Boson De Higgs - Hopfenstark

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +2.3%
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

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Recently stumbled across my notes from The Festival 2012. Lets do this!

A - Poured a clear golden yellowish hue with a nice solid one finger head. Looks awesome...and then it falls flat.

S - Aromas of smoke, and an almost meaty quality to this. I get faint saison notes. I'm told this is a hybrid with rachbier aspects...definitely getting that, and not digging it.

T - Taste is more of that smoke, with like meaty tones and faint spice notes. I can see what they were going for here, but for me the characteristics just don't jive.

M - Mouthfeel is more spot on, light and crisp.

O - Overall yeah, this one just didnt work for me. Smokey, meaty berliner..uhh, pass.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 15:51:39 | More by rudzud

SpeedwayJim

New York

4.03/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to oldp0rt for this one. 750ml bottle poured into a Brooklyn Brewery snifter. This one's described as a Berliner Weisse - rauchbier - saison... I'm giddy at the thought of the flavor possibilities!

Pours a layer of course white bubbles the dissipates quickly. Beer is a semi-cloudy pale grapefruit. No lace with very thin legs. Average.

Nose is actually a nice combination of the 3 styles. Some peppercorn and other spices mixed with a healthy dose of smoke that's not overpowering. Berliner weisse lactic tartness hides in the back though and is very faint. Decent.

Opens saison yeast, coriander, clove, and spiciness. Some maple and smoke in the middle with just the slightest touch of tartness mixed in towards the end. Finish is bready, spicy, and yeasty with a mellow malt presence. Aftertaste of more clove and other spices. Huge complexity without being over-the-top.

Light bodied with moderate to ample carbonation. Slightly prickly but pretty soft in the mouth and goes down quenching and smooth. Finishes clean and spicy with a slightly lingering aftertaste. Really really drinkable.

I'm not really sure what to make of this beer but it sure is unique, complex and drinkable. Probably one of the most sessionable beers I've ever come across, this really takes the best of the 3 styles that guides it and combines them into 1 wonderful experience. The only thing holding it back from being a 5 is the lack of any real noticeable tartness. Really pretty under-the-radar. Worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2013 01:44:37 | More by SpeedwayJim

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

The label on this one states two things, of note. First, that it's a Berliner Rauch Saison. Second, that the beer doesn't fit into any category. The latter very much rings true.

The smoke is certainly here, but it does mesh with all the other things going on without hijacking the ride. And what else is going on is mostly the Berliner Weisse edge. Lemony tartness with a fairly biting acidity. Saison tones barely seem to show much, and the earthy sweet character that does show peeks out for only a second and then is gone.

Glad I got to try this beer. A very well executed hybrid that I doubt I will see pulled off as well by anyone else, let alone attempted.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 03:07:31 | More by RblWthACoz

Whatup14

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev +1.5%

04-17-2013 14:18:43 | More by Whatup14

stakem

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.5%
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

LarryAppleton

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

04-07-2013 02:31:50 | More by LarryAppleton

merc7186

New York

3.31/5  rDev -16%
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

kaelingirl

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

04-04-2013 00:25:47 | More by kaelingirl

JAHMUR

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +1.5%

03-28-2013 18:07:09 | More by JAHMUR

hopley

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

03-18-2013 01:26:56 | More by hopley

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

03-13-2013 05:26:14 | More by Zachtheporter

THECPJ

Delaware

4/5  rDev +1.5%

03-12-2013 03:34:09 | More by THECPJ

RedneckBeerz

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

02-28-2013 22:42:04 | More by RedneckBeerz

chefelf

New York

4/5  rDev +1.5%

02-22-2013 12:20:44 | More by chefelf

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +6.1%
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

KMcG

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

11-12-2012 02:50:52 | More by KMcG

Soneast

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

10-22-2012 00:25:18 | More by Soneast

ZorPrime

Quebec (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +2.3%
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 +15.5%
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 -28.9%
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 -23.9%
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

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +2.3%
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 +4.8%
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

chickenm

British Columbia (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

06-23-2012 02:33:19 | More by chickenm