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

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pricey and might not be worth it for some looking for a huge big brew, as this is solid but not quite worth the $18.99 for the 750 at Casanova's.
Cloudy lemon juice yellow with a huge crown of whitish foam that stands for great length. A cake of lacing is sheeted thickly across the goblet.

Aroma is semi peppy and vibrant, dry and spicy with yeasty white pepper, zesty floral hops, with a light tone of sweet fruityness that brings in a bit of lemon and orange peel, peach, mango, and the mentioned apricot. Quite subtle and low-ended but appetizing none-the-less.

Taste has quite the subtle display of fruityness mixing with a some well balanced spiceyness about it. Zippy and tart with a stretched out squeeze play of lemon rinds and orange peel playing upon a brisk white grape crunchyness. Earthy spiced in dirty citrusy parts within its tartness. Its tartness is tame enough just to let in a light airy pep of pepper spice and floral hops. Only a light touch of apricot sweetness and fuzz appear in a light portion of the finish. Which adds an outstanding little touch to the overall tart tone that carries this the whole way through.

Body is mediumish with a peppy zip of bite to it along with a tart tang of yeast and citric fruit peels that has a long tone and texture of bittering parchyness on the cheeks and palate.

Overall, more white wine-like then what I'd like out of what a maltier Saison would be like for my particular tastes. But the balance here is sublime and very tolerable and I really enjoyed the play of dirty, earthy citrusy tartness, spice, and dryness.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2011 02:01:04 | More by tavernjef

Photekut

Azerbaijan

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

05-19-2013 18:53:30 | More by Photekut

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

05-15-2013 16:41:02 | More by twenty5

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

05-05-2013 20:11:48 | More by Jason1337

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.19/5  rDev +8%
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

tswater

Colorado

4/5  rDev +3.1%

04-28-2013 06:00:36 | More by tswater

Gobzilla

California

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

04-25-2013 02:32:55 | More by Gobzilla

JohnK17

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

04-24-2013 14:42:55 | More by JohnK17

CelticAleMan

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

04-15-2013 22:09:20 | More by CelticAleMan

RMDuff

Kansas

3/5  rDev -22.7%

04-15-2013 04:34:06 | More by RMDuff

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.1%

03-24-2013 18:46:54 | More by Sparky44

Blanco

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

03-14-2013 02:20:07 | More by Blanco

Dactrius

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

02-23-2013 13:29:44 | More by Dactrius

metter98

New York

4/5  rDev +3.1%
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 +3.9%
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

jonbeer89

Nebraska

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

01-24-2013 04:06:27 | More by jonbeer89

UCLABrewN84

California

3.73/5  rDev -3.9%
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

imperialking

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

11-20-2012 19:03:32 | More by imperialking

doucmehu

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

11-17-2012 15:08:14 | More by doucmehu

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +3.9%
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

Duff27

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.1%

11-09-2012 03:28:53 | More by Duff27

frank12

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +22.4%

11-02-2012 09:00:17 | More by frank12

FullObs

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +16%

10-11-2012 15:41:21 | More by FullObs

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

4.23/5  rDev +9%
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 +9%
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