Smoked Dark Saison
Burdock - Kensington Market

i believe this do be distcint from their straight up dark saison listed here, as this is something apparently very different. a smoked dark saison that looks like a porter in the glass, served from a nitro tap, frothing and rich headed, matte black, and very sturdy and smooth looking, dead sexy. this is quite a distinct brew, and while the smoked malt aspect is really subtle, the additives in here make me aroused, cocoa and nectarines, what a neat idea in a nitro dispensed smoked black saison, and it tastes as good as it sounds on paper. there is a light campfire aspect to this, but i also just get the roast of the dark barley and maybe some midnight wheat malt, coffee hints and very earthy, almost burnt, but not intense in anyway, softened by the creamy texture of the nitro and the cocoa in here, which is a little less dark than the grain and adds a familiar chocolate element. the nectarine is fresh and ripe, juice and sweet but with just a little tang too, almost tastes grilled in here with the light smoke and the dark grain, dark chocolate dipped too even, really spectacular, and subtle enough to stay an accent to the saison. the yeast here is sort of faint, not missing in the mix, but turned down a little for the style, if one can even rightly compare this to any other saison ever made. light belgian esters here, plantain, rose hip, red wine, but the chalky grain base and the earthy roast really ground it, no funk at all either, despite their penchant for wild beers. this is clever and interesting and delicious, elite level beer, and the nitro just gives it the perfect mouthfeel for all these flavors. so well integrated. special brew from a special brewery!