Midwest Saison and Wild Ale Appreciation

Afterthought will also have all three next week

 

Finally got my hands on a few bottles of Sundial - thank you Beer Temple! First up is Table an "ale fermented & aged in oak with our distinctive yeast & dry hopped". This batch (batch #2) is 3.2% ABV.



Batch #2

Pours a cloudy, completely opaque pale orange color. Thick, frothy off-white head builds up on the beer, quickly growing. Once formed, it lingers a moments, then quickly dissolves leaving just a thin layer of foam on top of the beer. Lots of sticky lacing coats the glass as the beer is consumed. Tons of sediment is noted in the bottom of the bottle - highly recommend avoiding pouring that last bit in the glass.

Aroma is pungent and zesty. There are notes of wet horse blanket, oak, chardonnay, lemon zest and lemon pith, and some light grassy, earthy hops.

Taste follows the nose with notes of lemon zest, tart, but not overly sour. Some underlying notes of wheat, grain, earthy dried hops, a touch of wet horse blanket from the yeast and some cracked black pepper. It is good, very nice and flavorful, but you can definitely tell its a table beer coming in at 3.2%.

Feel is light, lively and zesty. Bright, prickly carbonation. Dry finish. Actually kind of refreshing.

Overall this is my first beer from Sundial and you can color me impressed. Very nice saison and one I would happily drink again.

look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25 = 4.24 (rDev +5%)

 

Sundial Brewery & Blending - Table - Chardonnay



Pours a cloudy, matte, completely opaque pale orange-yellow color. Thin frothy white head forms on the beer, lingers just a moment, then quickly dissipates.

The aroma has notes of lemon zest, lemon, chardonnay, chardonnay grapes, oak, some light funkiness and wet blanket followed by a touch of dried hops.

Taste follows the nose with notes of lemon zest, lemon and lemon pith giving way to a moderate amount of funkiness with notes of wet horse blanket and wet straw. Additional notes come through bringing chardonnay, grape must, oak, black pepper, earthy hops and some light lingering yeast notes. The zesty profile of the base Table still comes through, but it is somewhat mellowed by the chardonnay notes which bring their own musty funk.

Feel is light, lively, zesty. Bright, prickly carbonation. Dry finish. Pretty tart, but not really sour.

Overall it is another impressive, tasty saison from Sundial.

look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25 = 4.18 (rDev -0.7%)

 

So two beers in and three to go, I have to say I am impressed with Sundial! Its not Keeping Together, but they seem like they will be a welcome addition to the saison/wild ale brewery lineup in Chicago.

 

That's my @BeerThugLife glass!

 

Popping in to see if this thread is still alive and well ...



Is/Was - Saison de Non-Denomination
Saison de Non-Denomination is a collaboration with our friends at Beer on the Wall. It is a rye saison base that we spiced with some traditional Belgian holiday beer spices including clove, allspice, crystalized ginger, mace, cardamom, and cinnamon.
Pours a cloudy, but not opaque burnished orange color. Thin, spritzy off-white head. Aroma is dominated by spices - loads of ginger, allspice, clove, and cinnamon. The ginger is strong enough to lightly sting the nose.

Taste follows the nose with that ginger dominating the palate along with some allspice, clove, a touch of lemon, orange and general tart citrus. Finish is dry and spicy. Feel is light to medium bodied. Sprightly carbonation. Dry finish.

Overall this a rare miss for me from Is/Was. I usually love their saison's but this one just goes way too hard with the ginger.

look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3 = 3.11 (rDev 0%)