Chop´Tank'd Saison
The Brewer's Art

 

Had at The Brewer's Art. Light (in a good way) and quite grassy and buttery, with a little bit of spice. A wonderful summertime beer that fits well with a warm Maryland evening.

 

From the can, it pours a hazy light amber with a modest head. The head lasts a bit, leaving some lacing. The nose gets some wheat and something else, not quite discernible. Flavor is pleasant and inviting. Nice!

Incredibly pale and clear golden color. Pours a big white head, coarse bubbled and with medium retention.

A bit of peppery spice in the aroma, hints of coriander and a soft citrus sweetness. No hops.

Bit of a bubblegum kind of character at first sip, a bit sweet in an unpleasant way. Some hints of pepper and spice, but less pronounced than in the aroma. A gentle orange flavor carries into the finish, somewhat sweet.

Light-medium body, and medium-high carbonation. Definitely a light and refreshing beer on the palate.

Just a little too sweet overall, which is surprising given the small ABV. Slightly drier finish and/or more bitterness would provide a bit more balance. Very drinkable as is, just not all that it could be as a small saison.

Poured from a can into a pint glass. Pours transparent straw with transparent carbonation, and with a small white head that dissipates very quickly. Smells of wheat and sweet grain, very inviting. Tastes of wheat and sweet grain, nice balance and not too sweet. Beer is light bodied and very easy drinking, heavily carbonated. Overall, an above average beer.

 

 

 

 

 

Listed at the brewery as 3.8% ABV, but then on the can it says 4.0%.

Although I'd never heard of them until moving here, The Brewer's art is one of Baltimore's most venerable and respected breweries. Their beers are lightweight and Belgian inspired, and they've been making them for long enough that they don't bother to chase trends too heavily.

ChopTank'd is presented as sort of a fruity, spicy table beer: low strength, but high flavor. It pours a bright, cloudy yellow with a tight white head with good retention. The aroma is lemony mixed with some peppry, with the spice nodes coming from the yeast. As it warms a bit, some sharp pengs of rye poke through the sweet spice, making for a complex but delicate boquet.

The flavor doesn't come together quite so well as the aroma, but it's still impressive for the beer's size. Creamy lemon starts things off, moving into a middle that's a combination of spice and generic citrus, and finishing with grapefruit and flowers. A very summery brew, indeed.

 

 

Sample at Industry Night at HomeBrewCon.
Slightly hazy deep straw color with a bubbly white head.
Very floral, spicy with a cereal graininess to it. Decent.