Cucumber Saison - Cigar City Brewing

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.19/5  rDev +9.7%
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 -11.5%
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 +5.8%
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 +8.6%
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 +9.4%
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 +4.7%
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 -5.8%
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 -45.5%
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 -8.9%
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 +15.2%
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 -2.4%
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 -14.1%
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 +3.4%
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 +10.7%
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 -5.8%
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 +4.7%
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 +2.1%
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 +4.7%
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 +5.5%
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 +6%
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

maximum12

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks over the airwaves to moose3285 for pulling every Cigar City bottle ever made & ferrying them via sled dog to Minnesota. 750ML bottle split with my wife.

Pour is yellow, with Cyc Typhoon-level carbonation tearing at the glass. Nose is, well, like sombody tossed cucumber puree' in a saison. You'd think they could warn a potential drinker about something like that.

Cucumber Saison could be the new V-8, or C-8. Damn. Unwashed cucumbers pulled out of the ground are wrapped around a nice peppery, lemon-tang. The yeast & high carbonation gives this a zesty feeling in the oral cavity. 5%? Easy. Nice.

Simple, quick, direct. I've disliked cucumbers since I was a thirty-two week embryo - & now my wife is going to force me to try them again. Maybe I'll like them...another instance of beer changing a man's life. Very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 03:36:38 | More by maximum12

billnet

Georgia

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Amber colored with lots of white foam. Aromas of light pickle and very light citrus . Flavors same as the aromas. This is one tasty beer that screams hot dogs or hamburgers to go with it. A great summer beer that is refreshing and a great cookout beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 19:22:36 | More by billnet

cfrances33

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle thanks to johnyb. Poured into a HF tulip.

PourL Completely hazy light orange with a huge three finger head. I didn't even pour slightly heavily. Very soapy, puffy white head. No lacing, and hangs around as a film.

Smell: Normal saison breadyness, with an undeniable cucumber note. I'm amazed. Maybe a light lemon in the back, but that's about it,

Taste: This is a cucumber saison through and through. My best description would be Hennepin with a shot of cucumber water added. Nice breadyness mixed in.

Mouthfeel: Easily the best part of this beer. Really refreshing and light through the sip, and yet incredibly dry. One of the most dry beers I've had in a while.

Overall: This beer lived up to its name. I really enjoyed it, but don't think I'd want it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 23:05:10 | More by cfrances33

Shaw

Florida

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A beautiful hazy golden color with a short off-white head.

Wow, it really smells like cucumber.

A nice wheat-like snap with lots of cucumber flavor. I would never have thought of putting cucumber in a beer, but it works.

Solid body isn't watery despite the lower alcohol.

Overall a fine beer and certainly one to try. Avoid if you don't like cucumber, because this beer is all about it.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 20:39:27 | More by Shaw

drpimento

Wisconsin

3.58/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pretty good beer except the cuke goes a long way. Poured at a good temperature with a nice, billowy, foamy, off-white head that settles after a bit and a smidgen of lace. Color is a a hazy amber. Flavor's like nose, cuke really dominates and offsets all the other qualities. Body and carbonation are good. Finish is like flavor, with the cuke wasn't so assertive, not a repeater.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 02:59:33 | More by drpimento