100 Barrel Series #14 - Saison
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall

 

 

 

 

I had this one in the cellar for a while, it was due to drink!

Appearance: Very Saison-esque golden/peachy with a pearly white head that didn't last too long, but I'll blame that on the fact that it's a little aged.

Smell: More complex than I expected! Pickled ginger and peppermint aromas, then 3Vandoo nailed a good one: it smelled like Tiger Balm. Some orange rinds as well. Not particularly yeasty, but interesting nonetheless.

Taste: Still quite prickly on the tongue after all the time waiting patiently in my cellar, the yeast was a bit more present in the flavor, with a mild hop finish that made it quite refreshing, as a good saison should be. Well done!

poured out of a bomber into an oversized wine glass. A thin fizzy slightly off white head rose at best a half finger high and started to disipate quickly. lots and lots of bubbles of carbonation rushed furiously to the surface. Spices, clove and pepper on the nose with some lemon and a very vague medicinal scent, none of the expected funk. I'm really not happy with the taste of this beer, it's very bland, the spicy clove flavors are way to powerful and there is not much else there. A bit grassy on the finish. Very thing body with a small amount of carbonation.

I wasn't even able to finish this bomber, a total total bummer

Presentation: 22oz bottle in a Duvel tulip

Poured with a slight gurgle, smooth, crisp like cider.

A semi-sweet aroma up front, ripe with fruit (light pear & apple) as well as summer corn fresh off the cob. Malts are dull, leathery, a faint mustiness, slightly sour. With time the apple cider-like sweetness grows as does the leathery aspect.

A fat finger of loose, pearly white foam emerged from the pour, eventually settling to a thin, see-through blanket that laced in isolated spots. The body is just striking - a crystal clear, brilliant warm hue that shifts from topaz at the stem to a radiant copper-esque amber hue below the head. A lazy, twisting of bubbles swirls thru it. A very striking beer.

Soft & creamy smooth up front, its semi-dry as well as semi-sharp with a cider-like crunch. The two play off each other well, creating a nice balance accented by delicate, faint spice (orange peel, mild coriander, dull pepper). A final pour from the bottle releases all the sediment & yeast, creating a now nicely hazed, almost clouded brew with a dull apricot quality. The yeast play off the spices in a game of TAG! with no retouches. A tartness (driven by some sourdough malts) is now present, and the overall taste improves with the presence of the yeast and its warmer temperature.

Growing slightly citric with some lemon on the palate, it grows lighter, crisper, a wee bit more sour, eventually finishing somewhat syrupy and sweetly-bitter, leaving a slightlu sour aftertaste.

This was nice. Not the best Saison I've had, but nice. I liked the evolution and the various nuances it had. Like others, it would be great with simple fare like aged cheese of almost any kind (thinking a mid range would be best), some cured meat, a loaf of crusty artisan bread, fresh greens or root veggies. I basically described a really good salad or deli sandwich!! I always enjoy Harpoon's 100 Barrel efforts, and this was no exception. That said, I'd definitely drink it now if you have one.

Appearance - Hazey orange yeloow gold color. Head disolved quick , not much lace here.

Smell - Spicey aroma, some citrus, or floral smell here too.

Taste - Spices, lemons, light malt taste.

Mouthfeel - Medium body, not much carbination. clean feel.

Drinkability - Not a bad tate, interesting, my first Sassion style beer. I enjoy these 100 barrel beers from Harpoon.

Pours a golden color with honey highlights with a minimal white head that left no cap or lacing. The smell is faint for a saison but does have a peppery, earthy aroma to it. The taste is average for a Saison, a bit spicy/peppery/earthy. The feel is light and slightly watery, a bit dissapointing for a "Begian". An average Saison but has good drinkability.

Details- 22oz gold foil-topped bottle. 6.3% ABV. 26 IBUs.

Appearance - The coloring is quite a nice color - a clear golden one. The head is far smaller than it should be for the style. Not nearly enough carbonation. Not sure why this is the case with so many american interpretations of this style.

Smell- Nothing really stands out here, but it definitely has a "belgian" smell to it, coming from both the yeast and the malts that were chosen. Hints of low alpha acid hops.

Taste- Gets better as it warms. Slightly fruity, but not fruity enough for me. Wheat-like.

Mouthfeel- A decent mouthfeel... bigger body than I expected. Fairly dryish.

Drinkability- An OK beer, but certainly not my favorite for the style.

22 ounce bottle, gold foil topped.

Pours a bright, clear orange with a tiny bit of white head that goes away immediately, leaving zero lacing. A somewhat disappointing presentation.

Aroma is spicy, slightly sharp, with distinct fruitiness.

Taste is fruity and perfumy, a tiny bit of farmhouse funk, with a thin body and mouth. A small bit of spice, perhaps from noble hops, or from the yeast. Little else. As it warms to room temp from the serving temp (low cellar, about 48) a slight metallic tinge comes through in the finish.

A decent enough, well made saison, but totally unexciting and undistinguished. Sadly blah for a style that needn't be blah, and for a brewery that has the technical expertise to make much more interesting beer.

Originally reviewed on July 4, 2006. On Draft at Captain Kidd - Wood’s Hole, MA. Pour of lightly milky clouded orange-tinted golden wheat. No head. Aroma is a bourbon breath of raging italian herbs, florescent with tarragon and mint. Basil peaks it’s head over the lemoncello and bites back with some grainy malt. The flavor, continues along the same pattern and flavor profile as the aroma, with strong vegetal acts and wafting effervescense and silken grain sugars. Moroccan preserved lemons play. As does some wheatgrass. The hop profile is heavily diminished. Flagrant with phenols. Not too bad, but could use some polishing.

Pured out z hazy golden amber color with a tiny off white head that dissapeared instantly. The nose offered some wheat, yeast, spice, and a slight tangy sourness. The taste starts off with that tangyness, then goes off into malt land, rounded out by the yeast and spice. Medium bodies mouthfeel, ok carbonation. Not enough spice for me for a saison. Not a bad beer, but not totally enjoyable for me either.

Poured a relatively clear golden color with a big, dull white head that spread a sheen lace over the glass.
Aroma of wispy yeast and spice over a light bead of pale malt and some grain.
Flavor as some initial sticky sweetness that moves to a more rounded, yet crisp spicy and slightly bitter and dry finish.
Mouthfeel is fairly smooth and supple with a decent progression of flavors for style.
Drinkability is above average, nice easy drinking beer that slides down the gullet.

22oz. bomber: This one pours an almost crystal clear golden color. There was a small white head that drops away rather quickly. Somewhat weaker aroma. Mainly some froral and spicy notes. A hint of sweetness coming thru also. An interesting taste. Somewhat sweet with some spiciness. Possibly a tinge of fruits also. Not a bad saison, but a little light for the "style"

Pours a clear yellow gold with a giant foamy white head. This has a nice head and carbonation,but the color is like a macro lager. The smell is semi pungent with apples, spices,cloves, and a malt sweetness. The taste is thin with lemon, Belgian spices, floral, and fruit flavors, apples,rasberries,and sweet malt. The m/f is light with the flavors mixing pretty well. A decent Saison that won't dissapoint.Cheers.

Murky golden body with a half an inch of off-white head. Smells spicy more than anything else with some fruit. Tastes spicy too... Maybe cinnamon? Can’t quite put my finger on it. More sweet and spicy than other saisons I’ve had. Fairly fruity too. But very enjoyable I think. Medium bodied... One of the more drinkable Saisons I’ve had. A good brew from Harpoon...

Light golden appearance, light head.

Smells of sweet spices. Sort of one-dimensional.

Flavor is smooth and sweet. The spices are prevelant, but ride on top of a solid malty base with a crisp clean finish. This is not my favorite style, but I like this beer.

Mouthfeel is medium, high carbonation, zip on the finish.

Drinkability is good. Tasty and quaffable.

22oz bottle purchased as a single from Julio's, Marlboro, MA. Gold foiled cap.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a generous 1 3/4" off-white head over the clear golden brew. Frothy head fades slowly, with ample lacing. Aroma is plentiful spicing over a light sweetness. Taste is starts with some light sweetness, then gives way to spices and ends with a crisp close. Mouthfeel and drinkability are excellent. Not the funkiest Saison in the barnyard, but a nice crossover brew to the style, and highly sessionable.

Harpoon Saison pours a hazy straw yellow color with a small frothy white head on top. The foam dissolves quickly to a thick ring around the surface leaving only a few spots of lace behind on the side of the glass. A spicy aroma of clove, orange peel and lemon zest greets you before each sip.

This medium bodied beer is smooth and slightly chewy with a mild fizzy tingle on the tip of the tongue. The flavor is a well balanced combination of clove, orange peel and lemon zest with a nice sweet malt flavor mixed. It finishes slightly fruity with an apple flavor and hints of yeast. The fruityness and sweet malt flavors linger after the beer is gone.

I found this to be a well balanced full flavored beer. It's a bit sweet, but otherwise a terrific beer.