Taxonomy Anomaly
Is/Was Brewing
- From:
- Is/Was Brewing
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Saison
- ABV:
- 5.1%
- Score:
- +6 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 3.91 | pDev: 8.44%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 1
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Oct 06, 2022
- Added:
- Mar 22, 2022
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
-
-
Taxonomy Anomaly is beer and flavor profile I've been chasing for a long time. Ever since I had the first sips of the La Vermontoise that inspired me to start is/was I've been trying to find a way to incorporate the fruity, intense flavors that are a hallmark of new world hops with the delicate saison fermentation profile I love so well. For me, Taxonomy Anomaly achieves exactly that.
Most (not all, but most) saisons that feature new world hops just don't do it for me. They often drink like IPAs that happen to have been fermented with a phenolic yeast rather than a thoughtful effort to have the hops and iconic fermentation profiles work together and elevate each other.
To accomplish this long-standing goal we got our hands on some Riwaka hops. Riwaka is a highly sought after varietal from New Zealand. It is the descendent of Saaz but it is much more modern in its expression. It also has a unique oil composition that allows it to be chockfull of those overripe fruit and lightly dank notes we love about modern hops while not being overbearing or upsetting the balance with the rest of the beer.
The resulting beer has notes of overripe peaches, Alphonso mango, blanched almonds, dehydrated grapefruit, lemon thyme, and just a slight suggestion of hoppy dankness. The finish is very dry with a firm, quenching bitterness and hints of blue raspberry cotton candy.
Most (not all, but most) saisons that feature new world hops just don't do it for me. They often drink like IPAs that happen to have been fermented with a phenolic yeast rather than a thoughtful effort to have the hops and iconic fermentation profiles work together and elevate each other.
To accomplish this long-standing goal we got our hands on some Riwaka hops. Riwaka is a highly sought after varietal from New Zealand. It is the descendent of Saaz but it is much more modern in its expression. It also has a unique oil composition that allows it to be chockfull of those overripe fruit and lightly dank notes we love about modern hops while not being overbearing or upsetting the balance with the rest of the beer.
The resulting beer has notes of overripe peaches, Alphonso mango, blanched almonds, dehydrated grapefruit, lemon thyme, and just a slight suggestion of hoppy dankness. The finish is very dry with a firm, quenching bitterness and hints of blue raspberry cotton candy.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois
4.11/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.11/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Bought from The Beer Temple where I think I've bought 10 of the 12 Is/Was ales I've had. All good, most enjoyed, some enjoyed a lot... of which Taxonomy almost makes it into the "enjoyed a lot" category.
Thanks to FBarber for adding the brewer's Notes below. They are so thoughtful I really can't follow with that much worthwhile. A lively yeast makes this a lovely-Looking saison. Smells are hugely tropical with a hit of herbs at the end. Tastes follow, but certainly finishes hoppy and dry; perhaps too dry to pair with less subtle foods. Better than medium-mouthed, bubbly and cleansing for another bite.
At 12 brews, I'm obviously a fan of Is/Was. Aside from their skills in brewing my favorite style, I particularly appreciate how they bottle a separate Brett version... because I am Brett-adverse. As a classic Saison-head, I look forward to Is/Was developing a recipe for a broader market who likes to drink saisons at every dinner... which means lowering their price for a larger market. Something to think about as Is/Was evolves.
Apr 17, 2022Thanks to FBarber for adding the brewer's Notes below. They are so thoughtful I really can't follow with that much worthwhile. A lively yeast makes this a lovely-Looking saison. Smells are hugely tropical with a hit of herbs at the end. Tastes follow, but certainly finishes hoppy and dry; perhaps too dry to pair with less subtle foods. Better than medium-mouthed, bubbly and cleansing for another bite.
At 12 brews, I'm obviously a fan of Is/Was. Aside from their skills in brewing my favorite style, I particularly appreciate how they bottle a separate Brett version... because I am Brett-adverse. As a classic Saison-head, I look forward to Is/Was developing a recipe for a broader market who likes to drink saisons at every dinner... which means lowering their price for a larger market. Something to think about as Is/Was evolves.
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