The Turk
Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery

 

 

 

Pours a golden orange color with a large creamy white head.

Scent of sugars, spice, caramel, yeast clove and fruit. The scent is fairly strong the the style and ABV.

Taste of yeast, sweet fruit, caramel, clove and spice. A big and tasty Saison, seems a little strange for the style though.

Mouthfeel is medium light bodied with fairly weak carbonation.

Bright pumpkin orange with a reddish hue that may have been due to reflections from the dark wood bar. A single finger of lightly toasted marshmallow colored foam was appealing on presentation and lasted for a bit. Thin rings of lace on the far side of the snifter and small dots on the near side looked good as well.

The aroma was lightly toasted, fruity and warmly spicy. Specifics included apricot, banana and orange. The spiciness was Belgian yeast clove-like, with something else that I couldn't identify. Bryan (Flossmoor Station's new brewer) informed me that grains of paradise and orange peel were added to the kettles.

Keeping in mind the fact that saison/farmhouse ale flavor profiles are wide-ranging, The Turk Saison tasted more like a BSAA (Belgian strong amber ale) to my taste buds. It was sweeter than most, had no tartness and no funkiness. None of that matters because it was well-crafted and enjoyable. It also tasted authentically Belgian, thanks to an estery yeast strain coupled with a high fermentation temperature.

The grain bill included honey malt, but TTS also tasted somewhat toasted-earthy-nutty... almost like an Oktoberfest in some respects. Top notes included ripe banana, bubblegum, orange, clove and an exotic pepperiness from the alligator pepper (grains of paradise). A moderate Saaz hoppiness was a pleasant surprise and a lingering bittersweet finish ended each mouthful in fine fashion.

The 8.5% ABV was well-chosen because the beer had power, but wasn't the least bit boozy. American big beer medium describes the mouthfeel pretty well. It was also silky smooth, thanks to near perfect carbonation.

The Turk Saison may not be a typical saison, but it's delicious, drinkable beer that should please just about anyone who has a soft spot for high-ABV Belgian ales. It looks like devotees of Flossmoor Station beer will be in good hands for many years to come.

Served in a snifter at Flossmoor Station 8/26/09.

Listed on the board as 8.5%

A: Served a hazy and dark apricot color with an off-white, 1/2 finger head that somehow left tons of lacey sheets in the glass.

S: Fruity. Spices and toasted grains. Definite banana aroma.

T: Same as above with hints of booze soaked bananas.

M: Sweet with a deceptively spicy prickle.

D: I liked it but it seemed more like a belgian strong pale ale to me.

On tap at the brew pub. Served in a large snifter.

Opaque apricot liquid with a finger of white head sits in front of me.

The nose is a little chalky with some green banana esters and spice.

The taste follows the nose, but with more fruit and yeast. There's a slightly odd sour note coming in as well that reminds me of banana peel. It finishes dry with some more spice rounding it out.

Mouthfeel is full and well carbonated.

A tasty saison for sure.