Cherry Paulie
Fair Isle Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

I've now had a few Fair Isle beers. I've liked them all, but I have to say that this one is a little below the others. I'd happily have it again, but I'm not as impressed. It reminds me of the Black Cherry pop I had a as a kid ... fruity, tasty, but nothing to write home about. It doesn't have a lot of beer character to me, even though it is quite enjoyable. It seems overly simplistic to me.

But don't pay attention to me. IMHO, @StonedTrippin is a far better reviewer than me, so listen to him on this one.

sexy can, sexy beer, stoked to have this available in boise! a dark farmhouse mild type base saison done with second use cherries, such a neat base and the fruit is a cool addition, i was very impressed with this, awesome beer for this time of year as the days get shorter and the weather turns cold. shiny and black from the can with a short and short lived ring of tan bubbles. some viscosity and not as fizzy as many of their beers. the aroma and flavor run parallel, the cherries are behind the grain to me, but perhaps in front of the yeast, at least while its cold, subtle cola character, roasty without being too bitter, very earthy, dark soil and compost. some wild funk is here but this seems a little younger and less bretty to me, a little tartness but it seems as much from the cherries as from the ferment, the fruit is subtle, all on the back end, maxed out on the swallow to me, neat with the dark chocolate grain character but its so dry it never seems desserty or anything. a little chalky and crackery and drying, a hint of fruity port wine and prune juice, tang from the cherry, light smoke, perhaps a hint of rye spice or something wafting through the back half as well, and the more i sip the more i taste. wonderful complexity and drinkability combined here, an almost english vibe to the malt, a hint of black pepper, smooth and softly carbonated. really great, thankful this exists! i cant get enough of fair isle right now!

edit: many months into its life in cans, this is still getting better. so dry now, some fruit fade, but also a rising funk profile, so cool with the roasty dark grains. hints of chestnut, cherry medicine, tree bark, and no oxidation at all. gorgeous saison, super spritzy and light feeling now too. these guys are on fire!