Colette Farmhouse Ale - Great Divide Brewing Company

yamar68

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle to tulip. Bottle date 3/1/12:

Pours a hazy pear gold with a lively, noisy few fingers of white head. Plenty of beading, lacing is rather weak.

Super estery... wet grass, white grapes, black pepper, lemon zest... pretty inviting.

The taste offers a lot of the same dynamics as the nose with the addition of some milder sweet malts. Green apple, more grapes.

Smoother than some low ABV saisons I've had. Can't complain there.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 23:20:42 | More by yamar68

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served from tap into a Trappe Door tulip. Poured a bright hazy yellow with a two finger white head that subsided to half a finger slowly. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, banana, fruit, spices, wheat, and grain. The flavor was of sweet malt, fruit, banana, spices, wheat, and grain. It had a light feel on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was a decent brew. While this one was quite refreshing, it was also not very memorable at the same time. Nothing on this one really stood out and tried to grab your attention which was a bit of a letdown for me. Drinking this one out by the pool on a hot summer day might be enjoyable, but if you are looking for something to enjoy complexities on, I would go with something else unless you are into that.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2012 11:27:48 | More by thagr81us

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

iSip

Colorado

4.45/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Great Divide Collette Farmhouse Ale: Bright golden color, nice creamy head and a big aroma of Belgian hops invite you to take a sip. The flavor transports you to, well not a Belgian farmhouse, but rather a Belgian abbey. The Collette is a lighter Belgian Trippel in by view, and a good one at that. The flavor is a pleasant floral sweetness infused with distinctive Belgian yeast and a bit of a chalky finish. Call it what you will, but anyway the Collette is another great beer from Great Divide.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 14:53:02 | More by iSip

Murrhey

Montana

3.33/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. Reviewed live.

A- Three finger white frothy head. For how agitated the carbonation is, I'm surprised at the retention which is well over a minute long. No lacing to speak of, I'm afraid. Pale golden color with nice clarity. Definite particles floating about.

S- Noble hops and earthy yeast tones. Light malts. Grassy and light. Nothing pops.

T- Light and some sweetness, sugar, earthy yeast and light fruits...maybe apple?

M- Light with grainy feel and somewhat dry finish.

O- Drinkable for the style, which I am usually not fond of.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 06:56:55 | More by Murrhey

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-Looks like apple juice. Slightly murky. Head is large and it slowly fades to a thin sheath. The beer glows.

S-Quite yeasty. Pale fruits. Spice. Dandelions. Sweetness mixes well with the Saison barnyard aroma.

T-Boasts a very solid flavor that is a great depiction of the style. Funky and musty. Dry but sweet in certain aspects. A very good generalization of the style.

M-Plenty of bubbles. Medium body. Flip flops between crisp and rich.

O/D-A solid Saison. I prefer my Saisons to be funkier and more tart. This is pretty legit however. I only bout a single but this runs around $12.25 for a six pack in my area. Quite overpriced. Still decent.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 03:00:55 | More by VelvetExtract

fmccormi

New York

3.65/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Straight pour from 12oz pry-off bottle to my Ommegang Independence Day stemmed tulip. Bottling date of March 2, 2012 printed near the bottom-right corner of the label (“BOTTLED ON: MAR 02 2012”).

Appearance (2.0): This starts with about three fingers of bone-white, fast dissipating, crackling head sitting atop a clear, pale-yellow body. A deliberate re-pour to stir up sediments results in a slightly darker, murky body that resembles orange juice. Looks better after the re-pour.

Smell (3.5): Heavy straw scent on this one, dry and earthy with a bright herbal component mixed in. Some lightly sweet, toasty biscuit character in the background, not bad. Relatively tame nose, no spiciness is particularly prominent here but I like the straw

Taste (4.0): Starts with a very nice, earthy character that’s followed by a crisp, spicy-grassy noble hop bite, which I enjoy. The body is dry and crackery with decent mix of dry straw / earthy hay and a slightly tart, bright, wheat character. There’s a subtle spice character in the back that I can’t pin down, like coriander with a bit of cumin mixed in. The biscuit character comes back with a sweetness that personally I enjoy quite a bit—reminds you that this beer isn’t water, even if it feels light. It’s like there’s some apple juice blended in.

Mouthfeel (3.5): Dry as all get out. Light on the tongue, crisp but medium-bodied. Carbonation is a bit fizzy and doesn’t stick, a bit coarse without a lot of force behind it, but it’s not detracting very much.

Overall (3.5): I love the fact that you can get a decent saison in a sixer without paying an arm and a leg, but it also doesn’t really hold its own against the really good examples of the style. Also, the appearance is really a bummer. I wanted to like this more, but for my money I’d rather spend a little more and get something I’ll only have once in a while . . . still waiting for that great saison in affordable 12oz bottles (other than Hennepin, which for the record I do enjoy quite a bit :-)

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 04:32:08 | More by fmccormi

soulfly1492

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Aroma: Bold fruity esters and spicy phenols. Banana and clove, lots of wheat, a good dose of lemon citrus. Belgian yeast, mildly spicy although not peppery.

Appearance: Straw. Moderately hazy. Small white head dissolves quickly. Little lacing.

Taste: Lots of lemon, some black pepper. Bitter malt, Munich or Vienna and some Pilsner. Residual white sugar. Sweet from the lemon and malt. Good dose of bitter from the malt and yeast.

Mouthfeel: Light body. Finishes mildly dry. Carbonation is light, but is obviously present.

Overall: A bit odd with the lemon and strong black pepper. Some good some bad, nothing special.

Drank on 5/2/2012. Bottled 3/26/2012.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 01:02:39 | More by soulfly1492

jfclark

3.7/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: very little head, bubbles like soda that dispense quickly. Color is very yellowish and cloudy.

S: nothing too note worthy. not the most aromatic beer

T: taste is refreshing and enjoyable, alcohol is not noticeable.

M: enjoyable carbonation that is pleasant in the mouth.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 22:03:56 | More by jfclark

dirtylou

Washington

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz single, bottleworks

appearance: served in a hilliards can-pint, hazy pale straw body, a light white film. a general bland appearance

smell: lots of wheat, wildflower, honey, mild spice

taste: drinks more like a weizen than a farmhouse, however subtle a difference that may be. lots of wheat, honey, pale malt, wildflowers. Clean and refreshing, thought not overly exciting.

mouthfeel: light, clean, fresh

overall: nice summer-y beer, though not a real standout

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 01:32:12 | More by dirtylou

julian89

Georgia

3.83/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into pint glass.

Appearance: A hazy yellow body with a quarter inch head with minimal retention and no lacing.

Smell: Malt wheat with stronger scents of flowers, honey, and spices.

Taste:Very zesty with lemon grass and honey on the front end. Malted wheat taste throughout. The spices leave a dry finish and are an excellent balance to the beer.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium, but fairly crisp carbonation.

Drinkability: A good and simple saison, the taste has a little complexity. I'm liking the saison, wheat, and white beers this spring.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2012 16:01:05 | More by julian89

mrasskicktastic

New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Straw yellow, clear, with a large white head.

S - Horse sweat, faint sulfer, banana, cloves. The smell is nice.

T - Hay, sulfer, horse sweat, faint banana. Aftertaste is a lingering hay joined with a bland grain flavor. There is a faint underlying bitterness with almost no features.

M - Thin, high carbonation, dry.

D - Rather good actually. The individual pieces combine to make an excellent saison.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 20:14:13 | More by mrasskicktastic

Teleweizen2

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - pours a bright yet hazy straw color. A heavy pour yields only a fingers worth of pearly white foam which dissipates to a film with a thick ring around the glass.

S - intense aroma. Tart and funky. Notes of orange peel and lemon pith are most apparent. Funkiness was unexpected but welcome.

T - dry bread crusty malt profile. Lemon and orange notes mid palate. A touch of spice and funk at the back end. Funk lasts through the quick finish.

M - light bodied close to medium with a creamy yet slightly watery texture. Carbonation is medium.

O - while it sure is refreshing it is sort of one dimensional. Nose is dominated by funk and citrus. Taste is essentially the same. I will do an updated review as it is a cold night and I just might not be in the mood for this style. But as of now its good but not quite what I was expecting from Great Divide.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 03:17:12 | More by Teleweizen2

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap at Rattle N Hum in New York, NY

A: Pours a very cloudy pale straw yellow in color. The beer has a thin off-white head that quickly reduces to a thin film covering most of the surface of the beer. Very little to no lacing is observed.

S: Overall, I found the smell of this beer to be quite mild. There were hints of spices, citrus, and just a touch of the funk you would expect.

T: Again, a little more on the mild side than I might have expected/desired but definitely tasty. There was a very light amount of funk with some crisp citrus notes and just a touch of spice (clove and possibly white pepper).

M: Light to medium bodied with moderate to heavy amounts of effervescent carbonation. Very dry.

O: Overall this was a very enjoyable light summer saison and definitely a beer that would go down well on a warm afternoon/evening. I found this one to be quite easy to drink and worth getting another.

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2012 14:17:10 | More by dbrauneis

rajendra82

Georgia

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very pale, hazy yellow appearance, and a lot of carbonation gave this look a bit of a macro vibe, but the lemon zest and orange peel on the nose indicated that this was not one of the mass produced swill. The taste was pretty timid for a Saison, with flavors of lemon, simple sugar, and white pepper coming across each light and refreshing sip. The ABV felt nowhere near 7.3%, and the body was soft and airy. Very refreshing, but left me longing for more depth.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2012 04:03:19 | More by rajendra82

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

jtierney89

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very hazy pale yellow color with an ultra bright white head, good lacing. Tart like fruitiness and phenolic tang on the nose. A touch sour. Faint dried banana and bubble gum.

Tart apple and pear with a touch of tropical fruit up front. Some medicinal flavors around mid palate, enough just to balance the sweetness, coupled by a spicy grassy yeast presence and a bright clean finish. Sour, yet subdued, fruity yet dry, complex yet pleasant. An overall fantastic and complex beer with incredible layers of flavor, perfect for spring, the only thing i could ask is for a bit less phenolic flavors. Otherwise, nothing less than great from Great Divide.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 03:40:33 | More by jtierney89

schoolboy

Ohio

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I usually do not like saisons at all. This one beats most for me (so maybe it's no good for a lover of saisons.

Right off the bat it hits you with a great yeast flavor. Complex, rich and somewhat malty.

It tastes more like a lot of wheat beers and that's an improvement. The burp is yummy. I will continue to avoid the style, but I don't regret geting this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 19:17:12 | More by schoolboy

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

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

denver10

Colorado

3.03/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a hazy light yellow with a 3/4 thumbs width head that surprisingly quickly recedes, leaving behind on a trace around the edges. A strong aroma of lemon, crackery yeast, and hay. The yeast comes in strong, not hiding the other aspects but making sure it stands in the front of the line. The yeast is there in the flavor as well, along side some lemony tartness, and a little sweetness and wheatiness from the malt base. Medium bodied moutfeel with some activity from the carbonation. Overall, alright brew by Great Divide. Between this and GD's Hades I definitely find that I don't really care for their attempts of using this belgian yeast. Too heavy handed for my liking.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 21:57:29 | More by denver10

CloudStrife

New York

3.88/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a tulip. Bottle on March 5, 2012.

A: Pours a slightly opaque golden yellow with a 1 finger white head that quickly fleets to the edges of the glass. Average amount of visible carbonation. No lacing on the glass.

S: Smells slightly sour with a bready crackery yeast. Not too much going on.

T: Strong yeast flavors upfront. Citrus and wheat. Nice roasted malt taste at the end. The lingering aftertaste really makes this beer in my opinion.

M: Light in body, on the lower end in carbonation. Quite drinkable for 7.3%.

Overall this is an enjoyable one. Doesn't blow me away nor turn me away. Easy to drink and I would love to try on draft.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 00:01:06 | More by CloudStrife

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.33/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

nope. this one pours a thick hazy yellow color like a lemon, with yeast floaters and a small white head. smells really yeast, and not nice wild yeast like a lot of other saisons, but like rotting citrus fruit and shampoo. that said, there is some element of refreshing aromas, but the yeast spoils it for me. flavor is not bad, tart and crisp lemon notes, mild spice, and some crystal malt body. not sure how this one got so far off track, but the feel is not nice either. way way to thick and heavy for the style. this is supposed to be a crisp drinkable early summer beer, but it fails to serve that purpose. this might be my least favorite great divide beer so far, which is unfortunate. i had really high hopes for this one, as i am huge on the saison/farmhouse style, but this was a real letdown. might be better from the bottle rather than the tap?

Serving type: on-tap

04-02-2012 17:48:40 | More by StonedTrippin

TTAmod

Michigan

4.05/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This year's variation just hit shelves. This one was brewed on 3/1/12. Poured in pint glass.

A: Pours hazy light gold with a decent sized white head. Lacing is good.

S: Smell is heavy Belgian yeast, malt, sugar and lemon.

T: Heavy cracker-malt dominated this one, along with a really musty Belgian yeast profile. There is a nice dose of lemon, as well. Notes of light herbs are present. Ends dry. A very nice traditional saison taste profile.

M: Appropriately light, carbonated, and semi-smooth. Super easy to drink.

O: This is a good American saison. The yeast and malt profile are right on. This beer is also dry and slightly fruity, as it should be. One of my favorites when spring rolls around.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 05:10:03 | More by TTAmod

WYVYRN527

Minnesota

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip from a 12-ounce bottle.

A: Hazy straw to golden in color with a foamy white head that quickly settles. Decent lacing, but head retention isn't quite what I expected.

S: Some earthy must, along with biscuit, spring flowers, and slight fruity tinge on the backside.

T: Some cracker-like malt shows first, followed by some green apple and earthy must. Belgian yeast lends a slight fruity tinge, along with a touch of pepper. Finish is dry, with floral hop undertones.

Notes: Medium in body with good depth and flavor. Very well-balanced. Mouthfeel is a bit thick, but manageable. Overall, a tasty farmhouse brew, and a solid offering from Great Divide.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 02:31:10 | More by WYVYRN527