Colette Farmhouse Ale - Great Divide Brewing Company

angelogarcia3

New York

3.88/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

An excellent beer with a golden yellow color forming a clean crisp white head. The aroma is of a typical ale. However, the mouthfeel because of the carbonation gives a champagne quality to the beer. Has a slight coriander and star anise taste giving the beer a Belgian feel. Makes an excellent summer beer! Got it at Ithaca Coffee Company in Ithaca, NY.

Serving type: growler

05-22-2011 00:29:53 | More by angelogarcia3

avalon07

South Carolina

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

A: Poured from a growler to a pint glass. Had a pale yellow color and a cloudy consistency. There was a small amount of foamy head that dissipated quickly. Virtually no lacing.

S: A sweet, funky smell of malt, citrus and a little hops.

T: Tasted of citrus, sweet malt and hops. A nicely done taste, with the requisite amount of funk for the style.

M: A good amount of carbonation with a dry finish. Light-bodied.

D: This is a good American example of a saison. Very light and drinkable. A good summer beer.

Serving type: growler

06-03-2009 12:48:14 | More by avalon07

Fcolle2

Illinois

3.44/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A: hazy yellow with a two finger frothy white head that fades quickly

S: belgin yeast, wheat, a little citrus and a quite a bit of lactic acid.

T: I'm getting lots of wheat upfront. A little belgin yeast and lactic acid follow.

M: pretty thin and carbonated but it works with the style. Nice and light, good for summer.

O: bitterness from the wheat and tartness from the yeast and acid blend well. Not my favorite style but pretty good for what it is.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 02:56:08 | More by Fcolle2

argock

Virginia

4.19/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12 oz brown bottle into a cler glass tumbler. No decipherable bottling date -- rubbed off. Purchased at Knightly Spirits (Orlando, FL).

A: Straw yellow, slightly hazy as a little of the yeast snuck in. 1-2 finger white big-bubbled head with good retention but only scattered dots of lace.

S: The aroma is mostly bready, grainy maltiness with light fruitiness including pear and yellow apple and some pretty strong floral and fruity yeast esters. There is an herbal, lightly fruity and lemon citrus hoppiness in the aroma profile. Nothing light about this -- spot-on.

T: A superb mix of fruit, herbal nuances, yeast esters and solid backbone of grainy Pilsner maltiness. Malt wins of the big three, but the yeast esters are interesting with pear, apple, and some green grape flavors blending with floral, perfumy qualities. The hops are mostly bitterness, but there is some lemon rind citrus along with mild grassiness. A really excellent saison.

M: Colette hits the lush maltiness and finshes with the dry crispness this style demands. Carbonation is active without a doubt and helps bolster the refreshing qualities of this ale.

O: Colette is an outstanding American version of farmhouse ale -- clean grain and bread maltiness with fruity yeast esters finished with lemon citrus and the righ punch of dryness. Yet another reason I am sad that GD is no longer in my neck of the woods in VA.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 02:28:45 | More by argock

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

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

Jonada

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12oz bottled on 1/21/13. Served in a pint glass

Appearance: Pours a somewhat pale yellow color with 2 fingers of a white soapy head. Body is slightly hazy with some suspended yeast sediment floating in the glass.

Smell: Big yeast characters, wheat, funk, pineapple, pepper, and earth.

Taste: Banana and clove spiciness, wheat, pear, funk, with tropical fruit, more specifically pineapple as well. Finish is slightly sweet with a nice lingering aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and crisp. Medium carbonation.

Overall: I've never had a bad beer from Great Divide, and this one continues the trend. If you like saisons, this is worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 20:48:58 | More by Jonada

GuzzLah

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A - pours a hazy light yellow with a short white head. No lace. Light bubbles.

S - wheat, hay, pear, apple and light clove.

T - green apple, lemon and wheat with a light spicy finish

M - light body. Slightly tart. Semi dry. Low bitterness.

O - the aroma was a bit strange and unappealing. The flavor was enjoyable. Fruity and slightly tart. Good, light summertime beer, but not a great Saison.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 01:18:55 | More by GuzzLah

garuda

Pennsylvania

3.99/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A - Pale gold, white head has some retention and some lacing.

S/T - Yeast barn house funk up front, rolling into a sweet, candy sugar finish, finishing mostly clean and dry, with some grassy, herbal hops.

M - Medium body, medium carbonation, smooth consistency.

O - Sweet candy sugar is a nice finish, but becomes a little too sweet by the end of the drink.

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2013 15:25:51 | More by garuda

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.44/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Perfectly clear light golden yellow. Head is bright-white and bubbly. Drops to a tiny spotty cap with a marginally bigger cap. Moderate carbonation on the pour.

Smell: Big bright fruitiness. Apple, pear, and a touch of lemon. Slight hop spiciness. Loaded with ripe banana and a yeast character that hits a bit more Belgian than farmhouse. Clean pale malt sweetness. Some bubblegum. Esters are pronounced. Nice and clean.

Taste: Yeasty, but clean. A touch of damp earth. Some grass with pale malts. Lightly sweet. Solid ripe banana balanced with a mild hoppy spiciness. Clove on the finish grows as the beer warms. Almost like banana bread at times. Powdery yeast on the finish. A bit over sweet as it warms. Grassy with some husky grain. Slight toasted malt.

Mouthfeel: Medium to light body with a lively carbonation. Clean and slightly dry.

Overall: The farmer's average daughter.

Decent. Solid farmhouse/Belgian hybrid profile. A bit sweet overall, but the finish is on point.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 21:08:28 | More by Goblinmunkey7

lsummers

California

4.23/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a bright golden yellow with a bright one finger head. Higher carbonation clearly evident in it's stream of bubbles. Smells of peppery grapes and pears. The clean fruity notes are the most prominant, with a touch of acidic farmyard. Tastes of peppery funky lemon and pear. A touch of pineapple and cereal. Mouthfeel is clean and sharp. Bounces on the tongue.

Overall, this one is one great beer. A definite must try and one I wouldn't mind keeping stocked in my fridge. A super complex beer I wouldn't mind having on any summer evening.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 05:29:36 | More by lsummers

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

hagbergl

Massachusetts

3.66/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Had my first 12 oz. bottle of Great Divide's Colette Farmhouse Ale in my Chimay goblet.

Appearance (3.5/5): Colette pours an unfiltered, opaque goldenrod and shows an intense sunflower yellow when held up to the light. Ring of foam that retains well. Bit of a wimpy one finger head and not that much carbonation can be seen rising from the bottom of the glass.

Smell (4/5): Quite peculiar musty, rustic odor. Extremely wheaty and a little spicy. Very interesting aroma. Lemony and light citrus aromas as well. Yeasty.

Taste (3.75/5): Colette is very wheaty and lemony. Some nice banana flavors flex in the aftertaste. A little bubblegum. Nice grassy, herbal hops, as is proper in a saison. This is a very wheaty-tasting Saison. Little to no alcohol flavor.

Mouthfeel (3/5): Mouthfeel is quite smooth. Carbonation is a little low for the style; would have liked more active carbonation. A little drying in the finish from the grassy hops. The dryness is the best quality in the mouthfeel. The lower carbonation leaves something wanting...namely, more carbonation!

Overall (3.5/5): Colette is an okay saison, but there seems to be something missing. Perhaps I got a bad sixer, but what really is lacking here is carbonation. I feel that the lack of carbonation really mess with what could be a much better drinking beer than the one I am currently holding.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 18:52:34 | More by hagbergl

tastybeer

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A: Very pretty in the sunlight. Bright tangerine orange with a moderately sized white head.

S: Smell is indeed farmhouse style. Banana cream pie with spices and wild flowers. Very creamy-like and generally happy to siff.

T: Very nicely blended flavors. Spicy, peppery, wild flowers. Phenolic and there's a touch of sour as well.

M: Dry, prickly carbonation, medium body, lighty gritty.

O: Good good good.

Serving type: on-tap

03-21-2013 23:13:28 | More by tastybeer

Bitterbill

Wyoming

4.04/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottled on Feb 7, 2013.

It's a great looking cloudy yellow pour, plenty of foam on that head, does okay with the lacing.

Spicy nose, mostly clove and pepper, goodly amount of wheat, bubblegum, and an orange citrusy thing going on. Inviting.

Spicy, see above, taste with more bubblegum than in the smell, yeasty, bananas here and there, orange citrus I mentioned in the smell...not there. Maybe my nose was confused? It is a complex son of a gun. It has some sort of fruity thing going on n=but it's stumping me. Good taste I'm getting so I'm not all that perturbed.

Medium light to light medium body with ample carbonation.

A good example of the style though I'd like/prefer the abv to be a bit lower.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 22:46:42 | More by Bitterbill

Jacurdy60

Alabama

3.59/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

A-Pours a soft yellow color with a half-finger fizzy head. Poor retention and no lacing.

S-I'm getting some yeasty notes in the nose. Followed by some fruits (banana and pears) with some subtle cinnamon spice

T-Tangy fruits with a peppery, cinnamon spice finish. Not too complex.

MF-Carbonated and fizzy.

O-A pretty good saison. Not my favorite style, but it represents a saison pretty well.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 01:31:44 | More by Jacurdy60

Hoptometrist

Oregon

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Served from the bottle into a tulip glass

A- Poured a very clear bright golden color tons of streaming carbonation with big soapy bright white head that left no lace.

S- Smells very clean, some light bubblegum, banana, and clove notes. Big mineral and wheat presence.

T- Prominent bubblegum and clove flavors. Really big mineral presence, wheat, some light banana notes

M- Lighter bodied, medium carbonation (a little lighter than many saisons), semi-dry finish, some booziness and burn on the finish as this warmed up.

O- A nice saison with very clean flavors, just wish it was a little drier and less boozy.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 02:15:11 | More by Hoptometrist

BeerAsAStoryteller

Colorado

3.56/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a fat bubbled head that hangs around for a minute and fades fast. A little hazy, golden color.

S: Good barnyard funk right up front, with a little bready yeast. Mild citrus hops hiding under the funk.

T: Very mild citrus, and a fairly weighty, lingering melon note. Slight sweetness up front. Not funky, as the nose suggests. Very mild tartness.

M: Medium-light bodied with strong, sparkly carbonation.

O: About what I expect out of a six-pack saison; tasty and refreshing, but nothing real special. Would be great for someone who enjoys a lighter saison.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 05:35:45 | More by BeerAsAStoryteller

matjack85

Illinois

4.04/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

I picked this up as part of a build-your-own six pack for $9.99 at the Binny's store in Bloomingdale, IL. 12oz brown bottle with a bottled on date of 12/13/12 on the side label, making this bottle about 3 months old.

Not much to look at. The beer pours a cloudy pear yellow color with just a half finger of white head that dissipates quickly and leaves virtually no lacing.

The aroma is an odd mix of citrus and tropical fruits along with a barnyard smell.

There's lots of flavor in here. There's a pineapple and lemon fruit component, a biscuity malt sweetness, earthy and herbal hops, and a blend of spices. There's also a slightly sour twang coming from the Belgian yeast. Very complex and very tasty.

Light bodied and crisp with medium carbonation.

Not a huge fan of the style, but if you're going to try one, this would be a good choice.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 08:47:57 | More by matjack85

quaybr

Colorado

4.09/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Pours a golden yellow with a bubbly white head that quickly recesses to a small ring of foam around the edges and a pollowy island. Leaves only a trace of lacing.

Smells sweet, spicy and yeasty; fruity esters abound!

Taste follows suit: tangy esters and Belgian yeast followed by a pleasant bitterness. Some of the herbal spices come out on the back of the tongue.

Body is a bit oilier than I expected, causing some unsavory aftertastes - even beyond the assumed funk. Still, this goes down easy.

I am surprised (and excited) that this is a 6-pack! Another job well done by GDBC.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 04:38:31 | More by quaybr

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

4.11/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A- Pours a light, straw yellow hue, but as cloudy as they come. So opaque that it darkens itself unless held to the light. Small, 1 finger head that doesn't stick around long and laces only a little bit.

S- Tons of light spices here. The ones that I can detect and identify are clove, coriander, lemon, and something very banana-y in flavor. I'm sure there are more spices on the nose, but it's so complex that I can't pull them out and name them. Light grainy flavors are also in the scent with definite grassy notes.

T- Just like the scent. Incredibly complex with tones of spices. Clove and banana spices are prominent. Wheat and light grains provide a solid base for the spices. Complex spice blend is persistent throughout. Ends with the same spice profile and complexity as it started, with a slight dull bite of the wheat and other grains.

M- Light in flavor, but full in body, this beer is slick and creamy across the palate. High carbonation, but no detectable alcohol. Weight of this one sits in the stomach because of the high grain profile.

Overall, one of the better farmhouses I've had. I'm not a big fan of the style, mainly because of the overwhelming spices, but this one is sufficiently complex with other flavors to distract me. Give it a try, it could be a good introduction to a style that may not be your favorite.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 00:26:55 | More by boilermakerbrew

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

silverking

Florida

4.14/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It pours a very beautiful, very hazy gold with a white head. head retention is poor, but the lacing is nice while it lasts. Enticing aromas of citrus zest and ginger entice the nose with hints of grass and a strong underying yeastiness. The taste is very yeasty with some spiciness. A slight sour funk follows the taste all the way through to the finish. The finish has a lot of lemon zest as well. The mouthfeel is lighter than I had expected and it dries the mouth out a bit. The carbonation, however, is perfect. Not too much or too little. Overall, I was very happy with this beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 18:50:35 | More by silverking

Moose90

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottled: Jan 21 2013
Tasted: Feb 3 2013

A – Pours with a big bright white 2-3 finger head. Leaves nice thick lacing all the way down. Is a bright hazy yellow, nice looking beer.

S – Citrus, lemon tart cake. Some biscuit here, slightly sweet.

T – Zesty fruits, lemon, lime, orange. Some pepper here too, tart and crisp.

M – Light, crisp and airy. With a bit of a lingering sticky sweetness on the finish. This is very refreshing and would be great on a lawn mowing day.

O – Good surprise as I typically don't care for the style; this is bright, refreshing and full of flavor, without a ton of crazy overpowering yeastiness.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 06:55:18 | More by Moose90

horshack7

Massachusetts

4.51/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Cloudy and golden with a head about one finger high.

Aroma: Peppery, orange zest, floral hop dryness, golden raisins with light notes of plum, ginger.

Taste: Orange zest, ginger, cinnamon, peppery, ginger, apple, golden raisins, and a very good dry floral hop finish.

Notes: Very drinkable good to enjoy anytime of year and the dry finish is very better. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 00:40:42 | More by horshack7