Big Bulge Saison
Brewsters Brewing Company & Restaurant - Eleventh Avenue

 

Had this seasonal offering on tap at Calgary Crowfoot location. Beer arrived a burnished brass color with some white head, releasing an aroma of rustic nutty yeast as per the style, along with assertive floral and citrus aromatics. Smells pretty close to the stuff you'd find at the source (Belgium). Palate a complex and heady combination of tangy sourdough malt, powdery yeast, lavender and dandelion floral notes, a tarragon-like savory herb character, pear and green grape fruitiness, and a lot of pungent citrus/coriander and dry pepper spice phenolics. Sweetish mid-range body but there are so many bitter components that the overall effect is bone-dry and very crisp. Pretty high carbonation levels add to this latter impression. Hops must be Saaz or similar cultivar. A really solid (if a bit dry and spicy) saison.

pint at downtown Calgary location 10/12/11

A hazy peachy orange with a lemon garnish and no room for head or lace with the top filled glass

S peppery spice with some dry cereal and yeast with some lemony citrus, smells great everything meshes together quite well

T tangy sour fruit with less peppery spice and yeast and more dry cereal, decent but lacking compared to the smell

M fairly light and refreshing but a slightly grainy sour aftertaste

O smells right on then not quite there in other areas, I'm still stoked Brewsters is trying new things

It would sure be nice to have all the Brewsters brews linked, I tend to rate them under this location simply because it seems to have the most

A - hazy pale copper brown, short white head dissipated to random covering
S - toasted grain, light fruity sweetness, leafy hops, slightly astringent
T - cherry, banana, and cloves, leafy hops and grainy bready malt, and just a little astringent finish
M - refreshing carbonation, thin and slightly puckering finish
D - an interesting take on a saison with a little more hop note, although it is a little thin a mild, worth a sample or two

According to the bartender at the Edmonton Oliver location, this, amongst others, is made at the Foothills Brewsters location in Calgary. Instead of adding a whole new place, I'll just add it here.

This beer appears a slightly hazy, glossy medium golden hue, with a thin wispy white head, which doesn't have the heft or the time to leave any lace around a pretty full pint's worth. It smells of mild, sweet, bready malt, lemon, spice, and soft funky yeast. The taste is spicy wheat, hay-like barley, more sour citrus, some mild white pepper, and subtle leafy hops. The carbonation is moderate, the body medium-light in weight, and a bit fizzy. It finishes dry, a grainy, yeasty citrus echo.

Strange to be having this at the onset of winter proper - but it is a decent restrained saison, much like the other in-province offerings of late.

Hazy gold with a thin head that soon diminished to a ring.

Spicy floral smells. A big fruity, barnyard burst up front. Kind of sour followed by a slide down into a spicy dry finish. A lingering tart twist at the end.

Medium light body. Very drinkable. This one was a bit of a surprise. I wasn't expecting the ssours and barnyard to be so prominent here. I would like to give this one another try.

Dirty yellow pour, bordering on cider, with a frothy white head. Decent retention and lace. Spicy wheat aroma, with touches of pineapple and very light funk. Clean flavours. Fruity base, with the pineapple coming through, tart wheat, peppery spice and light funk. Certainly very refreshing, though I would prefer a bit more barnyard. Medium-light, thirst quenching body with a gentle carbonation.

This is a good saison - slightly tarter and less funky, which actually helps to make it a lot more refreshing on this hot summer afternoon.

Thanks to Derek for sharing!

6.3% abv.

A: Hazy, dirty straw, white head, some retention & lace.

S: Spicy, grassy, tropical fruit and hints of barnyard funk.

T: A pleasant tartness that's slightly funky (leathery barnyard), grassy & spicy, light tropical fruit (pineapple & mango), biscuity malt, modest bitterness.

M: Moderate body is smooth with a slight acidity giving it a crisp finish.

D: Very drinkable for its strength.

Thanks to Wildone for this CanBIF treat!

Brewster's Description (from the menu): A summer style brew originally produced in Wallonia, the French speaking part of Belgium and home to the infamous 'Battle of the Bulge'. This beer was traditionally brewed at the end of the cold season to last through the summer months before refrigeration was common. Now it is brewed year round all over the world.

Had a glass of this seasonal at the downtown Calgary location. This poured cloudy, yellow orange with a white head. Decent carbonation, foam quickly shrank, no lace. Yeasty aroma, with banana, clove spice. Flavors of a wit, yeasty and fruit - pineapple seems to stand out. Spiciness comes through nicely. Maybe a bit thin watery body. Well made, no faults.