A Salute to Saisons! (2022)

It's been a minute since I posted here, but I got my hands on some beers from a new Chicagoland brewery called Sundial Brewery & Blending. Their first release was in April of this year. They are focusing on saisons and blended spon beers amongst some others. This is Table an "Table Saison was fermented and aged in oak barrels, blended from one California Cabernet Sauvignon barrel & one neutral oak whiskey barrel. After blending it was 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%)