Tis the Saison: Firestone Walker's Opal Dry Hopped Saison | 7.5%

Ah Saisons, the Anthropologie of beer. The biére de garde is maybe the most logical style of vintagey European brew to experience a renaissance in California wine country. This particular Wallonian saison tastes of spicy, earthy noble hops to me but at a very mellow 35 ABV it’s much more fragrant than it is bitter.

This saison has citrusy and tropical esters, complex flavors and aroma of Belgian saison yeast and a fresh finish. Conspicuous phenolic flavors, which are considered an off flavor in most styles, seems to have gone a bit out of vogue so I always appreciate a touch of spicy notes in a saison.

This bottle conditioned brew has high carbonation but modest head retention. The farmhouse/barn flavors are apparent but don’t taste like a cellar floor. The malt profile didn’t stand out for me but was vaguely toasty.

The constituent notes in this beer would actually make a scrumptious perfume. But like a small-batch, locavore boutique perfume not a Tom Ford one.

Presentation:

• in an imperfect but rustic hand-spun glass,

• under a sky of auspicious stars and not a trace of light pollution,

• in the home section of Anthropologie.

Pairing:

• measurelsss fields of billowing wheat in every direction,

• a white horse with piercing, sombre, almost human-like eyes.

• Just kidding, you're a Belgian serf - return to your manure pile at once.

#hops #summer #Review #saison