Jack D'or - Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.21/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a bomber into a shaker pint, the beer is a bright, slightly hazed, heavily carbonated, golden-maize coloring with a tall, frothy, white, clingy head. Aromas of lemon peel, clove, and pepper on a biscuit backbone with some fruity highlights. Well balanced aromas. Flavors are roasty and spicy on the forward tongue, with a tart citrus backbone. All-spice, nutmeg, and grains of paradise, with tart lemon and grapefruit notes all blending together very well. Roasty overlays, with a tangy mouthfeel. The body is light, and remains crisp with the flavor profiles and the carbonation. Smooth, slightly filmy finish, with spicy lingerings. Very soild brew, and a great representation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 01:42:27 | More by GarthDanielson

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

22 ounce bottle, bottled March 2012. Served in a Unibroue tulip, the beer pours a cloudy gold color with an inch white head that stayed around for a while. There's also a good amount of lacing. The aroma is nice, the brew smells like cloves, yeast, oranges, and an overall earthy/spicy aroma that I can't really identify. It tastes like citrus/citrus peel, herbs/flowers, grainy/wheat malt, cloves, bubblegum and peppery spice. Mouthfeel/body is light/medium, it's a bit slick and easy to drink with a good amount of carbonation. I liked this brew, I'd certainly buy it again in the future. $7.49 a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 23:03:04 | More by bluejacket74

clayrock81

Virginia

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a cloudy yellow/pale gold hue with great two-finger head that left lace patches. My first reaction to the smell is very fruity, as I pick up both orange/banana like citric notes as well as some pears or apples and something tropical. Also yeast, some sweetness (candi sugar or derived from fruits?) and touches of clove in the nose as well. Light-bodied and smooth, easy to drink and slightly creamy/filling, there is a balance and crispness thanks to the hops. As tasty as refreshing to drink, I pick up good amounts of fruit flavors ranging from citric to touches of plush tropical and there is a sweetness but also dryness to the beer, although I really can't say sour or funk. Just take my word that is a well-balanced beer with plenty of fruit flavors and dry/sweetness from malts and hops (and fruits?) so it's not overpowering or overpuckering one way or the other. My notes are scattered on this beer but I know I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 14:53:38 | More by clayrock81

kevanb

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

650ml bottle poured into a Pretty Things Wine Glass.

It pours a nice, soft, golden-honey color, hazy complexion that looks fairly lifeless, a thin white head appears briefly before receding into the beer leaving no film or lacing behind. The aroma is lightly funk, amply floral with some nice citrus hop character and a good amount of pale grain and some cracked pepper that lingers behind with faint alcohol. The beer is intensely bitter on the tongue, lots of citrus hops and earthy, grassy dandelion and weed character. The funk and yeasty flavors are very mild and really only intensify the dirty nature of this beer. Lots of peppercorn is present throughout the session and the beer finishes with a lot of bitter, skunky pale grain. The body is a bit thin and lifeless, just enough prickly carbonation to keep this beer afloat and it finishes with a very dry, bitter kick.

Verdict: This beer is essentially the antithesis of what I like in a Saison/Farmhouse Ale; earthy, bitter, hop forward and lacking any sort of funk or yeast profile and the dry bitter finish really spoils it for me. I'm left wishing this beer was livelier, creamier with more vibrancy, hard to call this an enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 01:59:03 | More by kevanb

brureview

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured straight down the center of a tulip glass as directed: a beautiful light golden color with
a 4+ finger head.

The head resolved itself as stated on the bottle.

Light lemon-clove aroma.

Carbonation- moderate.

The taste was a strong clove, peppery, with a bitterness which enhanced the overall finish.

I drank this during dinner and the lemon taste mellows paired with homemade vegetable soup and chicken.

Overall- a wonderful Saison. I served it on the warmer side- about 53F.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 23:33:13 | More by brureview

Runrunreindeer

4.26/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pale and slightly cloudy with a thin head, it looks nice but nothing remarkable. But the aroma is is fruity - maybe more like a rind than the fruit itself - and earthy with complex hops. The taste follows the same - beautifully balanced with acid, hops, must, fruit and tiny wonderful carbonation. Find it. Buy it. Be happy.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 00:36:34 | More by Runrunreindeer

MRsojourner

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

have had this beer numerous times before but never written down my thoughts on it.
Bottled Sept 2011
The aroma is light but still has hints of bread and medicinal properties.
the color is wonderfully golden and very clear with a thin head that does not stick around for very long leaving a light film around the edges.
This saison is very drinkable and balanced. it doesn't stray towards the yeast that much but you know its there performing its role and the hops play very well giving a bitter fruit rind flavor that doesn't linger. while it finishes dry it beckons for another sip.
Great label art accompanying a very good beer

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 15:44:45 | More by MRsojourner

hopoilcrazy

Tennessee

4.15/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Bomber bought on an awesome trip to Bowling Green, KY at Wino's Depot

A - This is a beautiful beer, period. Rich hazy golden wheat color flows out with a three finger head that sticks around for a couple of minutes and falls into a thin ring that leaves little lacing.

S - Belgian yeast dominates big time. It's hard to divine other aromas. Maybe: baking bread, bergamot/seville orange, cedar

T - Great citrus notes break through the spot-on yeast component. I expected the malt to be stronger, but it is overshadowed by the yeast and citric hopiness. Although well balanced as it is, I wish that the malt was more present. The hops cling to the palate more than a Belgian style IPA usually does creating a long pleasing finish.

M - Very light on the tongue and palate, it is very drinkable compared to some Belgian IPAs, I guess this is the Saison coming out in the beer.

O - I've had some other Pretty Things beers and this one is the best so far. I love the experimental nature of the brew; it combines styles that I am into in a very accomplished fashion. Must Drink More.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 07:32:14 | More by hopoilcrazy

barczar

Kentucky

3.9/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Bottled March 2012.

Per recommendation, rolled bottle on its side before pouring. Slightly aggressive pour yields a lightly hazy golden yellow with a frothy inch and a half white head that dissipates slowly, leaving thick, holy lacing.

Belgian yeast, tart green apple, lime, pineapple, and a slightly funky hay and barnyard character form the aroma. Earthy notes and orange peel add complexity. Pear and a a hint of diacetyl surface late.

Flavor is dominated by earthiness mid palate. Finish is decidedly dry and bitter. Underpinnings of banana, pineapple, and lime provide depth in subsequent sips. Wet hay, pepper, and musty tones emerge.

Body is moderate, with nearly spritzy carbonation and slight alcohol warmth.

Fairly complex example of the style. Good yeast character. Finish is a little dry and hot for my palate.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 22:12:10 | More by barczar

bobhits

Kentucky

2.83/5  rDev -30.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Orange yellow color, a bit of haze but not what one expects from a belgian style beer focused on the yeast. A nice head formed but a minute later there's no lacing or head remaining. Held to the light the color goes nearly completely yellow with just enough density that I can't see through it. Again lighter in color than expected.

Not much going on here. A bit of spice and a slight sweet/fruit flavor from the yeast.

Pretty things claims there's no spice or sugar added. It isn't a sweet beer so no surprise there. The beer however has a nice spicy finish from the yeast and I have to give them credit for using 4 yeasts to creating this much complex flavor. Dry flavored beer with a bit of fruity hops and spices from yeast. I sadly can't really pull out any unique flavors, sure pears and herbs.

This is a surprisingly light bodied beer. The lower abv and no added sugar leaves a nice dry finish, but despite all this the beer's finish is long and lingering. Drinks like a high abv beer but still the dry body seems to work well for me.

I like the use of a blend of yeasts. I like that this isn't sweet. I like how there's a spice flavor without the use of spice. All that said this isn't just not my idea of a beer, but it frankly isn't all that good. I like the idea, but the end result is an interesting but not enjoyable beer. I think people who like this style of beer well be rather happy with it, but if this isn't a style you really seek out this is an easy beer to pass on.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 11:09:22 | More by bobhits

Pinknuggets

Vermont

4.38/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bomber to Rock Art pint glass

A: golden honey yellow but pretty opaque without being cloudy with a white

S: there is definitely that farmhouse smell to it the hops are stinky smells like a saison should

T: the taste follows the nose with that farmhouse taste spot on with the proper flavors the only way to make this better would be to put it on oak.

M:smooth oily and extremely drinkable spot on for a saison

O: wow so I was really impressed heard good things so being from mass I have pretty lights a try and damn this is one of the best saisons I've ever had. Worth a try if you can get your hands on it for sure

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 17:00:35 | More by Pinknuggets

SHODriver

California

4.33/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: poured into a duvel tulip to a cloudy golden yellow with a small white head that doesn't have a lot of retention
S: smells of fresh cut hay, spicy yeast, a bit of citrus, and some base malt aroma
T: some yeasty spice is up front with some of that hay and grassyness, slightly citrusy with just a hint of sweetness. swallow brings more spice from the yeast, and a bit of grassyness
M: lighter side of medium on the body with adequate carb that's a touch under prickly. slightly drying finish
O: Very impressive beer. Pretty Things is one of my favorites from the East Coast that flies under the radar. I was able to snag the bomber for 2.99 which is a steal.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 05:02:51 | More by SHODriver

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

bomber into Hardywood Park tulip. bottled in: August 2012.

A: blond body. pretty clear. head is bright white and pretty bubbly. retention is good. some clumps of lacing left behind.

S: eggy. yeasty sulfurs. floral. clementines.

T: tropical. some orange peel notes as well. bitterness is back there, but just enough. stronger at first than begins to diminish. finish is biscuity. reminds me of lemon cookies. not as dry as i would have expected.

M: mouth is rich with carbonation. medium body.

D: pretty solid saison, i do wish it was a touch dryer than it is, but that is my only serious complaint. otherwise quite enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 03:25:10 | More by Jimmys

zeledonia

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've been wanting to try this one for some time. Thanks to ant880 for the extra! Bottled November 2011. Tasted 9 November 2012, reviewed from notes.

Pours a hazy golden autumn wheat yellow. One finger of white head, okay retention, some lacing. Nice color.

Smells fruity and funky, heavy on the yeast. Has a really nice floral overtone that floats over it all. Delightful. Of what I consider the three main saison elements (funk, floral, and spice), this is full floral and half funk. Nice.

Taste isn't bad, but it's kinda meh. Full and rich, floral again, kinda like drinking flowers. Moderate bitterness in the second half, a touch of spice.

Feel is expansive, like it's ballooning up inside my mouth. Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation. The really notable thing is how it just floats up into the rest of my mouth. Flavor lasts and lasts.

Quite a nice saison. The smell is the definite highlight, and the mouthfeel is really interesting. Surprisingly floral, with more nectar and petal flavor than I think I've ever encountered in a beer before (Upright Flora Rustica is the one that comes closest). Interesting.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 20:30:51 | More by zeledonia

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle from August 2012, split the bottle poured into a duvel glass

A: pour a nice hazy golden, very golden in fact, maybe a slight touch of orange, ingot a finger of white head after a regular pour, dissapates nicley, not much lacing.

S: nice citrusy aroma, some herbal/grassy qualities, and a touch of slightly soapy Belgian yeast aroma, does not smell like a yeast spice bomb, which keeps me from liking a lot of beers of this style. Smells tasty. As the brew warms I begin to get a white wine vinous quality on the nose,

T: much like the aroma, nice citrusy notes with a touch of grassy/straw, along with a nicely balanced use of yeast. I also get an almost white wine like taste in here as well. the thing that caught me off gaurd here was the nice slightly bitter hoppy finish, which I feel round this out beautifully, this makes me want to try a fresher bottle, although there is absolutely nothing wrong with the tasty bottle I'm drinking now.

M: higher crisp tounge stinging carbonation, which keeps the brew lovely and accent the finish.... The finish is nice and dry with a touch of lingering bitterness... Normally I would not like this level of carbonation, but it is spot on here. Light and drinkable.

O: this is a really good beer, very well balanced, nice complexity, I really enjoyed the use of the hops here. Suprised it took me so long before i reviewed this one .

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 00:45:44 | More by PeterIngemi

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

4.48/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled March 2012
Served in a Duvel tulip.

A - Pour a hazy golden color with bright white moundy head that forms a thick collar and a thin cap of micro bubbles.

S - Spicy wheat and pilsner malts, wildflower honey, dusty hay, dry and yeasty, old wood, some basement funk, floral. Funk really comes out as it warms. Lots going on here.

T - Starts sweeter than expected with juicy pear and apple fruit, dried hay, grassy and earthy bitterness comes in with a touch of basement wood. Peppery yeast, honey, and lavender are another layer and come out more as it warms. Bright citrus and notes of old bubblegum really comes out on the finish.

M - Soft and smooth body with ample carbonation. Light to medium weight. Dry finish.

Very complex beer that melds together perfectly. Lots of mellow components that when combined create a layered and complex drink that's very tasty. Worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 18:39:35 | More by StaveHooks

smcnulty1981

Rhode Island

4.35/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: crystal clear straw color lots of carbonation coming up and danceing in the glass a little bit of a bright white head with a god ammount of lacing

S: lots of pepper and spice some banana and clove lots of yeast smell the great thing about the smell is that according to pretty things it was all created from yeast only which is true craftsmanship well done !!!

T: good ammount of maltiness with just a hint of hop bitterness but the yeast flavor shines on the taste

M: there was a lot of carbonation on this beer the mouth feel was very light but not dry very drinkable

O: this was an awesome beer beat pretty things beer I've had so far they did a great job on this it was almost like a hybrid between a great funky earthy saison and a spice and yeast filled whitbier if you can get buy this beer

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2012 14:37:32 | More by smcnulty1981

divineaudio

Michigan

4.03/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

bomber courtesy of valdieu2 poured into a tulip glass. bottled august 2012.

a - pours an even goldenrod shade, slightly hazy, with a finger or so of off white head. foam calms quickly to a thin film but leaves a few legs of lacing in the glass.

s - crackers, lemon, faint clove, faint earthiness. smells warm and inviting.

t - wow. starts of with a malt character of toasted bread, then adds subtle spice and fruity notes. clove, pepper, faint cinnamon, lemon, and white grape. the label describes a sharp, herbal bitterness, but i think it's more akin to being hit in the head with a blunt object. the bitterness hangs on the tongue which i feel detracts just a bit from the overall flavor. finishes dry and slightly sweet. high score for sheer complexity despite the slightly odd combination of flavors..

m - lighter side of medium with adequate carbonation. medium co2 profile.

o -not really sure what to think about this. i feel that this beer is like calculus for your taste buds. amazingly complex, but not super drinkable. have to take this one sip at a time just to process what's going on here. i can see why it's so highly rated.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 22:52:02 | More by divineaudio

ZethOfTheNorth

Louisiana

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz. bottle poured into a wine glass. Bought for $8.49 at Steins, New Orleans.

A: Very pale, very turbid. Glows like gold, topped by a bright white head. Beautiful. Maybe it's the opacity, but I can't make out much for carbonation bubbles.

S: Whoa yeast! Brett-smell, banana flavors, some candy. And it's all very natural-smelling, without being unpleasantly dank. It smells like the baby of Oro de Calabaza and Hennepin.

T: Jesus this is great. Sweet bubblegum and esters, followed by a remarkable transition toward bitterness. Gorgeous saison on the front end, fantastic Belgian IPA back end. Lots of champagne yeast detectable too.

M: Dry to the point that it drymouths you a little. Slightly less carbed than typical for this style (whatever the style is), but still pleasantly prickly.

O: A style-bender. Wonderful, if somewhat unrefined, though that very bitter back end is a big part of what makes this beer special. Boisterous. Archetypical of American beer in the 21st century. Great stuff.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 13:57:33 | More by ZethOfTheNorth

deaconoflove

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice almost deep amber color with large (to start) frothy white head.
Aroma has a nice spice note, clove, and strong bready, yeasty background.
Taste follows spice and bread with some banana in there.. It's light and bitter with a long spicy bitter finish.
Easy to drink, very good saison.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 00:22:25 | More by deaconoflove

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Tall bottle from Consumer Beverages in Orchard Park, NY. With two big successes with their St. Botolph's Brown Ale and Baby Tree Quad, Pretty Things has become a guaranteed pickup on my Buffalo Beer haul ventures.

As usual, Pretty Things utilizes some trippy artwork on the bottling for Jack D’Or that is worth a second look. The bottle label explains that this mustachioed fellow is supposed to be a barleycorn lord of some kind (sporting a pin straight from the annals of Screaming Lord Such) standing in a mash tun. Intriguing to say the least.

Poured into my trusty Duvel goblet. Golden-lemon drop in colour, with a sturdy head of an inch or two.

Nose is quite pleasant and floral, with subtle notes of lemon, funk, herbal hops (Styrian, and, for the American Saison touch, Columbus), perhaps a bit of peach or other fleshy fruit lingering in the back as well.

Dry, grainy, and with a good balance of citrus, herbs and bitter funk, this brew is quite enjoyable. The finish is long and bitter with a lingering citrus pith and berbs flavor. Wheat malt is subtle, but there. Great brew, this: dry and flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 23:58:24 | More by JohnnyBarman

flagmantho

Washington

4.05/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 22oz bomber into a tulip. Bottled May 2012.

Appearance: light golden hue with a touch of haze and a moderate but attractive effervescence. Head is a thick finger of frothy white foam. An attractive saison.

Smell: sweet malt tempered by a light funk. In addition to the funk is a light perfume, akin to the flavor of Canadian floral gum candy. This could be yeast or hops but, either way, it contributes nicely to the aroma.

Taste: flavor has a really enjoyable funkiness; it's more pronounced than in the aroma. The underlying malt is nice and sweet and tastes good; the floral/perfume character is rather subdued from the aroma. Overall, quite nice.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a gargantuan carbonation resulting in a concomitant mammoth creaminess. Ba dow!

Overall: a tasty and tongue-tickling saison. I'd definitely have this again, given the opportunity.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 01:02:29 | More by flagmantho

smakawhat

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a tulip glass. Bottled July 3012.

A real nice lemon yellow and great glow to the body. Faint practically microscopic rising carbonation coming up. Head is quite small in formation, very rocky white, but manages some good retention and a nice collar.

Nose is quite muted. Fresh cut grass, a little bit of dry hay, a real nice clean crispness.

Palate hits with very lively flavors and a somewhat creamy texture. Crisp and sharp yeast, hints of funk and lots of dryness. Very powdery, sharp malts, hints of lemon and dry malt with faint fruit and lots citrus zest. Lively carbonation and a super crisp almost hot feeling.

For a style that I can normally shy away from this is one I could certainly have again. Really like Pretty Things so far, can't wait to try Fluffy White Rabbits next.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 22:50:49 | More by smakawhat

JTBacon

3.98/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

To start, this is a great beer and Pretty Things knows what it is doing and is one of the supreme local beer makers (yes, a million times better than ex-microbrewery Sam Adams). For what this beer is attemption to be, a stronger Saison ale, it succeeds. The only reason for the 4 overall score, this style of beer isnt personally my favorite. The aftertaste is a little rough, not in a pure negative way, but more that it is just a little more than I want. Again, part of this might just be the style. But the feeling I have after having one of these is that it should be something darker and with more brawn. And that is just me being a bit of a snob, or just being unnecessarily harsh. This beer deserves a good amount of credit and it will not disappoint any real beer drinker. Perhaps my only true fault is the price, where at least in Boston you kind of get "bent over" for a 22oz of one of these, whether its in a bar or store. With that being said, making beer is also a business and I get it.

Enjoy this one, I would be surprised if you didnt.

Serving type: on-tap

08-13-2012 21:43:12 | More by JTBacon

acevenom

Louisiana

3.78/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a brandy snifter. Pours cloudy golden with a white head. There are plentiful tiny bubbles rising in the beer from the bottom of the glass. Fruity esters hit the nose first. I detect orange and lemon most strongly. I can also detect some spice, which is likely coriander. There is also some bready malt in the smell. There is bitterness up front, which comes through very strongly on the first sip. The malt backbone comes through after the initial sip, providing bready flavor. There is some of that spiciness I detected in the nose, but it is not very prominent. Some of those citrus flavors start to come through after I get used to the bitterness and I pick up that orange and lemon, but that bitter aftertaste is still strong. The body is medium with strong carbonation. The finish is dry. The drinkability is high. This is a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 17:00:30 | More by acevenom