Colette Farmhouse Ale - Great Divide Brewing Company

BeerWizard

Colorado

4.24/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I got burnt out on this last year but am glad I went back this year - this stuff is great. Poured into a goblet from a bottle. The bottle is a cheeful yellow color, that for the most part matches the color of the ale. Thin head, translucent, very fine bubbles.

The nose is nice and crisp; apples, yeast, alcohol, and like a faint raisin or fig aroma. The flavor is nice, too, champagne-y and almost like a cider. There's some tart sweetness and the alcohol gives it some good backing. The mouthfeel is nice and the finish breaks off clean for the most part. It almost has this lingering, woody finish, but it's not barrelled as far as I know so I don't know where I'm getting that from.

Overall, pretty psyched to have this one again. This is a real nice one from Great Divide.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 01:03:42 | More by BeerWizard

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.24/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Duvel tulip glass. Bottling date of Feb 07, 2013.

Appearance: Pours a very hazy yellowish golden orange with a moderate amount of bubbles. Solid two fingers of white head that fade into a thin patchy layer. Leaves a good amount of lacing.

Smell: A wheat driven and funky aroma with lots of Belgian yeast and spices. Belgian yeast upfront with barnyard funk and big hints of clove, white pepper, and coriander. Bready malt with big hints of wheat along with some biscuit, hay, grain, and cracker. Fruit hints of banana and apple along with citrus orange, pineapple, and lemon. Some candied sugar. Earthy hop hints of grass. A pretty nice smell.

Taste: Like its smells, yeasty and spicy with funk and some fairly tart fruit notes. Belgian yeast along with some barnyard funk upfront. Spice notes of clove, white pepper, and coriander. Light notes of candied sugar. Bready wheat and malt notes of biscuit, hay, grains, and cracker. Fruity taste of apple and banana. Citrus fruit notes of orange, pineapple, mango, and lemon. Fruit taste is fairly tart and dry. Some earthy and grassy hop notes in the background. A good Belgian style taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a medium to high level of carbonation. Crisp, spicy, and fairly tart and drying. Tingles the tongue.

Overall: A pretty nice take on the Saison style. Good use of spices and yeast. On the tarter side but good.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 06:11:18 | More by MattyG85

nicholasdes

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This was my first Saison. I did not know what to expect from the style. Barnyard sounds tough to handle.

A: crystal clean straw color with light white head and lot of bubbles

N: The aromas coming off this beer are heavy and intense. Lots of hay with leather, light fruit, green apple and the tang of alcohol.

T: Full flavor with lite wheat flavor and hints of Belgium yeast. Crisp with hay and fruitiness. Very good.

M: fresh and crisp and lite on the tongue. The carbonation gives it a full mouthfeel, but not heavy.

D: I really liked this and could easily have a few. The crispness gives a refreshing feel that makes it easy to keep drinking it.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2009 04:17:13 | More by nicholasdes

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bottled Feb 18 2010

A - First off I am impressed by the mild lacing and heavy carbonation of this beer. Pours a hazy yellow with a half inch of head.

S - Slight funk with lemon and mild wheat backbone. Maybe smells a bit of apples which means the yeast has done it's job.

T - Ow wow pretty damn good. Starts off yeasty with a mild apple or pear taste and leads to a clean semi bitter finish but fruity. I don't know how but I liked it better than Hennepin since it seems just as flavorful with less ABV.

M - Clean and crisp almost effervescent.

D - Well I have two more and plan to have one more now but damn this is the best drinkable Saison I ever had. I hope the same with age...

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2010 08:16:18 | More by DrDemento456

womencantsail

California

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: The pour is a fairly clear straw color with a massive white head that eventually settles down.

S: Quite a lot of fruity esters to the aroma. Heavy on the banana and pear notes, but lots of citrus going on, too. There is a touch of tart apple and lemon peel and some light malt and straw. Very nice.

T: The flavor is somewhat light, but in a good/refreshing way. Banana sweetness followed by sweet pears. A touch of citrus peel bitterness, yeast, and light spices. A little bit of bready malt sweetness, too.

M: Medium bodied with medium to high carbonation and a crispness to the finish.

O: A really great saison. I found this to be a fantastic beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2011 04:52:21 | More by womencantsail

Arithmeticus

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured chilled in flared ale glass

A: cloudy, pale yellow; fantastic carbonation; big head that dissipates quickly; no lacing
S: lemon, lime, citrus; sweet; bottle conditioning prominent
T: fantastic Belgian-style ale; tar, hefty flavor; wheat and pear prominent; hopping is understated

This is a really solid, flavorful farmhouse alee

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 23:48:44 | More by Arithmeticus

Yokoono76

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A: slightly cloudy light golden color, head only 1 finger and left quickly.

S: initially it's light and slightly yeasty, the aroma warms up after half a glass and subtle notes of coriander and wheat appear.

T: clean, crisp, creamy light aftertaste, light notes of fruit, fresh cut wheat and subtle spice, definitely fits the style of beer.

M: light and very smooth, "dances on the tongue"

O: it's a great beer, refreshing, light citrus and spice, fresh wheat... Takes me to a summer BBQ with bright blue skies, cool breeze and wheat fields. Lovely, fresh, light, kitchen, gingham red and white, summer breeze, swinging on a tire swing great feeling... Very pleased with this beer!

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 17:27:35 | More by Yokoono76

ummswimmin

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I have had this beer when fresh and with about a month of aging. The saison characteristics actually kicked in more with the one month of aging. It was almost like getting an assortment pack.

The beer pours very light yellow and the head settles in nice pillows of foam with time. I pick up light grassiness and some hopping.

The subtle flavors and smooth after-taste makes for a very nice summery flavor. It was very refreshing to take this in on a summer afternoon.

This is my favorite summer beer so far. I look forward to my next bottle of this excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2011 01:13:48 | More by ummswimmin

BBP

Ontario (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours pale yellow with a nice head and nice lacing.

The aroma is fairly sweet, and somewhat fruity in the front. It's considerably funky as well and smells a little bit spicy.

The taste is pretty nice. It's got some funky character in the front and some subtle spice that enhances the flavor without being overpowering by any means. Sweet, but not overly so. Some hop bitterness works well with the sweetness, and the malt bill adds nice character too. It's a little messy when it's cold, but really shines as it warms up.

The body is moderately full, and has medium weight to it. The finish is fairly dry and slightly sticky. I found the carbonation a little overaggressive though. Not a big issue, but the biggest issue I think this beer has.

Overall, I'm glad to have finally found this. To think it was in the store I frequent most just being hidden in the back of the cooler. After a year or so, it's drinking nice. I haven't had the fresh, or any really old stuff, but I'd imagine that it's only going to get better.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 17:21:03 | More by BBP

nhindian

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into a Fantome tulip.

Bottled on April 8, 2010, I was a bit hesitant about the age, but the only bottles there were from this batch and figured I'd take the risk.

A - Pours an interestingly murky and cloudy goldenrod with geysers of carbonation springing up everywhere. The head is huge, about 3.5-finger's worth, and incredibly rocky. The terrain is all over the place with peaks and valleys. Retention is superb as well with such active carbonation. Given the head, I was expecting a coating of lacing, but it still put up two nice walls.

S - The nose is rich in orange peel, lemony zest, bready yeast and pepper. Freshly mowed grass and ploughed hay really complete the barnyard image. Light and citric, it can easily be smelled as it rests on the table beside me.

T - The taste follows the nose almost identically. The front of the taste brings fresh, ripe, and juicy oranges and lemons. The grass and peppers follow to help tame these flavors and move it towards a more dry, crisp finish. The back-end is nice and spicy, and the finish is a nice blend of citrus and spice.

M - Mouthfeel is light and pops with carbonation. Overall crisp and dry due to the finish, it leaves a nice taste in the mouth and invites me to drink more and more.

D - Drinkability is high. There is no trace of the 7.3% alcohol in this beer and the flavors remain fresh and vibrant throughout the whole glass. It's almost like drinking a highly carbonated juice, in the best way possible.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2010 20:31:55 | More by nhindian

DoubleJ

California

4.3/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Let's get drunk, responsibly. A little pick-me-up beer from Great Divide, coming in the 12 ounce bottle format. On to the beer:

That look said "drink me". It's golden straw in color, brilliant, and filled with lively bubbles. Thick creamy lacing around the glass helps too. The head on top is semi-soapy, yet it firm and retaining itself very well. The aroma is soft, and, well, funky. There's a slightly fruity aroma, some barnyard, and cider.

I think we have a winner. Not too funky, generally sweeter than the usual saison, bubblegum, cidery sweet. All the different characteristics deliver to make a beer that is surprisingly balanced. It also has some rustic character, and the beer finishes with a dry sweetness. It's medium bodied, "bubbly smooth", and it is very easy to drink despite the strength.

Simply refreshing, and simply a delight. I knew Colette would be a reasonable choice for this late afternoon, but I didn't expect it to be so easy. It looks that Great Divide can also do that Belgian thing too.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 22:19:19 | More by DoubleJ

garymuchow

Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A touch of age, but at 7.2% this should be fine, just not ass-kicking fresh. Poured into my Reidel pils beer glass - a current favorite - allow great catching of aroma.
Aroma is a little tart, a little sour, touch of citrus and little funk. Doesn't seem to stray too far from that - a little soft pale male.
Cloudy yellow with a big billowing head.
Starts with a nice bready malt and that moves nicely into the yeast character. Nice blending with overpowering or preventing the enjoyment of the nice complicity. Quite shot of warm in the gut. Well balanced lactic. The finish is really nice. Drying without astringency and leaving all sorts of enjoyable flavors.
Really smooth feel even without a real heavy body and very soft.
This is really nice. The blending is outstanding. I've had some that are fruitier, and I like those too, but this one shines for its complexity and blending of flavors.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 19:07:38 | More by garymuchow

HookedOnWinter

Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at Great Divide

From the day Great Divide tapped the Saison, I've had 2-3 a week. It's a great beer that's fun to drink, and it's refreshing enough that I like having more than one in a row. It's got a little citrus / sour taste to it, with some great carbonation and a beautiful color. Overall, a great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2009 19:12:37 | More by HookedOnWinter

ktrillionaire

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

12oz bottle, labeled 'Colette', not 'Saison'.

Bottled on: March 10, 2010

G - Delirium tulip

A - Pours a nearly schoolbus yellow and it is quite hazy (perhaps that is due to the motorcycle ride I just put it through), with a big white head, albeit short-lived. No real lace or retention.

S - A little hay funk, a little citrus-lemon, some bread, earthy mustiness and lightly herbal hop round out the aromatics of the tightly crafted brew.

T - This is a pretty damn good beer. I am surprised, honestly, by how good. Really close to spot-on for the (Saison Du Pont-esque) style. The flavor is initially a deft balance of bready Bohemian malt, subtle herbal hop and basement-barnyard funk; as it progresses, nuances of lemon, kaffir, jasmine, gardenia, celery-coriander and sweet lime become available. Very well-hidden alcohol.

M - Very light and refreshing, despite having reasonably full flavors.

D - It is the first hot day of the year here in Florida, and damn this is a refreshing brew. I see previous reviewers are less impressed; I am not sure what to chalk that up to.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2010 21:49:10 | More by ktrillionaire

sitarist

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled APR 15 2009.

Pours yeast infection piss yellow, golden yellow with lots of suspended chunks of sediment. About a half inch of white head made of loose bubbles that fall quickly to a light top coating. No lacing.

It smells like a lemon-poppy muffin. The aromas are mellow, not all in my face. I dont smell any funk.

It is sweet and tart. I taste banana, lemonheads, pineapple upside down cake, sweet-bread, some pepper, and some sexy funk too. Nice balance of sweet, sour, and spice.

The mouthfeel is good to me. Its not too dry, has nice body, it has a slight bite from the carbonation, and a little heat.

I could drink it till I pass out!!!

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2010 02:12:41 | More by sitarist

Bizz88

Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a light hazy golden amber with a creamy two fingered fluffy head with patchy sticky lacing throughout the glass. Spicy citrus aromas with yeasty bread hints. Holy smokes, tantilized and caressed both palette and tongue this farmhouse wench, bubbly with a certain sassy spiceness, Colette, Yeah! Two thumbs up!

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2010 23:02:58 | More by Bizz88

wvsabbath

West Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Serving Type - Bottle

Appearance - Light golden yellow, fizzy, foamy white 1 inch head, carbination bubbles, and some lacing.

Smell - Yeasty floral, grassy, grainy, lemon, honey, floral fruits, apples, grapes.

Taste - Floral fruits with huge lemon and grape flavor. Has a alcohol ting mixed along with grapes, yeast and sugars. Has the classic grassy farmhouse ale flavor, almost sweet bubblegum like. Honey comes in at the end to mellow the sour fruits down.

Mouthfeel - Its light on tounge, coats it with fruits, sugars and such. Palette gets more fruits, lemon and honey, along with some yeast and alcohol. Aftertaste is dry, sour and bitter.

Overall - Very well done, lots of fruits and sugars, and a little alcohol. Smooth, easy to drink and a pleasure to drink. Excellent springtime ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 00:20:24 | More by wvsabbath

DavidST

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a tulip glass, bottled on March 23, 2012. This pours a hazy straw light yellow color with a short lived off white head which quickly dissipates. The smells are nice lots of sweet yeast esters, a little funk, some earthy tones, good stuff. The feel is medium high carbonation. The taste is great nice fruit yeast esters a dry finish some earthy flavors good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 02:44:58 | More by DavidST

Beer4Baltimore

Maryland

4.38/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

- from notes
A light yellow saison that pours clear to cloudy depending on if the bottle is disturbed. Crisp carbonation apparent. Smells grassy, sweet, and like lemon. Sharp tangy mouthfeel with lots of bubbly drinkability. Tastes is addicting with smooth tarty flavor up front and mellow spice at the back.
Definitely one of my favorites.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2011 00:54:04 | More by Beer4Baltimore

pumptrick

California

4.38/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured Into my globe on a recent camping trip and it was my first beer of the day. I bought it on a whim. I generally dislike sour or belgian.
Looks strawyellow and cloudy
Smells lemon hay I guess the funk everyone is talking about
Taste lemon earth funk sour
Mouthfeel great for a hot day

Blew me away. I was expecting to hate another beer and loved it. Will buy again.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2011 03:26:05 | More by pumptrick

BeerAmbassador

Arizona

4.38/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a nice fluffy tall head that dissipates a little quicker than I expected. Color is hazy yellow. Aroma definitely lemon, but a little sweeter, like lemon curd. I also got some toasted grain and a nice yeastiness. Flavor echos the aroma but with a tartness that you wouldn't necessarily get from another saison such as Saison Dupont. The tartness allows you to come back for more without wearing on your palate.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2011 04:54:04 | More by BeerAmbassador

KansasBeerLover

Kansas

4.38/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce bottle poured into a Sam Adams glass.

Color is a very pale wheat. Cloudy from the yeast, which I wasn't able to keep in the bottle.

Head was about one finger, fine bubbles, leaves some lacing. Continued effervescence, which maintains a thin layer of foam.

Aroma is yeast, which overpowers the spice in the background.

Flavor is similar to a white wheat with spices. Not sweet, by any means. Also a hint of lemon.

Mouthfeel is smooth. A touch of alcohol in the back, fruity in the front. Very interesting and pleasant. I look forward to another glass.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2011 19:44:19 | More by KansasBeerLover

ixodus

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a hazy straw color with a tall white head. Retention is moderate with small spotted lacing

S: Orange peel, coriander, lemon rind, biscuits, mild funk, and a dash of pepper. Quite fruity.

T: Fruity upfront orange, apricot, clementine, and lemon. Cracker like malt lends a nice backbone and is complemented with a bit of pepper. Has a very slight medicinal taste to it.

M: Light with moderate carbonation and a nice sweet finish.

O: Overall I love this beer. I can crush a six pack in a matter of minutes. It's ridiculously drinkable and refreshing but in the end it'll get you drunk if you pound it back like I do.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 23:01:19 | More by ixodus

Immortale25

Florida

4.38/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a Shiner Bock pint glass. Label says bottled on: MAR 05 2012

A- Pours a hazy yellow color with a 1/4 inch head that immediately dissipates to a paper-thin ring around the edge of the glass and a small patch of surface foam. Nearly no lacing.

S- Rich, vibrant yeast aroma that's crisp and refreshing. Also quite citrusy.

T- Quintessential saison flavor with plenty of bubble gum and banana notes from the yeast as well as some wheat and a bit of spice. Also hints of lemon and sulfur.

M- Thin and a bit dry. Medium-low carbonation with a soft body and some yeast tang.

O- The first saison to make me realize I love the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 01:06:10 | More by Immortale25

JSisk

Alabama

4.38/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I am not as well versed as many of the other reviewers on here or as knowledgeable but I know what I like and I like this beer. The smell is fantastic. The taste is complex but not to the point where one flavor overwhelms the others. I highly recommend this beer to people who are fans of saisons or Belgian farmhouse beers. Great Divide seldom disappoints and this beer is one of their finest.

Enjoy it with some spicy Mexican food!

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 01:36:44 | More by JSisk