Saison Rue - The Bruery

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I am glad I took the Brothers up on their review and traded for it. Pours a lovely cloudy yellow with huge white head. Balanced not sweet or too bitter, and on the tad dry side. Masterful, with spiciness that comes on boldly after initial creamy mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2008 23:54:17 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.22/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Candied apricot orange with amber borders and a huge amount of vigorous carbonation. These guys are dead set on bottle conditioning everything, but... damn. At some point the end result has to matter more than adherence to a supposed ideal. The head looks good and is leaving a great deal of lace. Both are surprising.

The aroma is easily appreciated through four full fingers of fluffy foam. It's saison-like (earthy, spicy, herbal) and is also interesting and intriguing. Brettanomyces is in the background at this point, which is fine and dandy.

Time to wipe away the slow foam ooze before it reaches the coaster and desktop. Other than a mouthfeel that is annoyingly overbubbled, Saison Rue is damn fine beer. The rye malt adds an earthiness that is pronounced and the yeast contributes a varied palette of spicy esters. A light zing of citrus peel is a pleasant surprise as well.

The beer is so spicy that it's possible that spices were added. Grains of paradise (alligator pepper) perhaps? Brett funk is still on the tame side. Flavor breadth, depth and intensity is on par with some of the well-brewed saisons of Belgium. This is one of The Bruery's most accomplished efforts for sure.

The body/mouthfeel really isn't that bad in the end. It stops short of stinging and adds an energy that is right in line with the boldness of the flavor profile. The beer drinks lighter than the ABV would suggest.

With more attention paid to carbonation, Saison Rue (named for The Bruery founder and head honcho Patrick Rue) could be superb beer. Hell, it's most of the way there already. Glad this is a seasonal. Not so glad that it isn't easily available to Iowans.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2010 21:16:07 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Acquired from South bay last month, this one has been sitting in the fridge waiting for me ever since. Very nice capped 750ml bottle that I decanted into an oversized wine glass and served at cellar temperature. Consumed on 07/24/2008.

The pour here was not without incident that was for sure, a near gusher, I was prepared though and quickly poured some into two glasses to clear it out. Huge, seriously like four inches of foam came pouring out of this one and then easily doubled in size, never fully coming back down. Rich side glass lace and tons of carbonation then engulfed it quickly. Very nice hazy golden yellow in color.

The aroma was charged with spice, it was so carbonated it was literally tickling my nose as it went by. Lots of light fruit, grain, touches of grass and peppery like notes along with a touch of sour, the flavor was more of the same and was very nicely done. No hint of the alcohol here, rather a finely blended, and very light and airy feel to it. Sloshing it around created that coveted silky feeling of foam in the mouth. This was very good. Lots of light citrus flavors bouncing around and a very dry finish, a touch sour but not really, Very earthy in nature, and yet very light with a nice light grain base and a wonderful champagne like finish.

Overall one of the better in the style I have had. I was very impressed with this one. The brewery really seems to have their shit together, as I have tried a few now and each seems better then the rest, really some high quality stuff coming out of here!

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2008 15:11:21 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.8/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: A hazy/cloudy reddish-orange color with a large white head.

S: Spice, bread, and yeast are the main traits that I pick up. The complexities that I hoped for in this (especially the Brett) are not all that present.

T: The taste is better than the nose. Still not quite as "funky" as I would have liked for a Saison, but better than I would have expected. Caramel, bread, slight taste of rye, some herbal character like a lot of their beers seem to have.

M: Medium body, decent carbonation.

D: A decent Saison, but not as good as I was hoping for.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2009 01:19:12 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes.

Pours a slightly-cloudy light-ish copper color with a nice white head. The nose brings forward a pretty good amount of yeast and light peppery notes.

The taste is of a bit of light malt as well as light pepper, spice, and yeast. Nice flavor profile and fairly unique. Good feel with some nice carbonation, and the spicing treats this well. Another good brew from the folks in Placentia.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2010 02:23:16 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.65/5  rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle - $10.99 at Bullock's Wine & Spirits.

Appearance: Quite cloudy body of orange-gold hues and topped with a large, meringue-like, white head.

Smell: Spicy nose, a mingled of popping phenolics and rye, with lesser, distant notes of cookies and honey. Plenty of fruits here: tart-scented Granny Smith apples, pears, and even lemon.

Taste: Sweet barley with some sugary sugar cookie-tasting hints and tangy-tasting wheat-based crackers and a crackling rye spiciness. Green apple and a bit of tart lemon cream lead to moderate phenolic tones, along with some punchy tastes of pickled sliced ginger and white pepper-coated pears. Touch of alcohol. Finishes dry and phenolic with some curious tastes of spearmint and green apples.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus. Medium-plus carbonation. Some chewiness, some creaminess.

Drinkability: It's both interest and different, though, when all is said and done, I'd rather stick to just a simple, classic Saison Dupont. That's just me though!

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2010 21:33:32 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a cloudy light amber color with a significant head that retains well and leaves a number of lacing shards around the chalice

Smell: Complex blend of grapefruit, green apples, balsa wood and vanilla; quite spicy, with pepper and other spices in the mix

Taste: Opens with a bitter fruity blend of apples and grapefruit that quickly moves in a sour barnyard direction by mid-palate; very peppery, with the rye adding a clean but harsh bitter character to the profile; after the swallow, the sour, bitter and fruity flavors blend together extraordinarily well, although there is some sweetness in the finish to balance everything out

Mouthfeel: Medium body with considerable carbonation; surprisingly creamy, in fact

Drinkability: Either this beer recipe has been altered or it has been completely misunderstood by previous reviewers. I suspect the former as I don't detect the overwhelming sweetness that was the major source of complaints. This is not a classic saison as the brett makes this more like an American Wild Ale to my palate

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2008 22:54:12 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

4/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Bruery Provisions in Orange, CA.

Pours a slightly hazy golden color with a light tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Thin streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grains, fruits, and some Brett funk. Taste is of grain, Brett funk, and some slight fruity flavors. There is a medium amount of bitterness that lingers on the palate after each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good saison with a nice amount of funk in the aroma and flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2012 22:05:10 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle courtesy of Bu11zeye: Poured a deep hazy copper color ale with a super huge white foamy head with good retention with some great lacing. Aroma of light funky ester with some fruit notes also discernable. Taste is a mix between some fruity ester with light funk and a nice Belgian malt backbone with some subtle dry hops also noticeable. Full body with limited filtration and perfect carbonation while alcohol is very well hidden. Very well done but lacking some character to be truly great.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2008 04:05:30 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.03/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A delicious but still young beer, as the bolder Brett character has yet to properly develop.

The pour brings a hazy orange to light copper color. Steady streams of carbonation fuel the froathy and cottony head unitl the very end of the session, leaving many rings of lace behind. A fantastic appearance.

Aromas of tropical fruits lead- oranges, mangos, lemons, appricots, and apples all make a mark on the nose. Light must (maybe barnyard) begins to add to the character but not yet bold enough to balance the fruits. Citrus and herbal hops ride deeply in the background, picking up the slack until the Brett character arrives.

Flavors pick up the lemons and apple character first. A blended mix of twangy tartness (not sourness) along with lightly caramelized malts come into play next and takes the beer into the finish. The tropical and citrus theme continues but in complimentary roles. Lightly peppery, bitter, medicinal, and salty; the beers complexity continues to build.

What starts out creamy and weighted (especially for a Saison), finishes much drier and refreshing. No astringency but I expect this to develop as the beer sours further.

Right now, the beer's maltiness keeps it a bit too sweet and weighted. I also want to see the more musty/dusty character of Brettanomiaces develop. But after a year or so, this beer should take on a beautiful Orval-like character that will ultimately decide the success of the beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2010 04:10:57 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Not a style I go to very often but I was in the mood for a little something different last night.Poured into a chalice a deep orane infused amber with a nice fluffy one finger head atop that held very well.Sharp spice mixed with a little funk in the nosesome green apple and phenols rounded it out.The rye really came out on the palate lending some sharpness and a light lactic note,a little funky but it didnt overpower the flavor profile,again some green aplle and clove-like spice as well.I really liked the saison it's complex but not over the top in its funkiness.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 13:11:05 | More by oberon

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Hazed, dull orange, muddied apricot...slimmed creamy-toned head. Looks nice.

Aroma: big spice, some sour, some funk...a little citrus, under the spice.

Taste: more fruit, pulpy, even, really pungent, and exceedingly tasty, well measured with clove, cinnamon, cardamom...maybe others,. Beautiful mix of bright fruit and hot spice. Feels lovely in the mouth.
A saison full of farmhouse character. I would not guess unless told that this was not brewed in Belgium.
I'm drinking this while eating cheese and crackers, but I bet his would go wonderfully with many other, better foods. Most excellent, well worth the $13 I paid, if only to finally know, with my first taste, that The Bruery is the real deal.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2010 23:22:59 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

4.22/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a hazy gold color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a peppery, pale and rye malt scent along with a dry farmhouse funk aroma. It has a nice earthy scent. The taste is good. It has a bone dry flavor that goes down slow and warms in the finish. The rye and Brett feed off of one another. It's got quite a spicey/peppery taste. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This a pretty good beer. There's a lot going on with the aroma and taste. The rye is a nice touch and the Brett comes in at the end to add some excellent "funk" character.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2009 01:38:49 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

4.33/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a becher glass, best I could do at this particular restaurant. Beer is dark amber and clear until I reach the sediment that according to the bottle I'm suppose to avoid. Whatever.

Carbonation is low but steady. Forms a white head that leaves a little lacing on the glass but not much.

The aroma is slightly lactic but there are some interesting fruit notes in the nose as well.

The beer is definitely sour but its not overpowering. This is seriously a great saison. Medium body and nice carbonation in the mouth. Some sour apple notes in there, a building late lactic character. Its a great saison for sure and a nice sour. Very excited about this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2010 02:27:17 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to travita for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours a murky, dark yellow color with a white head. The aroma is peppery with some orange and citrus notes. I also get some pineapple. The flavor is about the same with pepper and citrus, along with some nice sweetness and some raspberry thrown in. High carbonation and light mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2010 23:06:42 | More by Mora2000

metter98

New York

4.13/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is hazy golden yellow in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a two finger high white head that died down yet consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: The aroma is quite spicy from the rye and also has some notes of yeast.
T: Like the smell, the overall taste is rather spicy and the yeast contributes earthy flavors. The spiciness from the rye particularly stands out in the finish.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. There is some dryness in the finish.
O: The beer is relatively easy to drink because the alcohol is well hidden, although the spicy flavors make it more of a beer that needs to be sipped.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2011 23:57:53 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.93/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Another gusher, this time I am a bit more careful & I pour a little less into my large Tripel Karmeliet tulip. It starts out about three fingers in height, but grows to eight fingers thick (including a structural mass that is a full two fingers above the rim of the glass), light tan colored head that easily crests the top of my glass. The head leaves a thick lacing and forms a very varied surface as it slowly subsides. The beer is a hazy amber color that shows an orangish tinge when held up to the light. As I am inspecting the beer I get an aroma that is a mix of spice and grain. Fruit aromatics join in once I actually smell the aroma, this is very earthy smelling as well. Aromas of pear, plums, earthy grain, a rye spiciness, aromas of orange blossom and a rich, whole grain bread character that is quite lush. Spice aromatic notes make me think of clove, ginger, white pepper, earthy coriander and some green, herbal notes that sort of round out the finish. This has a really nice mix of complex aromatic notes; I really like the various fruit, spice and malt driven aromatics found here.

Quite sweet tasting, but it is quite spicy as well with lots of peppery spice and ginger notes that do a good job of tempering the sweetness. Thick and full feeling for a Saison, with a viscousness, both of which I am sure are influenced by the use of Rye. While I hadn't realized it in the aroma (despite noticing citrus), this is actually quite hoppy; citrus hop notes of grapefruit, orange zest and pine are noticed just before an ample, biting bitterness dominates the finish with a menthol / pine driven flavor. The hop bitterness is accentuated by the spicy, peppery, phenolic character from the fermentation character. Lots of chewy, rustic grain character provides a mix of earthy, dusty, grain, crushed malt, a whole grain bread crumb flavor and a touch of fruity, caramelized malt.

My second pour allows / requires me to chew on some foam (lest my cup runneth over) and the foam is exceedingly bitter and hoppy. And wow, the ample carbonation adds a huge, up front peppery note to this beer that accentuates the ample hop bitterness.

This could be a bit drier as I tend to like my Saisons with less sweetness. If this wasn't so excessively carbonated already I would hold on to a couple bottles as the Brettanomyces should dry this out over time. As it is though I can only strongly recommend to not hold on to these bottles, drink up the bottle bombs as soon as you can. Hopefully things will have calmed down by batch 2, cause I really do want to age a couple of these to see what the Brett can do. Having said all this, the beer is still quite tasty and definitely a hit with me; rustic, spicy, nicely grain influenced and even a touch hoppy, I am really digging the mix of flavors profiled in this beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2008 05:10:07 | More by Gueuzedude

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.45/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Cheers to rbald42 & errant night for this one! Small gush on this, not much lost, thanks to the beer gods!

Pours an effervescent & semi-hazed straw/gold with 2 fingers of creamy eggshell colored head. Never completely clears up, but has stellar head retention & good lacing. Finishes dry, fruitty with a nice lemon zest character, plus candi sugar & a kiss of passion fruit

S: Lemons, white pepper, peach blossoms & grassyness

T: Follows the nose, plus vanilla & pineapple up front, plus apricot, white grape & a touch of leafy hops up front. Orchard fruit, a touch of brown sugar & appleskins, dryness, plus a touch of scrumpy cider as this warms

MF: Lively carbonation with a deceptively light body, becomes fairly warming after a few minutes

Man, I'm impressed at how refreshing this big complex beer is on a warm summer's evening!

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2010 03:35:02 | More by russpowell

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.36/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This poured out as a nice golden color with some reddish hues. Great looking white head, great retention and some light lacing. The smell is spicy and slightly sweet citrus. The taste has a rye spiciness along with malt sweetness and a subtle sourness. The mouthfeel is nicely carbonated, very drinkable brew. Overall this is a very good beer and I shouldn't have waited so long to try it.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 01:04:39 | More by Knapp85

Halcyondays

California

4.15/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours a cloudy, murky orange, with a long lasting small white head which leaves extensive Belgian lacing in a tulip glass.

S: Ripe fruit, almost a bit of orange marmalade and Brett funk.

T: Taste is quite interesting, an Orvalian saison if you will though it is not as good as that beer, what beer is? Anyway, taste opens with some sweeter tasting malt mixed with a clovely spiciness from the rye. Having it on-tap I forgot that rye was in here, so the flavours make more sense to me now. Very spicy, then the Brett comes in and adds that familiar funky wet hay bitterness and dries everything out until the finish.

M: Brett makes it bone dry, drier than the average saison, carbonation is light and silky, making it quite creamy, an interesting take.

D: It's complex nature makes it a real sipping beer and one you'd have to think about. Would like the Brett to do a little more in the beer, but perhaps it will change with age. An interesting local beer and a cool take on a classic style.

Edit - Upped the taste to 4.5 (from 3.5) and drinkability to 4 (from 3) after having an older bottle where the Brett really started to work its magic. Great funky, cheesy Brett notes come out, mixed with the spice of the rye, just great. A good beer young, but great once it ages. Original score (3.7).

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2008 18:23:10 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: pours a cloudy orange color with a 1" head that slowly falls to a spotty surface foam. No lace develops.

Smell: sour apples, pears, and some barnyard funk is pleasant on the nose.

Taste: mild caramel, pears, apples, pepper, yeast, and some spiciness along with an overall sour tone. Bitterness is nicely balancing here. Alcohol is mildly noticeable.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Crisp to start, crisp and a bit dry at the finish. Aftertaste is soft and is a bit sour and fruity.

Drinkability: nicely drinkable beer here. The brett sourness is enjoyable and not overwhelming. Nice beer everyone should have.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2009 19:37:46 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

750 ml bottle, poured into tulip glass:

Pours hazed golden amber with a huge head (almost too) that is creamy and stays for awhile before dropping. Lacing sticks.

The smell is of lemon tartness with Brett. funk. It has a background of subtle minty rye / caroway.

The taste is of a caramelish maltiness with bread. It's on the musty side with a hint of rye. It has a spicy hop bite in the finish, with caramel rounding it out. Alcohol is noticeable - a bit raw at first.

It is effervescent - tingly but not fizzy. Some alcohol dries up the palate.

This might be a bit raw - aging it might smooth it out, but I would be concerned about losing the fresh hop bite it has now (and works well). I guess that's a personal choice. Bottom line, of the few I've had from this brewery, I like this well-made brew - Brett funk there, but maltiness and hops complement it and make it a complex brew. It's unique!

Pleasantly surprised about how this brewery made it to New Jersey so quickly. Enjoying their brews!

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2009 18:11:18 | More by jwc215

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A capped 750 mL bottle purchased at TJ's Everyday.

A: The ale is sufficiently carbonated, filling my glass with several fingers of foamy goodness. As the head receded patches of lace were left in its wake. The ale is a hazy amber color, lighter with yellow and brown autumn tones.

S: Funkiness runs amok in the nose, with a dry tartness. Lemony citrus follows, a by-product of the brett that is a tart pleasure. Rye adds a spicy element but the sweet, dry, tart fruitiness rules the day.

T: The rye is especially evident when I allowed the ale to sit in my mouth, bready and spicy with a hot finish. The liveliness of the ale did leave a sharp heat on my tongue. As the saison begins to take over, dry anise and coriander are forward, followed by the funkiness. Saison fruitiness is powerful good, dry and sweet behind the funk. More lemon, apricot, and berry flavors take their turn like a beer gang bang.

M: The rye is an inspired addition, spicing up the front of the sip with a zip. The brett intensifies the saison's gamey flavor.

D: I was expecting 'meh...' and got 'wow!' instead. A complex, heady saison that I really like.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2009 00:48:22 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a golden amber hue with a bright white head forms fine speckld lacing evenly around my tulip glass. Aroma has citrus spices and funy barnyard tones going on, I like me some brett infused saisons. Very aromatic comparable to the Drew Estate line of infused cigars. A nice melange of fruitiness going on with spicy bitter herbal hop edges, with spiced up tea/tobacco leaf complexity. Barnyard brett infused funk going on as well with a nice tropical fruit finish pineapple/mango. Mouthfeel is nice and dry at times/slightly bitter with spices and brett residuals on the palate but manages to finish slightly alcoholic and with a clean sweetness. Medium bodied sturdy effervescent carbonation carries the beer really nicely. Drinkability is a nice complex night cap that I need to get more of to get a better feel for it, I enjoyed it and will definitely not pass on the next Bruery selection I come across.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2010 04:14:21 | More by WVbeergeek

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.2/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a cloudy yellowish orange with lots of carbonation and a big white head. Nose is faint with grain, yeast and thats about it. taste is spicy with hints of pepper, belgian yeast, hops. Mouthfeel is spicy, warming with the ABV and spiciness increasing at the end. Drinkability..this is a good beer but not sessionable by any means.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2009 02:01:43 | More by barleywinefiend