Colette Farmhouse Ale - Great Divide Brewing Company

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

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a tulip- pours a hazy yellow color, with a pure white one finger head, which receds quickly and leaves behind a little touch of lacing.

The smell is very inviting and definitely got my attention- tart fruit, lemon, and that wild yeast smell that's impossible to miss.

Tastes very refreshing- not an overwhelming taste and certainly not as potent as the smell. Definitely taste the wheat and the rice- barely seems to have gotten a bad deal here. A little bit of lemon and wild yeast nuttiness.

Mouthfeel is pretty good- as stated above, very refreshing. Light body with medium carbonation. This is certainly a well made and interesting brew. I got a good deal (one 12 oz bottle for $1.50). I MIGHT get it again.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 00:47:50 | More by Hopdaemon39

kevosbob

Colorado

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

As an homage to the beers that Belgian farm workers have enjoyed for centuries, Great Divide Brewing Company has crafted Colette, a Farmhouse Ale that is “Rustic Refined.” Colette has a 7.3% alcohol by volume, brewed with barley, wheat and rice, fermented with a blend of four different yeast strains, and was a silver medal winner at the 2010 Great American Beer Festival.

Colette pours a beautiful golden-yellow color that reminds me of glorified wheat fields in the summertime. The beer is naturally carbonated so there is a healthy amount of yeast at the bottom of the bottle. The beer itself pours hazy but still clear enough to see tiny bubbles rising to make a thin white foam that complements this summer beer nicely. This beer has a strong sent that has sweet and sour notes of wheat, herbs and spices, and wild yeast.

This beer seems almost sour but with dry, tart, and wild ale flavors surrounding the tongue. You can taste the wheat malts most but notes of lemon zest, coriander, clove, and white pepper make this beer quite enjoyable to sip on. The mouthfeel is pleasant and light but it’s the high carbonation that really lets this beer sing a bit in your mouth. Overall, this beer has a lot of flavors but it’s not too overwhelming as a summertime refreshing beer.

This is a good beer and one of my new favorites to have around after working in the summer heat. I enjoy the complexity while still not being an overpowering beer. If you see this beer, pick up a six-pack or look for it in the Great Divide variety 12-pack.

My Beer Rating: 4.0

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2012 16:45:01 | More by kevosbob

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

MTNboy

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: It is a cloudy blonde color with a decent amount of carbonation to the body. Almost a cream colored head and sticky lace.

Smell: It has a very spicy yeast aroma.

Taste: It reminds me a lot of a hefe. It is a very peppery and spicy beer with clove. It has an earthy quality to it.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with some bite.

Overall: Great relaxing type sit down summer evening beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2012 20:21:49 | More by MTNboy

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

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

Golden color with tons of white head and lots of lacing down the side of the glass. Very nice smell that is somewhat difficult to describe. Lemons are present. Earthy smell as well. The Taste is citrus and earthy as well. Mild bitterness. Very smooth and nicely carbonated. This is very good and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 18:45:55 | More by TrappistJohnMD

Rickythejeweler

Maryland

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Cloudy yellow, 2 finger bone white frothy head, little lacing, but where there was lacing it was thick.

S - Yeast, spice, pine-sol, lemon.

T - Lemon, orange peel, tropical fruits, pepper, yeast.

M - Quite smooth, tingly.

O - Good representation of the style, excellent session brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 03:54:24 | More by Rickythejeweler