Pays Du Soleil - Saint Somewhere Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

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

Funky bold tastes.750 ml. Bottle from Village Merchant. Pours light coffee brown with no lasting head. Aggressively carbonated, but much of this affect may be derived from the hibiscus. Wild strong bitter aroma. Above average mouthfeel. Tasty, funky stuff that's sweet and sour, bretty and yeasty. Very drinkable and unique.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2011 03:32:17 | More by northyorksammy

mikesgroove

South Carolina

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

Not really sure at all what to make of this one, so I brought it over to split among the family. Served chilled and poured into a pint glass, this one was consumed on 06/20/2010.

The pour was very nicely done, rich dark amber in color, almost garnet on the sides and the bottom with a nice two finger head of white foam that came up and over the to, settling down nicely and evenly across the sides of the glass.

Aroma was full, nice tart notes of fruit, plums, grape skins, an earthy, full fruity aroma. Nice touches of bitterness sprinkled in throughout as well. Warming brings out some more caramel, touches of earthy, grainy hops and a nice balance of earthy tones. Nice full bodied feel as the lush carbonation rolls across the tongue and really gets going. Smooth, even finish with a nice tart bite that really served to dry out the palate quite nicely.

Overall I am not sure what this one was but I really did enjoy it. It ended up being a hit that day.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2010 01:14:11 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

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

Reviewed from notes.

Pours a reddish-brown color with a bit of an off white head with a decent amount of staying power. Nose brings funk, sour, flowers, and a bit of light fruit. The taste brings on a bit more funk with some nice floral notes and some light stone fruits. Feel is a bit light with some good funk. Drinks quite well; really nice overall.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2010 20:11:57 | More by Thorpe429

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

Hinging dangerously and delightfully towards Flanders Red flavor and feel, this Double Ale shares what's best about Beglian Double Ales and advanced Sour Reds.

The pour delives a rusty brownish red color with froathy-fizzy first head character but with a follow of fleeting and still appearance soon after. Odd how the beer shows promise early but dull late.

Aromas of acidic cherries and apple blend (red apples, granny smith, and crabapples) show up front and with a rounded amber malt character with cider and light vinegar.

Sharp green apple, lime, under ripe berries, and cherry taste rise early. Rounded flavors of malty bread crusts and scorched toffee round out the acidic fruit notes, while contributing a buffering sweetness and richness. Still, the cider/vinegar acidity proves a bit too much.

Moderate for a sour ale, but light for a Dubbel, the acidity plays a big role in the feel of the beer by preventing a creamy-smooth upstart. But the fleeting dry/acidic finish is superb.

As a Dubbel, the beer is way too acidic and tart. But as a Flander's Red, the beer is moderate, safe, and lacks gusto. At any rate, the beer is a delight to drink for any Sour Ale fan.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 06:39:34 | More by BEERchitect

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at The Institute. Philadelphia, PA. 12 September 2009.

Pays Du Soleil translates to "country of the sun" or "land of the sun", which is pretty much like Terre Du Soleil except that 'terre' refers much more to the actual earth. Are they the same beer? ...

Appearance: Hazy amber-orange body beneath a short head of off-white foam that drops readily to a thin collar. Spotty lace is left behind on the glass.

Aroma: Fruity with soft citrus, tangerine, apricot, berries, green apple, red apple (it's initially a touch tart, and then juicy...), and some unidentified tropical fruits. Floral, and subtly perfumey. Soft spiciness.

Flavor: Follows the aroma. Fruity and gently spicy. The malt is very lightly caramelish, and simply acts as a base for the yeast to perform upon. Gently tart. Alcohol becomes noticeable as it warms. Finishes dry and peppery.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a limited carbonation. Smooth.

Drinkability: Nice. Fairly complex with a great fruity component and a hint of spiciness. Enjoyable. The alcohol is noticeable but not detrimental. Beyond its limited appearance it's actually quite charming!

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2009 00:51:29 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

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

Served in a plastic tumbler.

Welcome to Sun Country! It pours a hazy russet-straw topped by a finger of off-white foam. The nose comprises funky wheat, mandarin oranges, and orange peel. The taste does not deviate far from this, though some light green apple flavor makes an appearance as well. The body is a very light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, a solid brew, nothing spectacular, but a nice little saison-style diversion from the norm.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2011 23:30:40 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.73/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Saint Somewhere Pays du Soleil

BOOM! POP! Holy Crap! Once the cage is off, the cork can't be contained, and off it goes! Now, we have nothing to do but drink. Wait, first pour, look, and smell...

Hazy, crimson coloring, solid, 1/2" beige head.

Aroma: funktastic! Sour cherries and barnyard musk, tart fruit, sweet and sour. Really rustic. I like.

Taste: Hmmmm. Earthy mouthfeel, utterly unique. Funky yeast meets fruity malt. No hops hanging around. Very...well, middling, no real spark here, unless I'm not supposed to expect one? Seriously lacks in satisfying flavor. It's okay, but I do want more than I'm getting. Is that bad?

Lots of carbonation, bubbling over with wild yeast...not a normal beer experience, very close to authentic Belgian...sour, fruity, dry...it's a fairly nice beverage, easily enjoyable, sure to be a hit with some, but lacks that wow thing. I want a wow thing. That can't be too much to ask.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2010 00:57:33 | More by feloniousmonk

metter98

New York

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

A: The beer is hazy reddish brown in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a two finger high tan head that took a very long time to fade away, leaving a thick ring of bubbles on the surface around the edge of the glass.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of sweet berries in the nose along with some notes of hibiscus flowers.
T: The taste is similar to the nose and has lots of flavors of saw palmetto berries along with hints of sourness from the brettanomyces yeast and sweetness from the powdered sugar.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied, somewhat smooth and a bit tart on the palate with a high amount of carbonation.
O: The beer tastes like a hybrid between a dubbel and a saison. It’s not that difficult to drink because there’s only light amount of sourness and a bit of sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 19:12:32 | More by metter98

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

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

This brew poured out as a big hazy yellow beer with a thick foamy white head on top. The smell of the beer has some traditional saison funk to it, with some grains and a light herbal note too. The flavors are mostly herbal, the hibiscus really shines through on this beer. The mouthfeel of this beer is well carbonated and keep a light refreshing feeling from start to finish. Overall this is a good beer, I really like this brewery quite a bit. Always looking forward to having more from them.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 21:32:07 | More by Knapp85

Halcyondays

California

4.63/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 mL bottle, be careful, once the beer is uncaged the cork has a mind of its own, 2009 Edition, bought at Hi-Times,

A: Pours a ruddy dark red/brown colour. Fizzy off-white head as I expected with what happened to Lectio Devina, solid retention. No gushing. No lace.

S: Fragrant orange blossoms and clear notes of hibiscus. Very flowery. Has an herbal tea quality about it. Citrus and flowers, red berries, and mild notes of Brett.

T: Red fruit/currants (palmetto berries?) hit immediately almost a wild ale taste, overall there's enough acidity to make me think this is an AWA tasted double blind. Some dark malt flavours, but fruit and the yeast really drive the beer. Blood orange and kumquat form a mid-palate which dries out towards the finish. The Brett is everywhere, the life of the party if you will. It's intermingling, making its presence known at all times, but is never the dominant taste at any point of the flavour experience. For me kind of an imaginary blend of Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza and La Roja, it has the clear Brett flavour, with a lot of Flanders Red characteristics possibly from the adjuncts - palmetto and hibiscus with the Brett and the base yeast telling you the whole time this is still a saison at heart. Just a really cool beer.

M: Moderate acidity, drying Brett finish. Musty, medium-bodied, fairly clean on the end with all this going on. Just a tad overcarbonated, but is not fizz-tastic like I found with the Lectio Divina.

D: This is fun beer to delve into and just to drink. Great flavour, lots of complexity. Saison fits it because there is a lot of leeway and different brewing techniques in that style. The beer is not acidic or Bretty enough to warrant an American Wild Ale label though it kind of wants to go there at times. Really good, if it's available go try this immediately, on the short list for best beer in 2010. It's still weird seeing St. Somewhere in CA, I still remember when they got super-hyped a couple years back, and I thought I'd never get to try their stuff; good to see them out here.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2010 03:06:52 | More by Halcyondays

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

On cask at Tap and Table in Emmaus PA. The beer appears a hazy brown with little head. This really reminds me of Victory's Wild Devil, but I don't think that's a good thing. The brett dominates the beer in an earthy, tangy mix of bitter greens and lemon rind. I like sour beers, but I failed to finish this one. I think it might better be classified as an American Wild Ale.

Serving type: cask

10-04-2009 14:56:41 | More by tempest

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.13/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

750ml bottle purchased as a single from Yankee Spirits, Sturbridge, MA. Corked & caged, cork dated 2009 on top.

Ok, after uncaging, but before uncorking, I set down the bottle to type for a minute, and then out of nowhere the cork blew of it' own volition. Scared the sh*t out of me...

Poured into a DFH tulip, formed a 1" tan head above the cloudy coppery red brew. Head is fizzing away and being rejuvenated at the same pace for a long time, with loud fizzing. Lacing is slow-falling when it starts to show up late in the experience. Aroma is a bit funky, maybe off fruits and sweetness.

Taste is fruity from the start, perhaps tangerine, that same off musty flavor in the middle, tartness at the close. Mouthfeel is sort of slickery and small bubbled, with drinkability being alright. Cannot get by that flavor that seems to be everywhere.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2010 01:24:11 | More by ppoitras

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy dark amber/coppery chestnut brown color with dark ruby hues when held to a light source and a frothy one finger beige head that fades into a lasting ring that leaves sporadic lacing.

Spicy peppery aroma that is slightly floral with hints of dark fruit, hops and malt backbone.

Slightly tart, medium body that's slightly syrupy with spicy peppery notes. Pretty sweet from the addition of berries(blackberry and blueberry) with a faint floral presence from the addition of hibiscus petals. Nice balance of subtle hops and caramel malt backbone. Dry finish that's slightly tart and puckering but not acidic.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2009 19:13:36 | More by corby112

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

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

On tap at Capone's the other day.

The beer purs a darkish amber color with very good head retention and excellent lacing. This beer certainly looks very attractive. On the nose I get plenty of spice and rootbeer, with this beer smelling very much like well made Belgian style beer. Flavors on the palate replicate the nose, though I get some chocolate aroma as well. The description of this beer indicates that it was made with hibiscus, something that is prominent both on the nose and on the palate. This adds complexity to the beer and blends in very nicely with the other flavors and aromas. Mouthfeel is fairly light for the abv., but with a fairly long finish. The beer is moderately sweet, but the finish is almost on the dry side. Alcohol is very well disguised in this interesting beer.

A very intriguing effort from St. Somewhere, and one I'm glad to have had the oppportunity to try.

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2009 15:17:08 | More by johnmichaelsen

glid02

Georgia

4.43/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Cask at Aromas in Athens, GA.

Pours a hazy dark amber color with a large-bubbled, one-finger off-white head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells very good - mixed fruits, mostly berries, with a good deal of brett that doesn't seem as funky as others. I'm not 100% sure what a hibiscus smells like but perhaps it tempers some of the barnyard aromas.

Tastes similar to how it smells. A good amount of mixed fruit flavors up front are soon overtaken by a delicate tartness that has a good dose of earthiness. As the sip progresses an almost musty taste that isn't as off-putting as it sounds joins in before a crisp and somewhat tart ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a smooth thickness with soft yet prickly carbonation.

Drinkability is very good. I finished my glass and ended up having a few more samples.

Overall I thought this was a very interesting beer with just the right amount of tartness introduced. I'll be interested to try the bottle version once it's out to see how it compares.

Serving type: cask

11-20-2009 03:57:22 | More by glid02

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

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

'Pays du Soleil' sounded like a summer drink and indeed it looks it; the combination of palmetto berries and hibiscus flower has tinted the beer a deep, glistening amber that looks like sherry when held against the bright, August afternoon sun. Never before have I seen such a big head fizzle out so fast; still, the clear beer is best described as sparkling.

As a Belgian-inspired beer, for better or for worse, it has inherited a mustiness, not all of which is exactly appealing. The "cellar"-like character is boosted by a perceivable alcohol strength and is unencumbered by anything fruity or floral (except the alcohol esters). I imagined something brewed with berries and flowers to be more pleasant than this.

The bubbles are so lively that, at the right angle, a fine vapour actually appears over the surface where they fizzle out. (Off the pour, you can literally hold your hand over the glass and feel the bubbles mist your skin.) I've seen this in soda-pop many times but never in a beer. Indeed, it is as the Italians say 'spumante', bringing a pin-prick sensation to the palate.

This kind of effervescence might have made for a refreshing beer, if only it had more flavour; like the appearance, this has has at least a superficial resemblance to sherry: it is sweet, with fortified strength and vivid vestiges of macerated fruit. There's no hops, as to be expected, and so the taste succumbs to notes of bruised, over-ripened fruits, some of which is the berries, most of which is fig and crab-apple. Hibiscus shows up only in the aftertaste.

The neat thing about wild yeasts is that each of them contributes a unique flavor profile that can't entirely be predicted; the beauty of this style is the element of the unknown. Unfortunately with this bottle none of them ever developed - and I've given them a year to do so! All the yeast contributes is bubbles, fruit and phenols - no sourness. This does have (cider) vinegar-like qualities, but is a let down where funk is concerned.

I suppose even the best-intentioned breweries can produce their own Snakes on a Plane - that is, a fancifully billed project that turns up a dud. Saint Somewhere has always shown a lot of integrity, and the sound of a Belgian saison brewed with berries, hibiscus and wild yeasts is right up my alley, but I couldn't help but feel disappointed (especially considering how much I paid) for this simplistic, amateur-ish, only menially enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2011 22:12:19 | More by biegaman

Brad007

Vermont

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

Pours a mild amber/light burgundy color into my wine glass (don't ask me why I'm using a wine glass). Just a hint of head as well.

A tart aroma greets my nose as if it were an old friend that hadn't been seen in years. Aromas of hibiscus and saw palmetto greet the nose. On a more pedestrian level, think of a cross between cherry and grape.

Mildly tart with an emphasis on the ingredients used. Flowery, "earthy" taste that's just right. Very unique for the style. Hard to describe (in a good way!) but oh-so inviting. And again, definitely a "berry" taste (to simplify it).

Mouthfeel has a lingering, flowery, powdery malt feeling with just enough sourness to spark the taste buds.

This is certainly worth what I paid for it. It's a different take on a saison/farmhouse ale and it attempts to push the style envelope by incorporating ingredients that are non-typical (whole Hibiscus and saw palmetto berries).

I like it and I will definitely be buying other offerings from this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 00:06:04 | More by Brad007

mactrail

California

3.8/5  rDev -1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A little on the flat side without much in the mouthfeel. However, carbonation is good for a few sips. Plain amber in the glass. Not much lacing.

Interesting fruity aroma with a touch of fermenting apples. Warm and rich. Nice sweetness with tart underpinnings. Way less sour than other Saisons I've tasted lately. Nice touch of bitterness, kind of a woodsy vegetable bitter.

Pleasant and drinkable, complex with changing flavors.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2011 04:00:23 | More by mactrail

avalon07

South Carolina

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

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a dark amber color and a thick, cloudy consistency. There was a big, rocky, fizzy head that quickly dissipated. No real lacing.

S: A very sharp aroma of hops, malt, light fruit, and a floral quality.

T: Tasted of light hops, some malt, light fruit (lemon, apricot) and the floral quality (presumably the advertised hibiscus). Also, that typical funkiness was evident. An interesting take on the saison - much fruitier than is typical. A vibrant, tasty beer.

M: A highly carbonated beer with a dry finish. Medium-bodied.

O: On the whole, this is a well made and flavorful beer. Not a straight saison, but still a solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2011 12:05:11 | More by avalon07

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Shared this 750 ml bottle with my fiance, who loves this breweries bottle artwork.

Bright bronze and copper hue with hardly anyfoam after a quick snap of head after the pour. Good bubbling, but none of the foam I love to see in a saison.

The aroma was sweat, yeasty, fruity, with a little earthy, herbal hop aromas mixed in there. Very inviting aroma.

The taste starts with an intoxicating berry and yeast fruit flavor mixed with delicately toasted white bread. The middle drys and leaves a crackling juicey mouthfeel. The finish has a warm herbal berry flavor that makes this 8% saison deceptively easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2011 13:52:23 | More by scruffwhor

dirtylou

Washington

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

750ml bottle - riley's

split and served with market trout and asparagus

appearance: served in hopleaf tulip, bright amber body, nice beige ring

smell: tart grape juice, apricot, sweet candied sugar, belgian yeast

taste: quite sweet - white grape juice, sugary apricot, sugary yeast, tangerine, white pepper, floral, bubblegum. a mixed bag of bold flavors -a little big for a saison, but nice, and well spiced

mouthfeel: nicely spiced, peppery hot finish

drinkability: good

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2010 00:00:25 | More by dirtylou

Tone

Missouri

4.08/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy, copper color. 1/4 inch head of an off-white color. Decent retention and slight lacing. Smells of tart malt, citrus, slight hops, and yeast. Fits the style of a Saison / Farmhouse Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp with an average carbonation level. There is also a noticeable tartness associated with this beer. Tastes of tart malt, alcohol, yeast, slight earthy malt, citrus, and slight hop. Overall, a good blend, body, and aroma, but lacking in appearance.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2010 00:28:38 | More by Tone

kylehay2004

Florida

3.55/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Very dark for a saison. This one was a murky amber. single finger head.

S: alcohol esters are strong here. Mostly fig and apricot with apple notes.

T: Not the yeast character I like in my saison. Lot of apple in the flavor.

M: Moderate carbonation and medium body.

Overall: This is a good beer but not so much a good saison. The apple is just strong enough to take over the alcohol dominance.

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2011 02:01:48 | More by kylehay2004

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL bottle picked up last week in Orlando, brought back to OH to try along with Saison Athene.

First, some notes on style. The Saint Somewhere website calls this a Dubbel, the label states "Belgian style ale brewed with spices", and BA lists this as a saison. I'm not sure why there's so much discrepancy on beer from Saint Somewhere, I first encountered this while reviewing Lectio Divina. My own opinion is that this is a Belgian Pale Ale, and I guess my review is made against that broad style.

The beer pours somewhat dark, a deep copper color that is definitely lighter than a dubbel but darker than most saisons I've had. Unfiltered with a fine haze and a thick rocky solid-looking foam.

The aroma bothered me at first, in that I searched for and found a slight medicinal note (cough syrup). But upon longer exposure and warmer temperature I started to convert. This is a complex beverage aroma-wise, I suspect due to heavy sugars and yeast by-products as much as it is due to the spices noted on the label. It brings to mind patchouli incense, very floral and perfumy. Maybe there's some honey in this too, at least this smells like a small amount was used. Moreover, this smells authentically Belgian, I'm guessing the yeast strain is from Belgium and is similar (or the same) as used on Lectio Divina.

The beer tastes as complex as it smells, somewhat sweet upfront with lingering spices and yeasty breadiness in the aftertaste. As usual I find it too challenging to identify actual spices in the recipe, but in this case I'll say I don't think there's any coriander. In any case it's really tasty.

The body is on the thicker side, not quite syrupy but getting there. I think that with a little more time and exposure Saint Somewhere can approach Unibroue-like status, if they can keep the common thematic elements between their offerings.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2010 23:47:18 | More by TurdFurgison

nickfl

Florida

4.15/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours with two fingers of fluffy, off-white head that rests on top of an amber-brown body with good clarity. The foam settles slowly and leaves excellent lace. This is an unusually good looking beer, the color is exceptional and the clarity allows the intense carbonation to show through in the form of countless columns of tiny bubbles streaming upwards through the beer to replenish the tenacious half finger of foam that refuses to dissipate.

S - Spicy yeast aromas of pepper and clove with lots of fruit. Notes of pineapple, hibiscus and mango with some earthy brett in the background.

T - Bready malt up front with earthy spice notes of pepper and allspice as well as a bit of medicinal bitterness. Some dry, toasty caramel in the middle along with juicy, but dry floral/fruity notes. Finishes with dry toast and a slightly funky sourness as well as a surprising note of moderate bitterness. Lingering floral notes along with some pineapple/vanilla and slightly astringent pepper and clove.

M - Medium body, moderately high carbonation, and a very dry finish with a touch of astringency.

D - Well, it seems like I've been hearing rumors of this new St. Somewhere beer for about two years now and am quite happy to have finally gotten ahold of one. I rarely find myself moved by the appearance of a beer, for most it is just a pass/fail kind of thing, but this beer is one of those rarities that is truly beautiful. The clarity is perfect (although it got a bit cloudy on the second pour) and the head is big, rocky and tenacious, but what really sets is apart is the color; there is just something about this particular shade of amber that really does it for me. Moving on, the aroma is equally spectacular with all the requisite fruity Saison notes that St. Somewhere hits like few others. This is enhanced by a juicy floral quality as well as very nice note of brett that is strong enough to make and impact but not so powerful that it turns the beer into a true wild ale. The flavor echos the aroma, but is sadly not quite as engrossing. There is a good bit of malt in the beer, which is something I didn't really expect, and while this could help to balance out the sharpness of the spice and yeast, it mostly fails to do so because of the dryness. I have generally found that toasted malt character doesn't come across well in very dry beers and this is no exception. There is also an herbal bitterness that is present at the beginning of the flavor impression and in the finish and while it does manage a certain refreshing quality, it is has a somewhat unpleasant astringency that makes me assume that it comes from spicing at least as much as hops. Overall, this would seem to be a worthy addition to St. Somewhere's lineup. As with all of their beers, this one likely changes significantly with time and I believe that I caught it near, but not quite at, its best.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2010 05:43:16 | More by nickfl