woody notes that could be from the spelt grain. Sweet, fruity finish that sticks with you for a bit.

Overall: I love me a good sour beer, and this is no exception. It doesn't offer much in the way of unique flavors, but it is still an exceptionally well-made sour beer. E9 is always a treat.