20th Anniversary American Saison
Highland Brewing
- From:
- Highland Brewing
- North Carolina, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Saison
- ABV:
- 5.8%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.89 | pDev: 7.2%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 9
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Sep 12, 2015
- Added:
- Jul 25, 2014
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 6
SCORE
87
Very Good
87
Very Good
No description / notes.
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Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia
3.44/5 rDev -11.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.44/5 rDev -11.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
"With another nod to local history, we present our 20th Anniversary American Saison, the second bottle of four in a series. Our Ameriucan Saison is a brilliant hybrid of the classic Saison and the American Pale. Saison yeast imparts notes of pepper and spice, introduced by a bold, citrus hop profile. Four varietals blend in the dry hop. A toast to new traditions in 2014!" Brewed in the style of a Saison / Farmhouse Ale, available in 22 oz. bottles and on limited draft. Entry #2 of 4 in the 20th anniversary series.
Poured from a 22 oz. bottle to a snifter glass.
(Appearance) Pours a crisp, fizzy head of a buttercream white color over a moderately hazy medium amber body with trace lively carbonation. Retention is very good and lacing is light and patchy. 3.75
(Smell) Pale wheat and cracker malt, spring fruit and light spices, little to no funk. Potency is moderate. 3.5
(Taste) Green apple forward, light floral and spice notes, continued light saison yeast presence. Very simple, startlingly pedestrian for a saison ale with little character to show for it. 3.25
(Mouthfeel) Texture is silky, slick, residual, lightly dry. Carbonation is mild, generating a low frothiness and a modestly crisp finish. Body is light/medium for the style, light+ overall. Balance is slightly fruity and sweet over effervescent. Alcohol presence is light and there are no off characters to note. 3.25
(Overall) A highly uninteresting saison ale, with little impact from the saison yeast profile up front, far too simple a malt base, no funk and the only discernible flavor that of ripe, lightly tart apples. Highland doesn't commonly dabble with the Saison style, but this ale is altogether very uninteresting and one I'd recommend skipping, as it barely holds up. 3.25
Highland Brewing's
20th Anniversary American Saison Ale
3.44/5.00
Sep 12, 2015Poured from a 22 oz. bottle to a snifter glass.
(Appearance) Pours a crisp, fizzy head of a buttercream white color over a moderately hazy medium amber body with trace lively carbonation. Retention is very good and lacing is light and patchy. 3.75
(Smell) Pale wheat and cracker malt, spring fruit and light spices, little to no funk. Potency is moderate. 3.5
(Taste) Green apple forward, light floral and spice notes, continued light saison yeast presence. Very simple, startlingly pedestrian for a saison ale with little character to show for it. 3.25
(Mouthfeel) Texture is silky, slick, residual, lightly dry. Carbonation is mild, generating a low frothiness and a modestly crisp finish. Body is light/medium for the style, light+ overall. Balance is slightly fruity and sweet over effervescent. Alcohol presence is light and there are no off characters to note. 3.25
(Overall) A highly uninteresting saison ale, with little impact from the saison yeast profile up front, far too simple a malt base, no funk and the only discernible flavor that of ripe, lightly tart apples. Highland doesn't commonly dabble with the Saison style, but this ale is altogether very uninteresting and one I'd recommend skipping, as it barely holds up. 3.25
Highland Brewing's
20th Anniversary American Saison Ale
3.44/5.00
Reviewed by ThreeLions from Massachusetts
3.55/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
3.55/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
22oz bomber split with Hab 11.
Appearance: Pours into my treehouse tulip at first a blush rose color muddling up to a murky red yellow orange cloud. Decent carbonation maybe one finger in height that moderately dissipates leaving not even a hint of lacing. Lots of chunky yeast in the glass [That's what happens when I let Hab11 pour the beer].
Smell: Mild spice likely from the yeast. Big malts up front, candi sugar perhaps but very malty. This smells a lot like a belgian dubbel far more than anything reminiscent of a saison. Smells quite boozy, much more than the 5.8% abv listed on the label. I have to take into consideration that this was supposed to be rather hoppy but it has been many months since this was bottled. No noticeable hop character to speak of.
Taste: That first sip was quite unexpected, in a pleasant way. I was expecting a super malty, overly sweet really thick beer that would be hard to drink. Instead I was rewarded with intricate flavors melding together rather well. Noticeable but not overwhelming sweetness. Not sure if this was barrel aged or not but the impression I am getting is that it was. Tons of vanilla and caramel, light oak tannins. Slightly off after taste.
Mouth: When I attempted to review the taste everything I wanted to write was really mouthfeel so I ditched the taste and skipped here. This is an incredible mouthfeel. Very effervescent, lots of action going on. Great medium body not too sweet or thick, not too bad at all. Very refreshing. This is an exciting beer to drink.
Overall: Was not sure what to expect from this style. This is not what I would call a saison. Like stated earlier this drank much like a belgian dubbel than anything else however with a lot more carbonation. Interesting beer. Definitely a good beer but not really for me. Would not buy again; would drink again but would rather be drinking something else.
Jul 24, 2015Appearance: Pours into my treehouse tulip at first a blush rose color muddling up to a murky red yellow orange cloud. Decent carbonation maybe one finger in height that moderately dissipates leaving not even a hint of lacing. Lots of chunky yeast in the glass [That's what happens when I let Hab11 pour the beer].
Smell: Mild spice likely from the yeast. Big malts up front, candi sugar perhaps but very malty. This smells a lot like a belgian dubbel far more than anything reminiscent of a saison. Smells quite boozy, much more than the 5.8% abv listed on the label. I have to take into consideration that this was supposed to be rather hoppy but it has been many months since this was bottled. No noticeable hop character to speak of.
Taste: That first sip was quite unexpected, in a pleasant way. I was expecting a super malty, overly sweet really thick beer that would be hard to drink. Instead I was rewarded with intricate flavors melding together rather well. Noticeable but not overwhelming sweetness. Not sure if this was barrel aged or not but the impression I am getting is that it was. Tons of vanilla and caramel, light oak tannins. Slightly off after taste.
Mouth: When I attempted to review the taste everything I wanted to write was really mouthfeel so I ditched the taste and skipped here. This is an incredible mouthfeel. Very effervescent, lots of action going on. Great medium body not too sweet or thick, not too bad at all. Very refreshing. This is an exciting beer to drink.
Overall: Was not sure what to expect from this style. This is not what I would call a saison. Like stated earlier this drank much like a belgian dubbel than anything else however with a lot more carbonation. Interesting beer. Definitely a good beer but not really for me. Would not buy again; would drink again but would rather be drinking something else.
Reviewed by Hab11 from Massachusetts
3.53/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.53/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Reviewed with Three Lions from a 22oz. bomber. 5.8abv
Appearance: Burnt Amber with a bright white head which slowly dissipated. Slightly resinous with minimal lacing.
Smell: definitely get a strong sour yeast smell, black peppercorns, orange zest. I don't get the American Hops but definitely smells like a British Amber. Quite Malty on the nose.
Taste: one word Belhavens. This is in no way an American Pale to me but this one has sat a little and could very well have lost its hop profile. It does have some tang to it and is very peppery up front finishing very creamy just like the aforementioned beer it was compared to.
Feel: starts and stays effervescent. It's pleasant enough but I would neither call it refreshing or exciting to the pallet.
Overall: it's good not great reminds me of a traditional British cream ale with a touch of yeast. Wouldn't turn it away but also wouldn't search it out. Just ok to me sort of like the Scottish Premier League.
Jul 24, 2015Appearance: Burnt Amber with a bright white head which slowly dissipated. Slightly resinous with minimal lacing.
Smell: definitely get a strong sour yeast smell, black peppercorns, orange zest. I don't get the American Hops but definitely smells like a British Amber. Quite Malty on the nose.
Taste: one word Belhavens. This is in no way an American Pale to me but this one has sat a little and could very well have lost its hop profile. It does have some tang to it and is very peppery up front finishing very creamy just like the aforementioned beer it was compared to.
Feel: starts and stays effervescent. It's pleasant enough but I would neither call it refreshing or exciting to the pallet.
Overall: it's good not great reminds me of a traditional British cream ale with a touch of yeast. Wouldn't turn it away but also wouldn't search it out. Just ok to me sort of like the Scottish Premier League.
Reviewed by Zach136 from Georgia
4.23/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This brew is almost 11 months old, so I'll be bearing that in mind for ratings that rely on hop flavor/aroma.
Appearance: Pours clear yellow with a nice white head, great lacing.
Aroma: Pleasant assorted fruit bazooka bubblegum nose. One of the more interesting plays between saison yeast and American hops ive smelled.
Flavor: I get that same bubblegum character up front, a bit more citrusy with some bready malt character as well. Little to no spice from the yeast.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied, just a step above bone dry.
Overall: A great beer even with the age, bummed I missed out on trying this one fresh. Would have been an even more awesome brew.
Jun 04, 2015Appearance: Pours clear yellow with a nice white head, great lacing.
Aroma: Pleasant assorted fruit bazooka bubblegum nose. One of the more interesting plays between saison yeast and American hops ive smelled.
Flavor: I get that same bubblegum character up front, a bit more citrusy with some bready malt character as well. Little to no spice from the yeast.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied, just a step above bone dry.
Overall: A great beer even with the age, bummed I missed out on trying this one fresh. Would have been an even more awesome brew.
Rated by Subvette from North Carolina
4.34/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.34/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Great saison yeast taste. Mouthfeel and lacing were top notch.
Jan 07, 2015
Reviewed by oberon from North Carolina
3.94/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours into an over sized wine glass a slightly hazed honey tinged golden with a frothy white head atop.Yeasty esters give off some spice with some melon and a hint of earthy hops wich are more pronounced on the palate.Yeasty with a bigger earthy/leafy hop presence on the palate with some medicinal notes in the finish.Not bad,as the label says it's a Belgian Saison and APA kinda mix,I like it.
Nov 19, 2014
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California
3.7/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.7/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bottle shared at the monthly bottle share held at Flask Fine Wines in Studio City, CA.
Filled 7/8/14.
Pours a murky orange with a foamy khaki head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, yeast, spice, and earth aromas. Taste is much the same with grain, yeast, and spice flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with a solid smell, but the taste is slightly better in my opinion.
Serving type: bottle.
Nov 04, 2014Filled 7/8/14.
Pours a murky orange with a foamy khaki head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, yeast, spice, and earth aromas. Taste is much the same with grain, yeast, and spice flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with a solid smell, but the taste is slightly better in my opinion.
Serving type: bottle.
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