Boson De Higgs - Hopfenstark

stakem

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks to eagles22 for sharing this long-time berliner want of mine. (Well actually more of a Lichtenhainer than berliner but still a want of mine nonetheless.)

Poured from a bomber into an oversized wine glass. The brew appears a hazed golden yellow color. Some white spotty lace sticks to the glass and a thin film of white head persists across the top supported by rising bubbles of carbonation.

The aromatics contain plenty of saison yeast spice character coming across like clove. Some fruity hints of pear and apple solidify that saison sort of feel. A light smoke inclusion is present that increases in character as it warms along with hints of lemon and earth.

The flavor is mildly fruity with sweet hints of grainy wheat character. Some lemon fruity essence and saison yeasty spice of clove blends into a background note of beefy smoke. What a strange mixture of flavors but not being a rookie to the Lichtenhainer style, I knew what to expect. The amount of saison yeast impact was however surprisingly bold.

This is a light bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. It is an easy drinking and perplexing but enjoyable brew. I would have liked to seen more berliner impact overall in this but instead it was more if a mild smoked saison. Not bad, but also not the brew I thought it was going to be.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 17:06:13 | More by stakem

merc7186

New York

3.31/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Bomber into snifter glass.

A: Golden Straw Hue, Passes Lots of Light, White Head Ring, Mild Lacing

S: Pepperidge Farm Summer Sausage, Mild Smoke

T: Smoke, Sausage

M: Average Carbonation, Light to Medium Bodied, Mildly Smokey

Overall, didnt really get the berliner or even the saison, but definitely if you liked smoked sausage, then youll love this.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 02:12:15 | More by merc7186

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle poured into tulip 10/30/12 thanks unibroue4ever, from notes

A clear golden yellow with loads of tiny bubbles but the 2 fingers of bone white foam is a little noisy as it falls in seconds leaving no lace, a dirty glass?

S campfire clothing the day after with a nice farmhouse profile shining through the smoke, bubblegum and a little spice mix well with some dry cereal and white fleshed fruit, a very interesting mix and at 3.8% I'm very impressed

T the smokes a little toned down but still in charge, everything I smells still just blended together and a little harder to distinguish, very nice but the nose has more intensity

M fairly light bodied with the tiny bubbles working well for it, a little slick and a smoked apple finish

O very impressive considering its only 3.8%, big smell, tastes good unique brew and the 750ml was no issue solo, well done Hopfenstark

I'm glad I wasn't the first to review this one because I couldn't pick a style. I could drink this again for sure, cheers Yannick for the chance

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 06:47:34 | More by wordemupg

ZorPrime

Quebec (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Finally was able to get my hands on this one.

Pale yellow in color. A very light veil. The head is white and disappear very quickly. Little effervescence. The aroma is citrusy with some sourness in there. Taste is also sour with citrus. Fruity. Mouthfeel is good with some effervescence. A dry finish.

Funny thing is the smokiness... Makes it unique. It's very good. The smokiness is present in the taste only, I can't get it in the aroma.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 14:09:57 | More by ZorPrime

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.55/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

More of an historic farmhouse ale than a berliner.

Hazy straw colour; light smoke in the aroma with a hint of funk.

Incredible depth of flavour for only 3.8% abv. Light smoke, hint of leathery funk, tropical fruit and phenolic spice wih some wheaty biscuit.

Light to moderate mouthfeel with very little acidity.

This is art... and very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 03:17:31 | More by Derek

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

2.8/5  rDev -29.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

Shared generously by Rutager.

A: Cloudy straw liquid with minimal white head.

S: Coriander, grass, earthy hops and smoke.

T: Smoke, lemon, moss, and funk reminiscent of sweaty socks.

M: Medium viscosity and carbonation.

O: The combination of bitterness, smoke and sweaty funk did not make this a drinkable beer for me at all. Drain pour.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 06:30:02 | More by DaftCaskBC

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

3/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Thanks for another big box of Quebec, Deadbolt82!
Shared with Daftcaskbc. I bust out my a-game for him, and he pours it down the drain!! ;-)

Appearance. Pours a hazy yellow straw with just a skim of white head.

Smell. Belgian yeast and light spice, some bright and sour light fruits, lightly earthy and a bit of alcohol. Couldn't pick up any smoke...

Taste. Sour grainy wheat, sweet spices, lemons and funky sweat.

Mouthfeel. Light body with a medium amount of fine carbonation.

Overall. The sour component was about all I enjoyed in this one. The flavours were a little strange and didn't work very well together for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 00:50:47 | More by Rutager

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy blonde colour, ring of white head, good retention and solid lacing. Smell is yeasty and lemony, some citrus fruit, a good dose of malt as well, very subtle smokey notes as well. Taste tart and acidic, lemon and citrus followed by a big smokey flavour, hickory and BBQ before finishing with a malty lemon flavour. Lightly carbonated, medium weight and feel. This is one hell of an interesting beer, lots going on and quite complex but it all comes across so simple, had more than one pour of this, really good stuff here.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2012 12:04:21 | More by peensteen

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer is cloudy yellow. Big white head. Excellent retention, very good lacing.

Smell contains wheat, light fruit, strawberry. A bit tart, some lacto noticeable.

Taste contains wheat, coriander, clove, lemon. A bit of tartness, not a lot. Lactobacillus- strawberry. Crisp. I don't get the smoke that apparently is there.

Light bodied, moderate carbonation. Very refreshing. Good.

Overall, very nice. Great on a hot day.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2012 02:26:31 | More by jrenihan

papat444

Quebec (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750ml. bottle (bottled 04/12) and shared with my wife.

Appearance: A good sized head but it rapidly dissipates to nothing. The body is gorgeous, hazy and looks like pulpy lemonade but with a pronounced banana color.

Smell: Tinge of smoke mixed with yeast. Citrus fruit is also strong.

Taste: Not much smoke, more sour citrus, peaches, strong wheat profile and some pepper.

Mouthfeel: Low carbonation works well here. The body has some legs for a less than 4% beer.

Overall: Proof that a light beer can still be packed with flavor. Very refreshing and a pleasure to drink.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 20:11:03 | More by papat444

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml Bottle

Appearance - Yellow.amber colour with a small white fizzy head. There appears to be an average amount of carbonation and there is some faint lacing. The head lasted for 3 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Smoke, straw/hay, yeast

Taste & Mouth - There is a below average amount of carbonation and I can taste hay/straw, yeast, and smoke. There is also a bit of a tart citrus flavour. It ends with a smokey slightly tart aftertaste.

Overall - Can't say I've ever had a beer quite like this one, so points for originality. The flavours seemed odd at first, but I actually began to enjoy it more as I progressed through the glass. The smoke doesn't overpower the other flavours in the beer which is nice.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 14:06:34 | More by spinrsx

oline73

Maryland

3.95/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this on-tap at Max's during Baltimore Beer Week. Served in a sample glass.

Appearance: Pours a very light amber color with thick off white head that leaves a ring around the edge of the glass.

Smell: Light but very smokey. Herbal and bit tart. Some sweet malt.

Taste: Very light but there is a lot of smoke. I was very interested when I read the description and I have to say this really works. Light malt with herbal and citrus notes. A bit yeasty in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Thin body with smooth and tingly carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: I was very excited by how well this worked. So light yet so smokey. I would love to have another.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2011 21:36:15 | More by oline73

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from freud, shared with Steve and Jason. 750ml bottle into some tulips. Thanks Fred!

Pours an extremely pale hay yellow, foggy body. Massive white head that's rocky and almost Duvel-like. Awesome. Head is sticky and doesn't seem to fail throughout the duration of the glass. Nose is sour lemon, some funk and wheat. Huge WTF-notes of maple bacon and barbecue sauce as well. Truly intriguing. Taste holds more light lemon and wheat notes, with a predominant smoked pork/meat aspect. More maple and green apple notes complement this. One of the weirdest combos I've ever found in a beer, and it works surprisingly well. Mouthfeel is very light and spritzy, mildly tart. Smooth, yet oh so poundable. Chockful of flavour at only 3.8%; fantastic, original and well executed. A big surprise and one of the nights highlights.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 16:44:10 | More by liamt07

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft: Poured a murky yellow color ale with a large foamy head with good retention and some good lacing. Aroma of light smoke with light funky notes is quite unique. Taste is also a complex mix between some smoked corn (?) and light funky yeast ester with lightly refreshing wheat malt. Body is full with limited filtration and good carbonation. Very well brewed with lots of complexity while retaining low alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2011 19:22:07 | More by Phyl21ca

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

SO much flavour at 3.8%, enjoyed on tap at Mondiale 2011. Big smoke yet pleasant, sweetish and medium moutheel. Hops right there,pilsner, saison yeast yields some yeasty flavour, unfiltered on tap version. A small head. I would have this frequently if I could.Only a little head.
Had in bottle 2 months alter, complex with character of smoke, yeast.

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2011 16:28:34 | More by northyorksammy

grub

Ontario (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

got this one in a recent trade with freud. thanks fred!

750ml bottle... or at least it was. approximately half leaked in transit. the other half still had surprisingly lively carbonation, especially considering it's been sitting in my fridge for a week or two in that half-empty state! sampled june 5/2011.

pours hazy deep yellow with a small cap of nice white head. the head drops quickly and leaves no lace.

aroma is neat. a bit of lemony citrus. light funk and spice. touch of smoke. white bread and cracker. touch of grain. faint caramel. no noticeable hop presence so far.

taste is good. one of the previous reviews mentions this as being a hybrid between berliner weisse, rauchbier, and saison, and i'd have to say that it matches up perfectly. light lemony character, more subdued than in a typical berliner. pleasant smokey character that meshes well with the berliner elements. slightly bright and funky saison aspects. white bread and cracker. bit of grain. light caramel sweetness. low bitterness level. no trace of alcohol. not much for hop character either, but that is expected with at least two of the three threads anyway. actually, there's some mellow citrus in there (orange and tangerine) that could be derived from hops.

mouthfeel is good. nice light body. quickly drops to medium-low carbonation level, but that could be partly due to the leakage.

drinkability is good. nice balance. good blend of the various elements, working quite well together. hopfenstark rarely makes things that are "typical", but they also seldom disappoint. good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2011 22:27:23 | More by grub

metter98

New York

3.88/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is hazy dark brownish amber in color and poured with a thin off white head that died down and left lacing covering the surface.
S: There are light aromas of roasted malts in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell but a bit more complex with some hints of malty sweetness, apple and vinegar.
M: It feels light-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is surprisingly full flavored considering its light body and low alcohol content, which makes it especially interesting to drink, however the smokiness can be an acquired taste. It is a very unique hybrid of several styles of beer.

Note: Had this beer on-tap one month later and it appeared hazy light yellow in color and tasted somewhat more smokier compared to before.

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2011 00:35:23 | More by metter98

dragonWhale

New York

3.88/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Rattle N Hum..As mentioned, supposedly a hybrid rauchbier, saison, and berliner weiss. It is brown with red highlights at the edges. Lemons and smoke, sour apples, sweet and complex. A little roast and chocolate, a touch of citrus. A wild combination of flavors that just works together. Very interesting brew. I like the thought from the previous review that this is a beer meant for food. I'd love to have it with these porkchops I'm about to cook up. I think it would make for a fine pairing.

Serving type: on-tap

05-22-2011 06:22:11 | More by dragonWhale

rtepiak

Poland

4.28/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

thank you flipper2gv for this interesting find.

this is a tough one to categorize. its supposedly a hybrid beer between a berliner weisse, rauchbier, and saison. and in my opinion one of the most interesting table beers i've ever had.

with that said i warn you. this is a beer meant for food. its not something that will quench a craving but accompany something... in my case... korean pork belly soup. and it was perfect. smokey meat... a tad pickled... a tad zesty.

there are notes of all three styles down to the rather intricate palate. pour is a beige hint on a rather cloudy yellow. a nice big head of about 3 fingers. it looks like a voluminous saison... so i think grain make up is something of a wheat heavy saison. nose is very subtlie hints of smoke of beechwood, with a equal part grain and hay quality. the saison comes in with the hay give off a slight hint of chevre and apple blossom. palate is a berliner wiesse apple sweet/sour and a quickly drying hint of smoke. very mineral dry to cut the sweetness. either way the mineral make up and PH of this beer is just right... and offers a surprisingly broad palate. hints of apple cider vinegar, straw crisp meatiness and subtle grassy bitter of rind. fantastic food buddy.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2011 00:49:41 | More by rtepiak