Apricot Au Poivre Saison - Reserve Series Aged In Chardonnay Barrels - Nebraska Brewing Company

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.19/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

this is a really fantastic beer, and easily the best thing to come out of Nebraska in a long time, maybe ever. who knew? not me. this pours a cloudy pale orange color with a bold off white head maybe two inches high. the nose on it is really alive saison yeast, light peppercorn, and jammy fruit preserves. its complex yet not overly aggressive. for me, the first thing I taste is the chardonnay barrel, its really left a lot of wine flavors in this beer, and it combines really well with the yeast, which is farmy, but also very light and summery. the pepper warms my throat just a touch, and excited my tongue, but it stays subliminal, not assertive. the apricots don't really make their appearance until the end, which is reverse from the norm, and I like it a lot. very fresh, and way less sweet than the nose suggests. almost dry in the finish. bright carbonation and a soft medium body makes this extremely drinkable. a very sunny day kind of brew, and an outstanding introduction to this brewery for me. I am now eager to find some of their other stuff if its anywhere near as good as this. overall a creative and well executed brew from a state I thought least likely to do such a thing. bravo!

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 20:21:50 | More by StonedTrippin

metter98

New York

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is rather hazy dark yellow in color. It poured with a finger high off white head that died down, leaving a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface and a thick collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of oak barrels are present in the nose, along with some notes of apricot and hints of chardonnay.
T: The taste is similar to the smell, except that the flavors of chardonnay and apricot are much more apparent and outshine the oak. Some hints of pepper are present in the finish.
M: It feels a bit shy of medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. No dryness is apparent.
O: The barrel aging really adds complexity to this beer and makes the overall taste interesting, but does not overpower the apricot flavors.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 23:53:30 | More by metter98

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a cloudy golden apricot in color with some orange highlights and light to moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a two finger tall foamy off-white head that reduces to a medium sized medium thick patch with a thin film covering the remainder of the surface of the beer and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate aromas of apricot light fruit and pepper spices along with a moderate aromas of chardonnay from the barrel aging. There are some subtle notes of oak as well.

T: There is a subtle amount of pale malt flavors upfront but then vinous chardonnay flavors from the barrel aging take over. There are some subtle notes of oakiness throughout and a pleasantly light apricot flavor towards the finish. Light amounts of pepper spiciness are also observed. Very light amounts of bitterness which fade almost immediately.

M: Just shy of medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Creamy with some light to moderate amounts of dryness in the finish.

O: I think the chardonnay barrel aging and the addition of the apricot/pepper to this beer are very complementary to the Saison style and this is a very enjoyable and easy to drink example. The alcohol is very well hidden and the flavors are complex and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 23:50:30 | More by dbrauneis

UCLABrewN84

California

3.73/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Bottle pour for New Brew Thursday's 3rd Anniversary event held at Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in Long Beach, CA.

Pours a murky honey orange with a foamy bone colored head that settles to a small cap on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is sour and tart with some malt, apricot, and acidic. Taste is much the same with a fruity apricot flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of acidity on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with some nice fruity aromas and flavors.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 01:22:21 | More by UCLABrewN84

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

thanks to TATURBO for sharing this bottle! Thanks Chris.

Appearance: yellow orange bodied beer with 2 fingers of white head. spotty lace.

Smell: Earthy, wheat malts, hints of fruity peach notes. peppery.

Taste: wheat and white pepper. earthy and a hint a tartness. peaches. a little bit of barnyard funk too.

Mouthfeel: light body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: really solid saison from an unexpected place... Nebraska! This is a really nice saison with nice complexity and it would drink great on a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 07:38:13 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

4.23/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from tasting notes.

It has the color of apricots but has some hazing and a nice two finger soapy bubbled head with pretty amazing lacing but mediocre retention time. Not only is it colored like apricots but it strongly smells and tastes of apricots as well as a light touch of belgian funk, medium-light white wine acidic tones, and a late sip dry wooden character from the barrel. The cracked black peppercorns do not show up in the nose nearly as strongly as they manifest in the flavor, where they seem to have been used as a sort of deliberate substitution for the role that noble hop spice qualities would normally have played in the Saison. I'm OK with that, because it works well and is different enough to be intriguing. Medium body and carbonation levels, with just a touch of creaminess in texture.

Another good one worth trying out if you can get your hands on it.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 21:36:15 | More by WastingFreetime

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

4.23/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip glass from a 750ml bottle.

Pours a nice hazy straw golden color with some slight muted orange hues. There is a 1 inch tall white head that is slight dense and soapy

Aroma is immediately of funk. Tart apricot notes follow with some nice slight fruity and sweet esters. Nice barnyard and cornhusk mixed in with the tart. Spicy saison notes of pepper and some slight coriander. Nice dry vinous notes are present with some slight oaky notes as well. A bit mild on the nose.

Flavor is a different story. Very flavorful. Starts off with some nice dry funk notes. Tons of white grape vinous notes mixed in with some nice tart and sweet apricot notes. Quite vinous and dry with some nice yeasty esters and some nice earthy grain notes that play well with the slight fruit juice notes and slight sugary sweetness. There is also some nice earthy grain that flows all throughout the drink. The middle and back end are more woody and spicy with some slight hoppy grass notes balanced by the peppery notes with a dray but slightly sweet finish. Very delicious. Mouthfeel is clean and crisp with a bit of fluffy carbonation to it.

Very delicious brew. Nice combination of flavors that play well together but shine very nicely on their own.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 22:16:59 | More by JoEBoBpr

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice Chardonnay barrel-aged saison with a fair fruity edge.

Presentation: 750 cl brown capped bottle. Busy special release label, a bit blocky with an orange background framed with the branding and details of the brew, including a small paragraph with the main description and intent. Notes 6.8%Alc. by Vol. Served in a tulip glass.

A - Hazy pale gold pour with a nice frothy head, moderate to short retention, and lacing, with a small surface memory.

S - Yeasty sense, with a fruity touch emerging over a dry vinous touch...

T - Taste follow with a nice earthy range, spicy yeast, spicy, soft fruit, apricot… sugar. Nice soft tart hint from the Chardonnay...

M - Medium body and carbonation. Pleasing soft dryness as it finishes.

O - Worth and pleasing barrel aged take on a saison, the fruity edge is fair, but does not push down the brew.

Notes: This was pretty pleasing, not outstanding, in particular the fruity edge did not work entirely for me, and the base and barrel sort of made the brew rather solid for my liking. Still very glad to have tried it, and a good impression in terms of looking out for their brews.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 03:39:01 | More by Daniellobo

jjanega08

Minnesota

3.8/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

No freshness dating I can see.

A= Pours a hazy yellowish orange color with a three finger high slightly off white head on the top. The head holds great retention and lacing on the side of the glass.

S= The smell is a slightly sour chardonnay odor with a little barrel to the aroma. Nothing over the top. I may be able to make out some pepper. I don't get too many apricots up front they may be hidden deeper in the "sour" aroma smell.

T= Tastes nice and peppery with only a slight sour note. The sour is actually minimal. The apricot comes through a little more with only a slight sourness. The pepper plays nicely with the saison yeast spice. Chardonnay is also a minimal character to it and the barrel flavor is again somewhat quiet.

M= Finishes nice and dry with a lot of bubbles. Very nice for a saison.

O= I was expecting a little more apricot to it. I was hoping for more sour notes as well but I got very very little of both. Worth trying for sure but at the price point I would not buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 04:23:31 | More by jjanega08

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on 2012-05-05 in Columbia, PA.

A - Straw-gold with a 2-finger bubbly white head and good lacing. Lots of effervescence.

S - Smells nice like a high-end Schlitz with apricot, lemon, light grass; and I mean Schlitz in a complimentary way.

T - Initially a good amount of pale malt followed by a nice blast of fresh tart apricot, mild-moderate hop bitterness. Dries very nicely and leaves a pleasant apricot skin taste. Well-balanced.

M - Light body and medium carbonation. Crisp but a little creamy. My wife and I both enjoyed this one.

O - Just a easy-drinkin', good-tastin' farmhouse ale. Nice job on this one. My wife and I both like this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 21:13:16 | More by Tucquan

homebrewhawk

Kansas

4.13/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle served in a tulip. Bottle conditioned. Poured a pale gold with a couple of fingers of white head. Lots of carbonation. Aroma started out very yeasty. Is there some brett in there? Apricot comes out in aroma as it warms. Light bodied. A bit of tartness, dry (which is what I prefer in a Saision). The pepper comes out in the finish, but it is subtle. Also some oak, but it is subtle as well. Nice complexity in the flavor. Good beer, but overpriced IMO.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 14:34:36 | More by homebrewhawk

dbmernin83

California

4.08/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a beautiful golden straw with a big pillowy white head that lasts, leaving some lacing.
Tart, a little chardonnay, and some fruit sweetness on the nose.
Starts with tart funk, chardonnay playing, followed by nice apricot sweetness, and finishes with a light hop bite. Alcohol lightly kisses the apricot.
Great carbonation.
This is what I look for in a saison. Fruity, not overly sweet, a little funk, a touch of hop. Delicious. I need to grab another bottle for the summer.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 10:35:05 | More by dbmernin83

drabmuh

Maryland

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a snifter at a recent tasting with some other dudes. Beer is yellow, hazy, wispy white head, small bubbles.

Aroma is yeasty, tea-like bitterness and some apricot-jam pops up in the nose.

Beer is light in body, creamy at times, mildly dry finish, good yeast, nice fruit, decent little saison, good, I may have another.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 17:13:21 | More by drabmuh

mdfb79

New York

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 01/14/12 notes. Thanks to drabmuh for sharing this one.

a - Pours a hazy dark yellow color with one finger of white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of apricots, brett, spices, white wine, lightly sour fruits, and fruity malts.

t - Tastes of sour fruits, apricots, brett, white wine, oak, spices, and floral hops. A tiny bit more sour than the nose, I like the taste better.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. A pretty easy to drink saison.

o - Overall I thought this was a very nice saison. Lightly sour and some nice apricots, and easy to drink. Would like to have it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 01:47:13 | More by mdfb79

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle courtesy of drabmuh. Served in a Dark Lord mini-snifter.

Pours a nice peach color with a good white head and some nice lacing on the way down. The nose carries some nice apricot and other stone fruit along with light wheat and faint grain. Light yeast there as well. Flavor falls along similar lines -- the saison yeast is in the background with the apricot up front. Light, spritzy body. Good beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 23:53:55 | More by Thorpe429

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by drabmuh. Thanks Matt.

The beer is hazy and light orange colored with a small white head that leaves random traces of lacing in the snifter. The aroma offers apricot, as expected. Additional scents include yeast, malt, spice. Definitely smells like a saison. Good stuff. Flavorful and fruit forward. A nice white wine quality adds complexity and intrigue. Light to medium bodied. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 02:01:57 | More by Huhzubendah

cpolking

Iowa

3.93/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A bottle-conditioned Belgian-style saison ale that is brewed with apricots and pepper and then aged in Chardonnay barrels for six months.

The beer pours an orange-golden in color, hazy, with an inch of thick, tightly foamy head that is white to just off-white in color, and leaves thick, sticky lacing down the glass.

The aroma is yeasty, white wine, with a hint of fruit and oak.

The taste is well-constructed, the tastes of the yeast (fruit, butter, earthiness) meld into the tastes of the wine barrel (chardonnay with its fruit, buttery, and oak notes). There is then a note of the apricot. The pepper is unobtrusive.

The mouthfeel is light, with a smooth creaminess aided by the thick head of foam. A complex, interesting and tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 01:19:35 | More by cpolking

mcallister

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Cloudy orange colored with a large rising head of white. Long retention with sticky lace.

A bit of funk in the aroma, light barnyard, some lacto type sour notes, apricot, peach, spice, white pepper, sand, oak, very fruity and lively almost tickling the nose with carbonation.

Very nice. As a saison should be lively sprite carbonation brings the taste buds to life. With semi sweet apricot, some brett flavors of horse blanket and barnyard. Nice character from the chardonnay barrels with bitter oak tannins. Peach, pear, white pepper, belgian yeast spiciness. A great food beer with phenomenol carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 21:21:25 | More by mcallister

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very smooth drinker, good mouthfeel. Funky aroma. Distinct apricot flavour. Nice one, with chardonnay barreling adding to the flavour and enhancing the fruitiness.Sour beginning, Sweet finish. Appropriate carbonation.
Pricey bomber, and worth sharing.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 03:19:09 | More by northyorksammy

Boonedoggle

Colorado

3.25/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: One finger head with nice golden color. Good lacing.

Smell: A balance of hops and apricot. Dryness alludes to it being a saison.

Taste: The hops are a bit too much on this. If the hops had been less the apricot would peek through a bit more. The oak adds a good angle to the taste.

Mouth: A nice medium body. Good carbonation for a saison.

Overall: A good apricot saison, but not worth the $20 pricetag. I'd be interested in tasting this beer without the barrel aging.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 22:47:46 | More by Boonedoggle

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to bu11zeye for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours a hazy light yellow color with a white head. The aroma is full of apricots with some wheat and biscuit malt notes mixed in.

The flavor is considerably more complex. I get a lot of apricot notes, but I also get a lot of character from the wine barrel aging. I get some nice oak and white wine notes, as well as some green grape notes. There is also some biscuit malt and some spiciness from the Belgian yeast.

Medium moutfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 00:23:55 | More by Mora2000

sweemzander

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL bottle poured into a tulip. Thanks for sharing Andy!

(A)- Pours a cloudy golden apricot orange color. Some nice white froth and lace.

(S)- Light clove. Bits of dry floral-like fruit. A touch of a light funky earth.

(T)- Very very dry. Lots of funky Brett. Some fruit in there with some oak dryness. Mild spice.

(M)- A good carbonation level and balance. Plenty of Brett in this, but supplemented well by the oaky fruit.

(D)- A unique and engaging saison. Good fruit and oak nuances. A bit high on the Brett levels, but enjoyable. The high price point on this would deter me from getting it in the future though.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 17:42:56 | More by sweemzander

mntlover

Tennessee

3.48/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy golden color with a big white head that falls slowly and laces well, very nice looking.

Aroma is some light fruity notes, light funk on sweet malty base. Light chardonnay notes mingled with light peppery spice and yeast notes.

Taste is well saison like until the chardonnay kicks in and makes it eh strange maybe best way to describe it. Wheat notes nice fruits notes, funk and spice. Then the barrel notes kick in and I am not sure if I like my Saison's aged in in barrels. Finish is lingering chardonnay over everything.

Mouthfeel is nice light medium nice carbonation for a saison.

Overall smells good, looks great, wine barrel aging just doesn't seem to make it better for me.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2011 23:43:40 | More by mntlover

KAP1356

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Been eyeing this one up in the area for a while. Finally broke down and bought it to try. 750 ml bottle poured into a Weyerbacher tulip glass...

A - Pours a hazy, light orange color that actually resembles the color of apricots and peaches. A fluffy eggshell white head forms about 2.5 fingers thick and retains nicely.

S - Funky aroma here with lots of pepperiness to it. Slight wine barrel influence, but not as much as I would have expected. Apricots come through but are not overpowering. Some tropical notes as well.

T - Sweet and funky flavors all around. Apricot, pear, and some green apple come through. The wine barrel comes alive in the taste more so than the nose. A little syrupy to me and a dry finish.

M - Lighter bodied bordering on medium bodied. Nice spritely carbonation gives it a refreshing feel on the tongue.

O - It's hard for me to spend $20 on Nebraska's reserve series. Some are hits and some are misses. This falls somewhere in between. It was nice, but not the barrel aged gem I had hoped for.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2011 17:17:37 | More by KAP1356

kbuzz

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from an oversized bottle into a snifter.

A: Slightly hazey golden honey/straw colored beer with plenty of bubbles. One finger head that fades pretty quickly. Very sexy beer.

S: Funky, peppery yeastiness dominates. Some fruity undertones - apricot, pear. A hint of vinegar as well.

T: A barnyard fruitiness up front. Sweet. Apricot and pear, as in the nose. Some faint citrus notes. The apricot really shows up as it warms. Tastes like a syrupy, yeasty fruit cocktail with some pepper sprinkled on top. Finishes with just a bit of the chardonnay quality - sweet and just a little dry. I don't get any of the wood-aged characteristics at all.

M: Medium bodied beer...very smooth, creamy, juicy. Not too dry. This is a very easy drinking beer.

O: A better than average Saison. The tastes are all very well developed, but not as interesting as I was expecting for a limited beer like this. Definitely easy to drink and tasty enough...I guess I was just expecting more. Solid beer nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2011 23:47:13 | More by kbuzz