Trip XI
Elysian Brewing Company

 

 

 

Effervescent golden orange, fluffy off-white head with good retention and lacing. Astringent herbal aroma of mostly rosemary. Earthy sour and sage followed by rosemary and a sweet and sour finish and a bubblegum yeast flavor at the end. Starts with a sharp biting feel then finishes slick.

Nice balanced flavors and overall sweetness in this beer. Herbs are nice in the taste but not in the aroma. All around interesting if not subtle flavor. An enjoyable although perhaps a little sweeter than normal for the style. The alcohol is hidden so well there is not even a warming sensation making it a dangerously easy beer to drink.

Poured into a Nostradamus flute. Pours a light orange yellow amber with a thin white head that dissipated slowly to a ring, leaving lacing. Aroma of light fruit, light bready malt and citrus as well as some Belgian style spicing, notably cloves. Flavor is a bit of a roller coaster, starting out with light malt and citrus with a somewhat surprising earthy, almost mushroomy herbal middle that becomes clear as the contribution of the sage and rosemary, particularly the sage. Finishes with a more classic saison light fruit, slight funk and a bit of bite from hops and carbonation. A pleasant flavor trip, but the sage in the middle kept surprising my taste buds even after an evening of drinking this.. Body is medium with a hint of creaminess. An interesting take on a Saison, I enjoyed it.

On tap at the Parkway Tavern the other night.

The beer pours a slightly hazy, honey gold color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is attractive, showing a bit more spice and sweetness then I normally encounter in a saison. There is considerable clove, orange citrus, honey, bubblegum and spice in the nose otherwise, that is attractive. While the beer smells nice, it's even better on the palate. While there is still considerable honey, clove and spice, there is also a lemon-lime tart aspect to this beer that is intriguing and attractive. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, with spice filled viscousity that is impressive. Not sure about the abv. in this beer, but would guess that it's probably in the 8% or more range.

While a bit atypical for the style, I thought this an otherwise excellent beer from Elysian/New Belgium. This might be the best Trip beer I've had yet, and is certainly a beer I'd happily order again (assuming I ever get the chance).

A: Poured a deep straw yellow with good carbonation and a nice white cap, light lacing and some bubbles

S: Immediate peppercorn, hay, light funk and horseblanket

T: Upfront was a light lemony taste, peppercorns, hay, light booze, spice and light funk

M; Light to medium body, a light tart, peppercorn, spice

O: Average and not among my favorites of the style