Colette Farmhouse Ale - Great Divide Brewing Company

coastiefish

Oregon

3.13/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottled Feb 23 2010
Opened Apr 21 2010

First nip from the bottle, got the typical tart of the style, followed by an very vivid copper taste.

Poured into a pint glass (don't forget the sediment at the bottom of the bottle!)

Soft hazy bright gold, thin layer of head, when carefully poured (thick layer with froth on the second pour when I was a bit rougher with the pour, though it dwindled down quickly to a thin layer)

On the nose, tart fruit, clove, tiny bit astringent, bit of apricot/peach being detected as well.

Everything on the nose I get on the tongue. A bit of lemon is coming through. Yeasty and dry, but not too dry. Watery finish is worth mentioning.

Mouth feel is light & airy. Id like to have more body in this brew, it just isnt there.

This is a drinkable brew, but there are better ones out there. (Apricot Farmhouse from Upright Brewing an excellent example, and #5 from Upright, a classic example extremely well executed) I wouldnt suggest this to exemplify the farmhouse/saison style. Though, the 7.3% on a hot summer day with nothing to do except sample some brews could justify a round.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2010 06:29:56 | More by coastiefish

chaz01

Ohio

3.15/5  rDev -18%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

650 ml bottle poured into a belgium fishbowl glass. My bottle does not say "Colette" -- instead it says "Saison" - but other than that it appears to be the exact same label as the one pictured. It has a 2009 date and has been kept cool in my cellar (not intentionally aged, just never got a chance to drink this).

A: Pale yellow straw-colored, pretty hazy and cloudy, with a thick white head.

S: Floral, yeasty, bready aroma with a little lemony zest as well.

T: Fruity, tart flavors of lemon and citrus with some peppery spice notes as well. A bit overly tart and perhaps a little off -- I'm wondering if it's more due to the age on the beer than the beer itself.

M: Medium bodied, very carbonated and effervescent.

D: I'll re-review the beer if I get a chance to have a fresh bottle, but for 2 year old Belgian, this didn't seem to age all that well.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2011 13:10:52 | More by chaz01

BetterDarker

Massachusetts

3.18/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours cloudy, bright lemony yellow with a frothy, white head. The head disaapates quickly with clinging foam on the sides of the glass. Great looking beer.

Smell is what you would expect from a saison. Spicy, a bit earthy. Nothing particulary remarkable.

Taste is good, slightly tart, light, citrusy. Very little malt or hop flavor, pretty much what you would expect from a saison.

Mouthfeel is good, solid carbonation, obviously not a heavy feel.

One bottle is enough to satisfy a hankering for a saison. Wouldn't make a session out of this beer, but it's a drinkable beer, 650 mls is enough.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2009 00:32:15 | More by BetterDarker

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A-cloudy, pale gold with a thick white head that quickly thins out

S-smells like a spicy belgian pale ale...a lot of wheat scent and belgian spices. i could also be smelling a belgian tartness in here too. its a pretty strong scent

T-comes in much like a belgian strong pale ale, it has the belgian malts and spices. i'm finding that this is a crappy saison. its not a bad take on the belgian pale ale, but i'm having a difficult time finding the farm house in this. after the first hit, it goes in to an off tasting maltiness and a touch of booze. the after-taste is strong of belgian malts.

M-medium carbonation with a watery finish

D-overall...this is no sasion. come in to this expecting some barnyard funk and you'll be disappointed. if you're wanting a decent pale belgian, then this won't upset you. it does go down easily for the ABV.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2011 19:40:37 | More by AdamBear

Oxymoron

Colorado

3.23/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Seems like GD is just pumping out all the new beers lately. Pours a mostly clear lemony yellow color with lots of fizz. An ample frothy white head with good retention and lacing. Took a while to settle down great lacing throughout. Maybe a touch light for a saison but it there is a big variable there.

The nose is mostly malty. Some Belgian notes but limited overall. The malt has a pilsner aroma with some grainy and husky notes. Some hints of aromatic malt and a light note of biscuit. The yeast is there but would like a bit more character. Some floral and fruity notes. A light peppery but earthy aroma on the back end. Some stale notes as well (which I think other are getting funk).

The taste is a bit off. The first flavor I picked up was plastic. More specifically a rubbery flavor that balanced with the grainy malt notes. Some sweetness at first with a almost sugary quality but finishes dry. A light tang but has more of an infection note that lactic. The yeast comes out more versus the nose. A good yeast taste with a light apricot, herbal and spicy notes. Would have liked to see more of this come out. Some hoppy notes on the back end, but not really distinct.

The body finishes a bit dry. This is enhanced by a high carbonation with a slight carbonic bite. Light but noticeable. Overall, there are some good positives here, specifically with the yeast. But some negative, with the rubbery flavors (and the lack of more yeast). Still drinkable though.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2009 21:41:41 | More by Oxymoron

JamnesCameron

Illinois

3.23/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a New Belgium globe. Pours a hazy straw with about two fingers of stark white head that drops fairly slowly to a thin wisp of foam. Lacing evident.

Aromas of lemon, lemon zest, pineapple, pepper, earthy and a little musty. So far, so good.

Flavors of tart lemonade, a little on the sweet side, subdued pepper, coriander (don't like my saisons spiced). Some bite from the carbonation. Finish is medium with lemon tart and spice lingering.

Mouthfeel is medium, not as dry as I would prefer in a saison, heavy prickle from the carbonation.

Overall an okay attempt. Don't know that I'd pick this again.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2011 00:07:52 | More by JamnesCameron

mdcrouser

Missouri

3.23/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Pretty pour, with a creamy top of lacy white head sits atop a completely cloudy cylinder - saw a previous review that described it as polished brass, which is apt.

Farmy and a bit acidic - not really citrus so much, but something that is somewhat off-putting.

Horsey up front, with veiled assumptions of citrus. The hops are in the background, but ill-defined.

Incredible in the mouth - creamy, with some soft carbonation. The foundation is there, but the flavor to back it up is not.

I'd like to enjoy this beer more, but I can't bring myself to do so. Honestly, it's kind of a mess - great look and mouthfeel - odd nose and taste.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 03:31:45 | More by mdcrouser

trappistlover

Arizona

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

(12oz bottle). Pour hazy light golden color with white head. Very active carbonation. Aroma has grass, wheat, and some lemon. Taste is sweet malt with a bit of tart. Spiciness as well. Thin bodied with an oily texture. Finish is dry. Any ok beer that would be better if the abv were lower. Then, this would at least be sessionable. As it is, I wouldn’t want to make this my drink of the night. (or day?).

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2011 01:59:36 | More by trappistlover

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

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

3.28/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A fair if a bit forgettable take on a farmhouse ale.

Presentation: 12 oz brown capped bottle. Overall Great Divide layout with a yellow and light cream range with dark fonts, theme is of a checkered country-side picnic with a trite silhouette of a farmhouse sexy girl holding a pitchfork... Besides the needless sexism these bottles feel overtly design with a formula that does not make them particularly attractive, not bad, but not particularly pleasantly designed. Side narrative notes intent, main ingredients, general description of the brew, and food pairings. Shows bottling date (Feb 23 2010), and Alc. by Vol. (7.3%). Served in a tulip glass.

A - The initial look is rather rich with a hazy straw to pale gold pour, over 1" of generous foamy head. However retention feels mediocre at best, and lace a bit short.

S - Fair aroma with a yeasty range, and an earthy touch where a moldy note predominates. Wheat touches with some light clove, citrus, and not so much of a funky or rich earthy sense but that light moldiness again being as close as it gets. Why do they use rice here? Saisons really don't need any adjunct feel to them... And for an instant this comes close, rice or not.

T - Taste follows with a predominant Belgium yeasty sense, a bit unidimensional and predictable, not unpleasing but rather forgettable. Slightly sour with a faint grassy touch. Hmmm, it swings back and forth between a rather mediocre range and a hint at what it tries to be.

M - Medium-light body with good carbonation, rather crisp, and a slightly tangy and dry finish.

D - Not very memorable but rather drinkable.

Notes: It's a nice brew but it has a feeling like it wants to get there but it can't really make it. It's a long way from being a noticeable farmhouse ale... And surely this might be the least remarkable offering I've tried from Great Divide.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2010 01:01:45 | More by Daniellobo

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.3/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into portsmouth snifter

Pours 1 finger of white head. Decent retention. Leaves a little bit of splattered lace. Color is a pale straw yellow.

Aroma: Big lemon citrus flavor. It also has a nice farmhouse funk to it. Earthy and herbal. Some spice. Lovin the funk here.

Taste: Pepper and spice. Some lemon zest. Yeast flavors. It has some cloves and banana flavors in the finish. Not as funky as the nose, but it still has some barnyard flavors to it. It has a slight apple flavor to it, but it is fairly hidden.

Mouthfeel: Funky and fizzy. Lighter bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends kind of dry.

Overall, a decent saison. Decently drinkable. I really enjoyed the funk in the nose. I wish it was more present in the taste. Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2011 02:20:12 | More by mothman

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Hazy straw yellow body. Small head that quickly recedes. Not much of a skim, just a slight ring around the edges. Little, to no lacing.

S: Slight lemon, banana, yeast notes. Very little must/funk/feet/farm/saison smell.

T: A bit out of style, with an almost complete void of the characteristic saison flavors. There isn't much of an earthy/funky flavor. Instead, its a clean lemon, wheat flavor. Tastes like a wit beer.

M: Light-medium body. Semi-dry finish. Feels good on the palate.

D: Don't get me wrong, this beer was quite enjoyable. It just didn't taste like a saison. If you blind folded me and gave me this, i'd identify it as a pretty solid wit beer that I would get quite a bit of enjoyment out of.

Bottled Date: April 15, 2009
Consumed: May 13, 2009

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2009 01:26:14 | More by callmemickey

bgreg3

Indiana

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

App.-Pours a cloudy yellow with a foamy white head that disappears after a little, the carbonation dances on the way up , it swirls and makes an interesting beer to look at.

Smell- Smells fruity , a little lemony , wheaty very enticing and makes you wonder how it is going to taste.

Taste- Complex , first thing is this beer tastes like it was brewed with lemon peel because I taste the lemon stronger than if it were brewed with amarillo hops (it could be a combination of both though) , then it takes your taste buds on a ride as it moves on to a berry taste and it has a very strong wheat presence throughout this is the most sour beer I've had by the way

MF- Very strong and acidic to the toungue , it is good on the palate though , with a light-medium feel. Rolls around nicely. kind of crisp and refreshing.

Drink- Stick to 12 oz of this if possible , I had a bomber and it just became very tart and difficult to drink after a while , definetely eat something with this and take your time with it too

Not worth buying again but a good experience.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2009 03:04:09 | More by bgreg3

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

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

SWMeyer4141

Texas

3.35/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Review from notes...

Poured into snifter.

Appearance-Straw colored body with no head, no retention and no lacing.

Smell-Earthy and Grainy. Lemon and some slight pine.

Taste-I get a nice peach flavor, but thats about it. Picked up some slight clove from the yeast maybe and a little funk. Nice change of pace beer.

Mouthfeel-Light to medium bodied with medium carbonation. Prickly on tongue.

Overall-I'm glad theres a 6 pack Saison out there but I really wasn't turned on too much by this beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2011 04:58:34 | More by SWMeyer4141

Dotcubed

Arkansas

3.35/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Part of a mixed six.

I like this brewery, and any chance I get to try another of their offerings is worth the expense.

Urine yellow makes it off putting but still looks like a nice example of the style. . Some sediment in the bottle. Lemony. Tart apple.

Slight lace. Yeast, and a bit of funk. Clearly farmhouse. Lovely tinge of lime.

Heft of malt weight to it. A delight. Wish I had more.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2011 03:23:10 | More by Dotcubed

jamie2dope

Massachusetts

3.38/5  rDev -12%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I love Great Divide beers, and I love this style, so lets try this one. Pours a sort of dull golden straw color, with just a ring of white lacing. Some fruit smell in the nose along with some some nice bright grain. Green apples first come to mind in the taste, with some pineapple, and champagne tastes as well. Body is light for a somewhat high ABV. Drinkability is very nice...light, refreshing and easy to put back. This is a pretty good Saison from Great Divide. I may have been expecting a bit more, but still a very fair effort. Cheers

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2009 00:23:16 | More by jamie2dope

TCgoalie

Michigan

3.4/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Notes from 6/12/10

Pours a sunshine yellow with effervescent bubbles refueling the splotchy white head.

Orange, lemon zest, banana, yeast and some spice are present in the smell.

The orange, lemon zest, and yeast play together upfront in the taste with a slightly sour aftertaste. The taste as a whole is thin and not exciting.

Light mouthfeel with a clean aftertaste.

Very drinkable for its ABV. Complexity is minimal so I'm grading this down some.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2010 02:57:02 | More by TCgoalie

DrRosenscrotum

New York

3.4/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12oz bottle, instant noticable aroma of pineapply fruitness with slight hint of lemon. Leaves a creamy film like feel in your mouth after first or second gulp. Reminds me of champagne with a milder carbonation factor. Drinkability is there but not a beer that can be pounded one after the other.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2010 03:34:55 | More by DrRosenscrotum

champ103

Texas

3.4/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a very cloudy pale yellow color. A two finger white head forms with good retention. Light lace is left behind.
S: Strong yeast aromas up front. Earth with lots of fruity esters up front. Light basement funk. Inviting.
T: Earthy yeast and lots of fruity esters. Banana and light lemon peal. Not much else.
M/D: A medium body that is very smooth. Clean, but not nearly as dry as I would like. This goes down easy. Very moreish.

Enjoyable is the name of the game. Nothing crazy, but a nice easy drinker that is good on a hot day. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2011 00:45:42 | More by champ103

Allpe45

Arizona

3.4/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz, bottled on April 04 2011
Poured into a tulip, decanted.

Appears bright golden yellow, effervescent, great clarity. Large white head with good retention and lacing.

Estery yeast smell, a bit tart, with straw/hay, spices, and a malt presence.

Tastes like bready malts up front, followed by fruity esters and spicy yeast. Straw/hay in the finish along with a lingering sweetness. Finish is neither clean nor dry. Creamy texture, medium body.

This is just another unimpressive interpretation of a Belgian style from an American brewery.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2011 01:53:57 | More by Allpe45

hops4life

Connecticut

3.43/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Plan B in W. Htfd, CT. I drink a lot of Saison, and this is wayyy off the style for a Saison. Citrus, clove, some of the ester profile I associate with the wheat/white homebrew styles of a decade ago (or today, but that is the time period I associate with banana/clove hysteria). I would have pegged it as "spiced hefeweizen" or a summer beer with an identity crisis. Hop character was completely supressed under the spice. It makes for a very drinkable pint, even at 7.5%, but there is much better to be had.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2010 03:13:03 | More by hops4life

DanThomas

Minnesota

3.43/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Cloudy, pale/straw yellow color. Honestly, if you'd handed this to me blind (i.e. without the Great Divide name), I wouldn't be too excited to drink it based just on the appearance.

S- Definitely improves things. Yeasty smells mix with some bright citrus and lemon scents, and there's a powerful spring/fresh cut grass scent here too.

T- I'm not sure what to make of it. There's a thick, german lager/pilsner malt to start, and then some lemon tart takes over. Yeast and bread flavors dominate the finish. I like each flavor individually, but they don't always work so well in unison in the beer. Some sips are good, some aren't

M- For a beer that is generally pretty light in flavor, it is very full-bodied, especially on the front end with the malts. Smoother beer than I'm used to for a saison, which actually works well for the beer. The mouthfeel adds a pretty good backbone to the beer.

O- Kind of all over the place for me. Good summer beer though, and I love the scent and the substantial mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2011 16:22:40 | More by DanThomas

bbkd3b

Missouri

3.43/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass.

Hits the glass with a fizzy, straw-colored body. Attractive, white head pops in like a visiting neighbor, but eventually settles one quarter-finger status. Carbonation carries a scent of lemon peel and grassy hops to the top of the glass. Tart and powerful.

Extremely light, tingly body drops a flavor of earthy tones and a light, citrus kick across the tongue. There's a hint of spice crossing along the way, but not much to speak of. Floats down the throat with a dry-but-easy finish. No sweetness whatsoever.

Overall/notes - Kind of a vapid brew. Saison is a style I always enjoy, and this one fits right in with the others. I guess it neither excels nor fails when compared to other brews of the type. Certainly worth a visit or two, especially if you're a fan of the style like I am.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2011 03:39:44 | More by bbkd3b