Saison Special Eindejaar - KleinBrouwerij De Glazen Toren

JimmyTango

California

4.33/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I was a bit skeptical when I saw it listed as an "Imperial" Saison but I was super stoked to find it so well balanced.

Very pretty sunny yellow with some haze but not the cloudiness I associate with some Saisons.

Smells like brown grass on a hot day... a bit sweet and dusty, but fresh and clean. Some lemon in there too.

Tart, but not dominantly. Big hefe grain without too much ripe fruit. Some of the lemon from the nose and good hop flavor with just enough bitterness to clean your palate on the way out.

I think this is a great farmhouse. It has the funk that I hope for from Saison with an added sour flavor that makes you really thirsty for more!

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2011 04:11:14 | More by JimmyTango

PrinceDarren

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

One of the best Saisons I've had.

Lemon floral aroma but not overly citrus.

Liqhtly sweet and zesty taste that is full bodied without being overpowering.

Great mouthfeel. Long, dry finish that is more peppery than sour.

Very well balanced. An excellent, high gravity saison.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2011 19:48:57 | More by PrinceDarren

impending

California

4/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The Trappist. Served in a De Glazen Toren glass. Classic looks, bright hazy summer yellow and a dense pure white head.

Aroma is classic yet restrained saison, the funk while present is tame. Notes both floral and citrus, hoppy funk.

Taste somewhat surprises in that is round and mild. Unfairly I was expecting a more challenging flavor, not one so balanced. Hops contribute significantly to the flavor but little bitters. Aftertaste evaporates fairly quick. Light crisp prickly mouthfeel.
cheers
jd

Serving type: on-tap

06-21-2011 01:04:44 | More by impending

Cozzatoad

Italy

4.4/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle. Had been looking for some De Glazen Toren products for quite a while. When i saw this bottle of Saison D'Erpe Mere at my local beer store i decided to give it a try despite it's surprisingly high price. I realized only later that this was the Special Eindejaar version

A- Hazy golden with a splendid large-bubbled but still dense and frothy head that shows great retention and leaves tons of lacing

S- Not as strong as i expected. Moderately sweet but quite grassy (from the hops) and earthy (yeast?) aroma, with some floral notes and a faint spiciness

T- Perfect balance of sweet malts and grassy bitter hops, which are strong but never get too assertive; A classic earthy saison taste gets bigger than in the aroma and even bigger in the finish. An amazing range of undernotes brings balance and variety: floral notes, pear, lemon, pepper and coriander all show up and they give great complexity to this beer

M- Incredibly smooth and creamy in a big assertive body: somehow this beer feels both strong and delicate. Carbonation is high but never gets too strong, thanks to the everlasting smooth head

O- Despite it's great complexity, drinkability is awesome and the beer has the ability to feel refreshing despite it 9%ABV, which is definitely well hidden

What you would expect in a good saison and still much more than just that. A great beer

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2011 09:05:07 | More by Cozzatoad

clayrock81

Virginia

4/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a cloudy, hazy gold with good head/carbonation and bubbly lace that just clung to the glass. The floral, bitter hops are mixed w/ some nice spices and I also get a touch of sour funk (the brett? as some people say) w/ tart citric fruit. Light and berry like when it first hit my tongue along w/ spices and some funkiness. Goes down smooth although the hops give the mellowness a pronounced edge as I pick up mild flavors of not only tropical or grape and tart cherries but a bitter citric twinge (wouldn't call this beer acidic or anything though). Just a touch of sweet and bready malt round out beer. A real easy to drink beer that shocked me when I actually found out ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

03-30-2011 15:59:07 | More by clayrock81

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Beer Table. This beer caught me a bit off guard, it tastes traditional, or I should say it easily fits within the style, but the feel is light. It almost felt watery, but overall it was still a satisfying beer. There was a herbal mix of lemon and coriander-like Belgian spice - a lovely blend of Euro hops and peppery saison yeast character.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2011 00:54:17 | More by tempest

timtim

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

very nice, and exactly what it promised to be; a bigger, hoppier version of their already fantastic saison. pours a hazy, glowing, white-gold color with a white head that holds and leaves tons of lace. nose is hoppy, herbal and slightly honey-sweet with soft and delicate notes of lemon, citrus, herbs/wildflowers, fruit, honey and spice. taste is all of the above in fantastic balance on a velvety medium body. alcohol is masked extremely well, and this beautiful elixir just slides down all silky like. way too easy to drink for a beer this big, and a real treat to get the year kicked off in proper fashion. this one's a winner.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2011 12:28:10 | More by timtim

libertygrails

Oregon

4.58/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Murky yellow straw. Volumious, creamy, and crystaline bubbled head which quarters very quickly leaving meringue-esque lacing on one of my large Duvel tulips.

Smell: Give it a good swirl and i get a subtle rose-esque floral nose right away with some resiny hops, earthy funk, citrus, fresh grains and gummy bears.

Taste: Creamy with citrus(Ruby Red grapefruit especially), juicy/run down your arm Georgia peach, ETOH(my bottle label says 9%ABV) and fresh sliced pear. Lovely medley of Spring scents and flavors in proto bloom.

Mouthfeel: Very BIG and creamy. Lush.

Drinkability: It's like one foot on the brakes and one on the gas here. So good you can't stop yourself, but you must and slowly savor every delightful sip!

Another welcome addition to Belgian Ales that i will gladly come back to when available in my local bottle shop.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2010 07:05:00 | More by libertygrails

ATPete

New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Paper wrapped and stickered, capped 750ml bottle with a seemingly normal Saison De Erpe label beneath the wrapping, ha.

Pours a cloudy golden/copper color with a large fluffy white head. Some herbal wintergreen notes, a grassy aroma, floral hops, some light lemon skin and a bready yeast character in the nose. Delicate, well hopped and with great balance, very enjoyable and crazy drinkable. Outstanding texture and carbonation, so soft in the mouth. This is a special saison, a must try for fans of the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2010 23:48:15 | More by ATPete

Beerenauslese

California

4.65/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This "special end of the year" beer pours a cloudy honey gold with a gigantic head that stays, leaving copius lacing on the glass. The nose is citrus, spicy, and hoppy. This is one full, buttery, butterskotchy, hoppy, spicy Saison. It has alot going on, yet is wonderfully smooth and well balanced. The mouthfeel is full and creamy, a delight to the tongue. It is a very drinkable, delightful session beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2009 01:57:14 | More by Beerenauslese

marcobrau

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A yeast milkshake, but a good one. Must have been getting down to the bottom of the keg, but still quite good. Lots of citrus notes up front with citrus and perhaps a bit of cassis flavor? Very smooth, almost milky with the quantity of yeast in suspension. Almost cracker-like crisp snap to the finish, peppery bitterness. Very tasty and very rare (apparently.) Served in its own glass.

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2009 03:39:13 | More by marcobrau

Gavage

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served at Max's 72 Hours of Belgium.

Appearance: clear yellow in color with a 1" head that lasts a while. Nice lacing develops on the glass.

Smell: lemon zest, floral hop bitterness, and some yeast are easy to pull from the glass.

Taste: this had a slightly bready profile. Yeast, peppercorns, lemon zest, and some mild alcohol tones are most noticeable. The bitterness is more floral and quite strong for the style.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Crisp to start and lightly crisp and mildly dry at the finish. Aftertaste is very long as the citrus, yeast, and drying hop bitterness lingers on the tongue.

Drinkability: this was easy to consume but more than two or three may be a bit much. I was told this is an end of year saison - I hope to see this again next year.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2009 17:09:32 | More by Gavage