Spring Amusement (w/ de Garde)
Block 15 Brewing - Southtown Tap Room

A 2019, featuring a blend with a two year old wild ale. Let’s hope it’s held up.
Upon opening, a slow, steady foam
pushes out of the bottle.

Poured into a wine glass. Thick two finger head on a foggy, golden body. The smell carries well. Sweet, fruity, and funky aromas. Berry, lemon, apple, bubblegum, a hint of coriander and mineral. Superb. Taste follows. Acidic, tart fruity flavors. White grape, tart peach, oak, a touch of lemon. Not as much yeast as the nose. A few funky notes. Apple, citrus and melon on the finish. Carbonation is high. Mouth feel is foamy and acidic, and quite dry at the finish. A surprise alcohol warmth builds after a few sips.
What a treat, found on sale with dust on the bottle. I didn’t have this fresh, but I presume it has held up very well.

Served in 12oz teku. Poured a lightly hazy honey gold color with a half-inch of white head that had moderate retention and good lacing.

The aroma had an interesting blend of tartness and sweetness, with a bold yeast spice/funk, all over a solid grain base.

The flavors were the same, just much expanded and built up. The grains were very earthy, and there was an almost Brett-like funk.

The body was perhaps a touch on the full side of medium, smooth, and had a very dry finish.

Drinkability was very good, but it's a sipper, not a quaffer.

Overall, a very good brew. I'm not sure what vintage this was/is, but if you see any of this, grab some.

 

2019 Edition, it has a frothy , big, loose and quick settling white head leaving chunks of foamy lace in the steel tumbler I'm using, hence no comments on the color or turbidity...
Smell is guezey, lemon spritz and crushed stone, a touch of diaper.
Taste more on the saison side then the nose implied - some acidic funk for sure, but more cereals. Slate and iron notes as well. Quick finish save the lingering tartness, touch of soap.
Mouthfeel is dry, slippery and light bodied.
Drinkability is pretty good, didn't quite come together for me, a little to oily and acrid, not loving that soapy aftertaste.

Bottle, 2020 vintage, 8%. Thanks, Sam!

A mildly hazy amber with a dwnse, off-white head with good retention and lacing, this looks solid. The nose is a floral Brett expression, a blend of rose, melon and tart berries with a spicy clove and mild phenol character. At this point, there's a mild plastic character that's a little distracting. There is a moderate caramel and mild dark floral honey sweetness present. The palate opens with a juicy funky character, a blend of melon, floral and grapefruit juice with minimal bitterness, coupled with a rather robust funky note, a blend of earth and mushroom, and tart Brett acids. There's some pineapple and coconut as well, before the mid palate focuses on the Brett character, with some clove and pepper to go with the plastic notes. These do help temper the sweetness. Mildly sweet and funky on the finish, this beer is medium in body and a little overcarbonated. Alcohol is well hidden. The floral juicy notes here are quite unique, making this rather vinous.

 

As expected, beautiful. A golden body grows deeper orange towards its heart, and bubbles rush constantly to support a massive stark white pillow of soapy suds above. They pop one by one and the whole blanket descends collectively leaving a mountain range of snow around the glass.

Soapy suds continue to ring true in the aroma alone with an earthy and woody backbone. It's very floral overall, appropriately named as it smells like the initial damp but warming days of spring. Touches of lemon peel and wildflower honey are the perfect suggestive compliments.

First sip, and wow. I didn't know what I was tasting at first, but it was delicious. Tart young green grapes, red apple skins, and a bramble of mixed unripened berries with an oaky edge to it gives off a light white wine like tone. The usual suspects of grasses and hay, barnyard funk, and all that jazz are here, but so very well blended, mild, and cohesive it's difficult to dissect them from one another. Everything here is in perfect harmony.

The active bubbles give this a soft, light, and airy feel, yet the body is silky smooth. Add the light acidity and it is just ridiculously easy to drink. It's actually making me sad to see this one's level deplete with each sip. There is a slight alcohol warming after sips, despite the somewhat modest 6.5% tag.

I expected this to be good. It's not. It's great. It not only satisfied my thirst for a Saison, but also a well executed wild ale simultaneously. It's delicious, and I wish every one of you livers if the style could have a taste. Who knows, some if you just might…