Everything Glistened And Sparkled
Keeping Together Brewery and Beverage Garden

 

 

Released in 10/2020; consumed on 9/5/21

Pours a slightly foggy, burnt orange-copper hue capped with numerous fingers of rocky, densely soapy, white foam; excellent head retention yields nearly two fingers of craggy cap, an expansive, thick collar, and a tapestry of chunky, webby lacing strewn across the walls of the glass.

Aroma highlights lemon peel phasing into a mineralic spritz upfront, gently revealing clove and saison yeast as tinges of honey become more apparent in the background; toasted rhubarb conceals a dry, musky root underbelly accented with roasted honeycomb for a subdued bittersweetness over time.

Taste brings more clove and grainier saison yeast to the forefront, accented with white bread crusts and burnt honey into funky orange zest over the mid-palate; barnyard grain finds notes of spent black tea leaves, apple core, and watwrmelon rind over the back end before a delicate, lemony funk eases through the finish.

Mouthfeel shows a light body with spritzy waves of moderate-high carbonation, and a mineralic tautness holding form over the mid-palate; low acidity and mild tartness enliven a wet back end as a fading, grainy crispness wavers with dryness through the close.

Understated in every respect, this saison sees a more traditional, Belgian yeast-forward foundation toying with twangy acidity, mild funk, and the rustic, bittersweet intermingling of honey and root; the result is subtle and quaint, a quiet, easy-drinking farmhouse ale with clean nods to old-worold influences.

Pours a very attractive burnt orange with loads of dense, slightly off-white colored head with excellent retention. Semi-translucent and bright. Aroma is floral with some light citrus notes and a hint of marshmallow. There's more there, as I find the aroma quite complex, but as always, I lack the sophistication to pick up the exact notes this beer is throwing at me.

On the tongue, the first words that spring to mind are "light and refreshing", but that's a superficial way to describe the beer overall. As I find with most well made beers of this style, the taste is very nuanced. It's not hitting me in the face with tartness, but it's there. It's not shoving different fruits & roots down my throat, but they're present as well. I can definitely pick up the rhubarb and some honey notes, along with others that I'm not quite sure what they are, but don't care, because whatever they are, they work really well together. There's a really nice balance of tart and sweet, with just the right amount of acidity. Dry, with a medium body. Overall, an excellent beer.

Burnt orange body with a simple white cap and lazy spotted lacing. Expressive aromas of rhubarb, blood orange, kiwi, and flowers backed by supporting vanilla, honeycomb, minerals, and lemon juice, very complex yet delicate. Taste is so artful and intentional, really impressed, in addition to everything from the nose I get lighthearted funk, dry earth, plum, a kiss of passion fruit, pink peppercorn and grain. Complex, beautiful, delicate, lightly sour, starts wet and finishes dry. A beautiful beer with some ingredients that are not the easiest to work with. We are going to miss you dearly KT

Lightly foggy pale orange with a tall, lumpy khaki foam head.

The nose is dusty almond-walnut with a kiss of honey.

The taste is ultra refreshing of lightly smoked, tart rhubarb that also seems to exhibit floral qualities, and at the same time, even provides a lightly oaky element. A little sticky funk brings forth a character of grapefruit. As the session continues, the yeast seems to impart a very pleasant hint of strawberry jam, but brighter, as though spritzed by lemon, but not acidic, so it increasingly comes across like sorbet.

Insanely drinkable.

Averie is doing magical things. It's too bad not enough folks have seen the light. I believe in saison!

 

 

Dark saturated orange, slightly hazy with ample foam and chunky lacing.

A lot of minerality in the aroma, vague sweetness, slight funk and acidity. Something herbaceous or vegetal, must be the root addition.

Tart and softly acidic, light honey, tart rhubarb, lemon and herbs. Medium body with a creamy texture. Well carbed, the bottle gushed a bit when opened. Overall this is another nice mixed ferm saison from Keeping Together. Starting to see the house character across the range. Very delicate and complex.

750ml bottle, undated, poured into a stemless wine glass.

The beer pours a bright orange color, amber hues, cloudy with a big white head that has excellent retention and yields spotted lacing. The aroma is lovely, citrus rind, hearty grain, a bit of earthy and herbal tea qualities, lightly floral, mild fruit and soft funk. The flavors are good, tart citrus, wildflower and the rhubarb offers a nice contrast of acidity and rich berry fruit character, a bit of spice and herbal earthiness balances the beer while the honey is more prominent and lingers with a hearty grain bill. The mouthfeel is good, coating and lively medium body, a bit heavier for a saison but there is a nice tart and dry finish.

Verdict: A very nice saison from Keeping Together. The balance is what lets this beer shine, a diverse and complex array of delicate flavors that all get their due.