Spicy Raspberry Saison
Stonehooker Brewing Company

 

 

 

Appearance: Poured with a thumb of head that produced some mild lace but did not stick around. The body is a very cloudy red with a slight brownness to it. At a distance it look like raspberry jam without the seeds, but holding it in our hand, you can just barely make out what's behind the clouds.

Smell: Needed a decent amount of warming to come out, only to be treated to mild raspberry and maybe a hint a bready malt. There's nothing bad about it, it's just kinda boring and lacks potency. Kind of funny, as that's the only part of this beer that seems normal.

Taste: Well the raspberry is certainly there, as it starts mild and paired with equally mild malt and then builds up to clash with a earth and floral hop note that leaves no winners here, but thankfully no losers either.

Mouthfeel: The spicy part comes in the aftertaste, as there is certainly something spicy that is lingering. It's practically mute as you drink the beer but it's presence tingles in the aftertaste with a hint of raspberry. That said, the carbonation is a bit lacklustre on this one. Interesting transitioning though.

Drinkability: On the lighter end of medium body, and does refresh but it's peculiar. I mean, the spice note does make you give pause to stop in from being a guzzler, but that pause serves more to reflect that it's missing something. Spice while drinking? More of a Berry Presence? More beer elements? Hard to say. What isn't hard to say it that despite a low carbonation, it doesn't settle down the nicest.

Final Thoughts: There likely is a reason, spicy and raspberry aren't commonly associated flavours, and this beer showcases it. I will say, it is certainly off the beaten path, but in this case it's taken the path to Wonderland, making for a less positive and more strange journey. I certainly applaud the innovation here, but there's something missing with this one, and I'm not sure what exactly.