Cucumber Saison - Cigar City Brewing

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.69/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Exotic and grassroots ingredients are exploding in our era of "mixology". This is evident and even succeeding in the martini world and likely throughout the breadth of mixed drinks. Cucumber is thus being celebrated because of its lively and refreshing character. The 4th of July celebrations with reunions and picnics have seen this for years. But does it translate as well with beer? Cigar City thinks so---

Like many (un-cucumber-ed) and more traditional Belgian-style farmhouse ales, the beer explodes upon impact with the bottom of the glass. Even a prerequisite rinse did nothing to control the eruptive froth. The billowing head is airy with large bubbles and gives the impression of dryness. What settles underneath is the classic straw-hued beer with mild haze. As you would think, the beer laces intricately and randomly with very decorative patterns.

Surprisingly strong aromas of cucumber strike the olfactories with an oddly compelling scent. It evokes a sense of refreshment, but also hinges on notes of pickle juice, sweet relish, mustard seed, and soft near-fennel notes. After the shock of initial scents, the common spicy tone of yeast character shows up- propped up by dry bread and cracker-like maltiness.

In reverse fashion, its the light sweetness of pilsner malt, showing up in the form of dry bread, crackers, and whole wheat. The usual hop spice is earthy, mildly woody, and honey-like floral. But for the bulk of the session those tastes are lost on the distraction of cucumber. It's that garden variety gourde that diverts the attention toward tart pickles, light sweetness, cider notes, and pungent earthiness that decries ballpark pickle relish. It's very first sip signals the seventh inning stretch even though I'm drinking in February.

Trying hard to ignore the taste, its texture is actually pretty spot on for the style. Dry malts won't allow much sweetness to linger very long- allowing the early effervescence and short-lived creaminess to transcend quickly to a dry peppery bite with medium acidity and alcohol warmth to close the session. (Boy, it's hard to ignore that "pickle" taste when assessing mouthfeel.)

But in the end, I rather enjoyed the beer. I wanted the clean, crisp, and refreshing taste of cucumber to show up in its most vibrant and perfumy scent. But what I got was pickle relish. Though I like it on those ballpark hot dogs, its presence in my beer glass is slightly misplaced even though the base saison has much to celebrate.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 07:46:43 | More by BEERchitect

jegross2

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Reviewing the Cucumber Saison from Cigar City Brewing out of Tampa, Florida.

Score: 86

2012 vintage bottle served in a plastic wine goblet and enjoyed on 07/29/12. Review is from iPhone notes I jotted down at my birthday bottle share.

Appearance: Pours three fingers of white, soapy head atop a cloudy, dull golden-wheat colored body. Good lacing and retention. Looks a lot like you’d expect a saison to look. 4/5

Smell: Totally cucumber forward. Cucumber water, light wheat and yeast. 3.75/5

Taste: Cucumber waiter with a light funk and straw/grain flavor. Simple and straightforward. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Light-plus bodied, medium carbonation. Smooth mouthfeel, somewhat dry on the finish. 3.5/5

Overall: Light, summery and refreshing. It should be pointed out that I am not a fan of saisons. However, this one was pretty solid and “inoffensive” (and I mean that in a good way). No horse blanket, barnyard, etc. This beer essentially smells and tastes like lightly fermented cucumber water. This is not one I would go out of my way to seek out, but it is certainly a beer that made a good palate cleanser at the tasting. While no one loved the beer, no one disliked it either.

Pairings: A very basic salad.

Cost: $10 for a 750 ml bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 06:21:55 | More by jegross2

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Cucumber saison is certainly one of the more novel beers I have every had. As one sampler stated, it is like vegetable juice and beer. Poured from the glass, the beer was a golden color with a fizzy white head. Cucumber is the most noticeable element in the aroma. In the initial taste was cucumber, cucumber peal, a little straw and salt. If you have ever been to a restaurant that serves cucumber slices in their glasses of water, this should give you some perspective. The aftertaste is dry, which is the most saison-like element of this beer. The funkiness of a saison seems to have been cancelled out by the cucumber. It was an interesting beer, but probably not one I need to have again.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 12:28:12 | More by JohnnyHopps

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A-wow this comes out with some gusto. Had to wait awhile to let the foam settle before pouring this, then even longer after pouring. Very hazy golden yellow with a really thick foamy white head

S- wow this really smells like a cucumber! Like a fresh cucumber along with somewhat Belgian spices. Strong scent. Smells quite refreshing

T-comes in tasting like....cucumber! It's actually quite refreshing. It's a bit sweet too, along with a slight hint of saison rawness. Has a matching after-taste though somewhat faint. Not much else to mention here though does have some pale Belgian sugars to it.

M-high carbonation with a semi-dry finish

O-it's a solid brew. I've never had anything like this before. Who even comes up with something like this? I could definitely see this being something wonderful to drink on a hot summer afternoon. I suggest you find a bottle of this, unless you have a thing against the vegetable.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 02:20:56 | More by AdamBear

Florida9

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: Bottle opens with an audible pop. Beer itself is mostly clear light amber in color. Unsurprisingly, this one forms a large, very carbonated, white head. Good retention, moderate lacing.

S: aroma is primarily Saison-like. I mention this because I was expecting the cucumber to dominate. It's there, but I certain,y get a lot more of the yeasty phenols and spice with a "green" cucumber aroma more in the background.

T: Taste is similar. Lightly sweet blend of lemon-lime and cucumber. The some yeast, a slight tartness, and a bit of spice. Finish is a touch astringent with a cucumber skin bitterness. Again, the cucumber is noticeable. Unmistakable even, but it doesn't (thankfully) overpower the beer itself.

M: on the lighter side of medium. Very aggressive carbonation. Light sweetness. Fairly crisp. Mild astringency.

O: I found this to be a fairly nice beer. I was rather curious about it when I learned of it and sought on out, especially for my wife whom likes both Samson's and cucumbers, but ended up hating this beer. I on the other hand, enjoyed the combination of the cucumber along with the lemon tartness and yeasty spice giving this one a "salad in a glass" feel to it while still retaining its beeriness.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 03:20:04 | More by Florida9

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.19/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750 ml bottle poured into a Bruery tulip.
5% ABV, 04 AUG 2012 on label

Thanks for the brew Paul!

A - The crack from cap unleashed a spray like a can of compressed air. I moved quickly to pour this beer, afraid of possible gushing, though it didn't seem an immediate threat afterwards. A monstrous white head rises above the golden beer, lowering slowly while leaving minimal lace on the glass.

S - Cigar City Cucumber Saison has a nose completely full of freshly sliced cucumber, quietly trailed by Belgian yeast nuances of faint white pepper and clay with notes of dry straw and soft wheat.

T - Cucumber is completely authentic in flavor, not ever broaching that artificial line, and more subdued in flavor than aroma, just like the real thing, allowing more saison notes to emerge. A touch of lemon citrus sneaks in around the dry earthy notes of white pepper and clay while the finish incorporates a sensible level of malt.

M - High carbonation dances on the tongue throughout this crisp and light-bodied beer while a dry and spicy finish trails off. Crisp and clean like a cucumber.

O - I'll be upfront (at the end, how ironic) with the fact I don't like cucumbers. They're best served as pickles, in my opinion, but I went into the review open minded. I won't lie, the aroma scared me into thinking my wife, a cucumber lover, would be drinking the vast majority of this bottle, but Cigar City did a fantastic job with this beer. Like a cucumber, this saison has a heavy nose that's lighter in flavor, letting more saison through. It's incredibly authentic and the comparison of the cucumber's crispness with the saison is a wonderful pairing. I still may not like cucumbers but I can get behind this unique saison and say it's one well-crafted beer!

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 22:17:10 | More by BeerFMAndy

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.38/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a lovely thick apricot color with a large bubbly head. Head does fade fairly quick though.

Damn, smells like salted cucumbers. Some faint spice and yeast and somehing vaguely metallic here too but the nose is dominated by cucumber to a frightening extent. Preparing for the worst...

Taste is way better than I expected. Some yeasty saison flavor, mild spice, good amount of cucumber but not nearly as much as in the nose. Some fruitiness in the finish. This is actually a subtle and fairly balanced beer.

Very drinkable, good mouthfeel. Very refreshing beer.

This is a kindof odd beer but I really like it. Very refreshing.

7.0/10

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 00:29:32 | More by AlexFields

kylehay2004

Florida

4.04/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Large foamy head with nice lacing on a cloudy orange and gold body. Cucumber dominates the aroma but it doesn't overwhelm with tropical fruit and bealgian yeast undertones. The cucumber flavor isn't too strong but also dominates but has a musty Belgian yeast, breads, cream and hint of tropical fruit. Medium creamy body and moderate carbonation. Much better tha I was expecting. Wouldn't necessarily have again but a must try at least once.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 02:02:02 | More by kylehay2004

DmanGTR

New York

4.15/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Review from notes.

Mildly hazy, but brilliantly golden in the light. Half inch white cap that diminished to a fine lace of bubbles shortly after the pour. Crisp, refreshing aroma. This is essentially a freshly cut cucumber in my saison! Juicy, light, and the faintest grassiness. Still has a good saison background though. Dry finish, nicely carbonated. Very interesting beer and I'm glad I had the chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 15:55:25 | More by DmanGTR

Danny1217

Florida

4.18/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Hazy golden color with a sizable white head. Excellent retention and lacing.
The smell is heavy on the cucumber. A little bit of the typical Belgian yeast aromas and a slight funk.
This beer is very light and refreshing. Cucumber is definitely present in the flavor, but not as strongly as in the aroma. Tastes a bit like a saison brewed with cucumber water. There's some funk and light fruits but cucumber is still at the forefront. Very little hops, but their presence adds a bit of bitterness. Once again, very refreshing beer.

A unique and quality offering from CCB.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 20:25:46 | More by Danny1217

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

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

Thanks to Momar42 for the bottle sharing! Part of a 750mL bottle poured into a Hunahpu's snifter. Notes from last night's Skins/Cowboys game.

A: Pours a cloudy golden color. The head is a one finger white shade with great texturing.

S: A lot of cucumber on the nose - like whoa. Best part is how it combines with a touch of acetic, vinegary tartness to create a vibe of pickles. Pickles in beer - and I'm enjoying it.

T: The flavor profile loses the faint hint of tartness in the nose, so there are less 'pickle' qualities and more 'cucumber' ones. Rather simple, unfortunately - the only other significant note I can detect are some midpalate tropical fruits and a vague hint of bready malts. Having said that, the singular flavors this provides are balanced and melded superbly.

M: At first sip, it seems heavy, thick, and almost yeasty...and then it leaves the palate in a rapid fashion. The finish is pure crisp, dry, light goodness. Well carbonated and so damn refreshing.

O: Shockingly good! This could make me enjoy cucumber a lot more...well played, Cigar City. This would be fantastic in the summer time.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 17:57:41 | More by ThisWangsChung

ehammond1

California

3.6/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle (2012)

Thanks for opening this with me, VaTechHopHead!

Clear golden with a small near-white cap. Leaves the glass dotted with moderately-sized bubbles. Very little retnention. Appropriate enough.

Distinct aroma of cucumber and little else. There's perhaps an earthy quality to the aroma that actual cucumbers don't have, but the dominant aroma overall is very clearly cucumber.

The flavor, too, is, not surprisingly, very cucumber forward, along with a bit of earth and some bitterness. Very simple and straightforward, while obviously very unique as well. Very drinkable. I enjoy it, but it's simply not a very complex saison.

Thin bodied with moderate-high carbonation.

A wonderful cucumber drink, but an uninteresting saison.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 00:18:14 | More by ehammond1

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.08/5  rDev -45.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

On tap at Churchkey. Served in a mini snifter. Pours a clear light golden color with maybe a touch of cucumber. That’s unfortunately there’s the only place with just a touch of cucumber. The nose smells like cucumber juice. It tastes like cucumber water. Light body; no real beer character. It says saison, but I don’t get any sort of pilsner or bready malt, nor is there anything indicating saison yeast. Just cucumber. It doesn’t taste bad, but it’s not beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2012 19:12:19 | More by Thorpe429

SkeeterBoganski

Colorado

3.48/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bomber in to a couple of pints to share

A - pours a straw copper look; exceptionally heady...some soap foam qualities

S - it smells like a traditional saison, although the cucumber essence really brings out a pickled aroma

T - well, this is pretty much a perfect cucumber saison...all the flavor you'd expect from this combination: cucumber, a lil salty, organic/earthy; and again, that element of pickle juice; some real light melon flavors

M - it's really heady/carbonated; the gherkin flavor lingers

O - this is a really unique, albeit totally 'accurate' saison infused with cucumbers; I'm not a huge fan of farmhouse ales or cucumbers for that matter, but if you like either, it's def worth a try

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 19:49:58 | More by SkeeterBoganski

DaveAnderson

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I dig this beer.

I mean, I like cucumbers as much as the next guy, but this beer elevates the cucumber to something magnificent. It pours out nice and foamy, and smells like...a saison. Then it crosses the lips, and I'm drinking a cucumber. It is simply delicious and refreshing.

Now, I don't like to compare other beers in my reviews, but in this case, I feel like I should CONTRAST this beer with Epic's Utah Sage Saison. Epic's beer smells like sage, but tastes like saison. This beer smells like saison, but tastes like cucumbers. It's a remarkable feat.

I would never turn one of these down. It is not just distinctive and unique. It is a flat-out delicious beer, and testament to the creativity of American craft brewing.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 04:34:46 | More by DaveAnderson

SalMineo

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Very interesting beer. Unfortunately to me the cucumber was extremely overpowering. But hey I liked the idea.

Pour-Golden fizzy with a very light head. Can't really judge it too much as it was all shook up from flying from Miami back to boston.

Smell-The first smell that hits you right off the bat is that intense overwhelming smell of Cucumbers. It's overpowering but it smells like somebody like cut 100 cucumbers fresh right in front of you. Getting past the cucumber smell you detect hints of that kinda funky smell you get from a fine saison as well some fresh fruit and some honeydew.

Taste-Overwhelming taste of cucumber water mixed with a little bit of salt some fruits and some oak. Kinda felt like I was drinking a juiced salad.

Mouthfeel-Is very light and crispy medium bodied. Pretty fizzy as well.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 17:34:25 | More by SalMineo

tlazaroff

Virginia

3.28/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Very odd aroma on this. I don't get cucumbers, but it is very vegetal in nature. Apples make a guest appearance, bell pepper, and a bit of funk in the background. Very odd indeed, not bad.. just odd.

Cucumber Saison is slightly hazy straw color with bunches of streaming of carbonation to support the big bubbly white head. No lacing, which is kind of sad.

I found the cucumber! Its in the flavor! I get a nice (which I hardly describe this as nice) grainy flavor followed by that cucumber freshness. It actually tastes pretty unique and it's kind of amazing. Well balanced, moderately high carbonation, and a medium body with a little slickness to it. Not too bad, I may not try it again, but I'm glad I did.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 04:46:40 | More by tlazaroff

koopa

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle received as an extra in a trade with BAstoutsANDsours thanks!

Appearance: Pours a murky and dull pale straw to light golden with a massive 3 finger dull white crown that shows some retention and lace.

Smell: Pleasant notes of cucumber, faint hints of citrus, a bit of a grassy element, and a small amount of urine tinged hay.

Taste: Nice cucumber note up front, a small amount of saison-ness from the yeast, and the faintest hint of hops in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Thin side of medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation. Not effervescent by any means.

Overall: An interesting beer that I wouldn't buy often. A bit more novelty than anything else but thumbs up to Cigar City for featuring a non-traditional ingredient and getting it to come across clearly in the final product.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 22:27:05 | More by koopa

chanokokoro

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a brown 750 ml bottle into Cigar City Brewing branded snifters

Pours a hazy straw colored yellow with a fizzy one and a half finger fizzy head. The head recedes fairly quickly to a thin foam cap with minimal lacing. The nose is a fairly delicate aroma of farmhouse yeast, grass, light citrus, spice, and not surprisingly accents of cucumber. Lemongrass, light citrus accents, a bit of peppery spice, farmhouse yeast joined midpalate by refreshing cucumber. Finishes dry with slight cucumber skin-like bitterness. Light bodied, fizzy but subtle carbonation. Very impressive beer. Although enjoyed on an unseasonably warm 80 degree fall day in Chicago, this certainly is an exceptional summer "lawnmower" beer. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 19:40:56 | More by chanokokoro

brentk56

North Carolina

3.6/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Well, it's an impressive pour, all right, with a massive head sitting atop the cloudy straw-colored liquid

Smell: Fresh dill and cucumbers - we are on our way to the pickle factory

Taste: Cucumber and dill, with an underlying grainy character that tastes more like a Lager than a Saison; grainy, in the finish, as well, with cucumber and dill flavors holding their own

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with high carbonation

Overall: Well, I am glad I tried it and, while I like cucumbers and I like pickles, I didn't much care for them in a beer; my scores are higher than otherwise out of respect for the creativity

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 23:50:02 | More by brentk56

TMoney2591

Illinois

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

Served in a Duvel tulip glass.

Okay, cucumber? Really? All right... This stuff pours a hazy golden straw topped by a little over a finger of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises light wheat, cucumber, and mild clove. Wow, the cucumber's really prevalent, but it doesn't really overpower you. Right on. The taste brings in more of the same, as though a beer was somehow made to taste like a more complex, flavorful glass of cucumber water. The cuke comes through a tad sweeter than usual. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fairly refreshing finish. Overall, I was skeptical about the potential success of this stuff, but it turned out to be highly enjoyable. Go figure.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 14:32:12 | More by TMoney2591

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle opened on 10.10.12.

A - Pours a medium cloudy orange with an explosive, fizzy four inch cream-colored head that fades slowly.

S - Cucumber and melons.

T - Cucumber and funk, make it almost pickle like with some dill and spices.

D - Tons of carbonation and a light body with a crisp finish.

O - Cucumber is there for sure, interesting. I hate cucumbers, but this one was ok.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 06:58:38 | More by HuskyinPDX

cvm4

Mississippi

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

A - Pours a deep straw or golden in color. High & bubbly white head.

S - Cucumber wafts off the beer along with some spices & yeast.

T - Just a lovely cucumber flavor hits you first off. It starts to tamper down & then nice saison qualities appear.

M - About what you'd expect from a saison. On par, light mouth & high carbonation.

O - This reminds me of cucumber water you might have at a southern wedding. It's light, crisp & refreshing. Definitely delivers.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 18:09:29 | More by cvm4

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Robbie for this bottle! Bottle dated June 2012.

A - Medium yellow; slightly cloudy yellow. Lots of bubbly white head.

S - A big burst of fresh cucumber at first, which settles down after the initial nose. Belgian yeast, peppery spice and a light lemon aroma are also present.

T - A good overall integratoin of the flavours with the cucumber not dominating, which I was afraid of. Cucumber is still the prediminant flaovur but is well balanced by, pepper, spice, Belgian yeast and a lighter lemon zest flavour in the background.

M - Light body. Moderate carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 14:11:53 | More by TheSevenDuffs

zac16125

South Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750mL bottle into a tulip glass
no born on date

A: Pours a hazy golden amber with just under 3 fingers width of slightly off white colored head. Retention is good, as it takes a long while to dissipate down to a thick film that remains throughout the drink. Leaves effectively no lacing.

S: It smells like something....that I can't quite put my finger on....a vegetable maybe....just kidding this smells exactly like fresh cucumbers. Its actually pretty remarkable. I also get some dill, honey, pale malt. I love the aroma.

T: Cucumber both flesh and peel, sweet malts, wheat, some spice. I dont really get any saison flavors, funk/ tart/ sour/ etc. It kind of tastes like a Belgium pale with cucumber, not really a cucumber saison, so in that sense its a little disappointing. Overall pretty tasty though.

M/D: Very heavy carbonation, maybe a touch too much, in fact I cant remember drinking a beer with higher carbonation, ever. Body is surprisingly heavy. It has a real distinct drying characteristic, which is nice. I dont think the drinkability is particularly high, and the combination of heavier mouthfeel with huge carbonation doesnt really work particularly well for me.

O: Being someone who loves cucumbers, and enjoys saisons, this was a must try for me. Great aroma, and pretty tasty, but I would have liked a more traditional saison flavor base. Im glad I got to try it though, and Id certainly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 22:44:42 | More by zac16125