Pour Les Oiseaux - Black Raven Brewing Co.

Birdlegs

Washington

4/5  rDev -4.1%

01-27-2013 15:42:31 | More by Birdlegs

Eighty

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

06-13-2013 20:14:19 | More by Eighty

BeerNW

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -16.1%

06-07-2013 15:19:48 | More by BeerNW

MusicaleMike

Pennsylvania

4.41/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pour Les Oiseaux (French for "For the Birds") is a wonderful example of the Saison style, and what a good canvas it can be for any number of treatments. Black Raven Brewing out of Redmond, Washington provides a nice description on the back of the bottle:
"Pour Les Oiseaux is a blend of complex earthy, fruity, and light tannic flavors with a crisp and refreshing finish. Brewed with barley, wheat, rye, and oats for a golden color and lightly spiced malt flavor. Earthy hay and wild yeast aromas mingle with light notes of Washington wine grapes.
Pour Les Oiseaux is aged in French oak white wine barrels with the addition of brettanomyces."

I decided to use a Goose Island Vintage glass for this beer. I will warn anyone opening this beer that it may gush a bit when you first open it. I have had it chilling for a week, so I imagine that if you don't get the beer cold, you would have significantly more overflow. Luckily not much was lost. This is a common occurrence when using brettanomyces to ferment your beer.

It surprisingly does not possess a massive carbonated head, but is rather timid after the gushing is over with. An egg-shell white head tops the hazed golden body. It settles to a finger thick pillowy layer, eventually dissipating by the end of the glass. Some light sticking is apparent on the side of the glass, though not much.

Even when opening the bottle, I could smell the brett and vinous nature of this beer. It has almost an apple cider vinegar quality to it. Light aroma, nothing very strong. Earthy notes mix with hints of green peppercorn, doughy malt, and green grape skins. The oaky smell comes through prominently, and reminds one of an oaked chardonnay.

The flavor hits the palette with a complex, sublime mix of tart apples, hay, pear skins, and finishes with a warmth from the French oak that lingers and lingers into the aftertaste. Really a wonderful mix of flavors that is complex and yet very refreshing. The barrel-aging brings this beer to another level, and the brett yeast dries out the palette, and lightens the body, creating this wonderful, summery saison that would stand on its own against the world best saisons.

A very impressive offering from Black Raven Brewing Co. Well worth tracking down if you can. I know that I will be trading for more. The beer is right on the mark for a saison, and the treatment that they give it with the brett and the extended aging on French oak white wine barrels is a massive improvement on the base beer. It's funny that this is called "for the birds," as that's typically an expression when describing something worthless. This beer is hardly "pour les oiseaux."

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 20:19:35 | More by MusicaleMike

TysonA

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

05-12-2013 21:15:46 | More by TysonA

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.79/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Had a recent Philly 'burbs bottle share.

Golden pour, shockingly pristine clarity, with a solid cap of foamy white head; nice retention and lacing. Fruity esters in the aroma, toasted wheat, grass. Taste was pretty light and crisp, essence of apple and grape skins with a twinge of tartness, barnyard funk, herbal hops, lightly toasted cereal grains. Light-bodied and dry, easily drinkable, pretty nice overall.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 10:20:43 | More by Rifugium

510a

Washington

4/5  rDev -4.1%

03-30-2013 16:30:01 | More by 510a

acurtis

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

03-23-2013 23:57:14 | More by acurtis

djrn2

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -4.1%

03-23-2013 23:52:09 | More by djrn2

BillHilly

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

03-06-2013 02:10:24 | More by BillHilly

mdaschaf

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

03-05-2013 23:46:10 | More by mdaschaf

Texasfan549

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

02-24-2013 19:12:37 | More by Texasfan549

Romulux

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

02-11-2013 15:53:27 | More by Romulux

tectactoe

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Big thanks to whomever brought this to the tasting group. Pours a nearly perfect straw color with excellent clarity. A brilliant white head foams up quickly and settles almost just as fast. Funk is the first thing to hit the nose, and it's no surprise, given how the bottle makes it clear that brettanomyces are used. The funk comes off slightly corky and mostly barnyardy, like wet wood and hay. Lots of fruit in the aroma, as well; pears, light peaches, apple slices, white grapes - it almost has a slight champagne or white-wine smell to it (aside from the brett, of course); very crisp and clean, appears to be highly-carbonated.

Taste is crisp and refreshing as expected. White grapes, pears, apple skins, and a handful of light funk (lighter on the palate than on the aroma, for sure). Some corky notes, but again, not as heavy as they were on the nose. This one carries a big oak barrel taste cascading in the background and lasting from nearly start to finish. Borderline tart in the middle, with a spike of fruits and flavors that hits like a white wine. Surprisingly, I'm picking up some light cinnamon in the aftertaste, right along with a fading fruity sweetness and another small touch of brett. Hops are mostly hidden, slightly musky and peppery, but I may just be grasping at straws here. Medium bodied with heavy carbonation.

Solid saison that drinks almost more like a wine or champagne than a beer, at least as far as the flavor profile is concerned. The bretts make a nice appearance without being overdone and the barrel aging added a whole new element. Lots going on here, but very well put together and tasty when all was said and done.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 18:32:05 | More by tectactoe

Benny3000

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +13.9%

02-09-2013 20:00:48 | More by Benny3000

jpbebeau

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

02-06-2013 20:32:59 | More by jpbebeau

flagmantho

Washington

4.16/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I had this beer on-tap at WABL Belgianfest 2013 in a snifter taster glass.

Appearance: quite clear; a light gold, almost yellowy hue with a tiny bit of haze and a very light effervescence and a low ivory head.

Smell: the aroma has a nice vinous aroma with a little bit of Brett funk. Sweet, bright and nice; quite like a white wine.

Taste: not nearly as tart as the aroma might suggest. Sweet, but not too sweet; when the tartness falls off toward the end, it definitely has a good white wine character. Subtle, but intriguing.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a decent carbonation and a satisfying creaminess. Quite good.

Overall: this beer seems pretty straightforward; it's complexity is there but it's subtle. It definitely seems to have picked up some character from its white wine barrels. This beer really rubs me the right way.

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2013 20:22:49 | More by flagmantho

TotallyHosed

Illinois

4.16/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to BabyTree.

The color is golden orange, but perfectly clear. The clarity reveals active carbonation. It poured with a small head that shrunk to a splotch. Very little lacing.

The aroma is mainly funky hay. The barrel is very difficult to detect, but this is because the two aromas seem to blend perfectly.

The flavor begins tart and funky, but accented with some of the barrel's tannic bitterness. The flavor ends with a very nice vanilla note.

The feel is bright, tingles the tongue, but thin.

Overall, I enjoyed this aged saison by Black Raven. The result is excellent and one of the best barrel aged saisons that I've tasted. Appearance would have scored higher if not the for the short head retention. Also, I prefer a saison with a heavier mouthfeel. However, the nose and flavor of this brew compensates.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 02:56:50 | More by TotallyHosed

AlexFields

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours very yellow with a thick pure white head, very nice appearance.

Smells of brett and wine; more subtle notes of wheat malt, grapes, spice.

Taste is lovely and balanced. Good amount of tartness and brett complexity, but none of the metallic flavors brett sometimes produces; brett doesn't dominate. Wheaty saison malt bill provides a really nice foundation, wine barrels add plenty but don't dominate. Hints of grape, apple, and spice. Pretty complex but extremely well balanced between everything that's going on.

Mouthfeel is odd. Plenty of bubbly carbonation but somehow the beer feels a little flat underneath it. Not terribly detrimental though, this is still easy to drink.

Overall a lovely beverage, exactly my kind of beer. Excellent balance.

8.6/10

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 02:31:10 | More by AlexFields

iKrystin

4.75/5  rDev +13.9%

01-13-2013 21:03:01 | More by iKrystin

draheim

Washington

3.03/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A local saison aged in French oak white wine barrels with the addition of Brettanomyces? On the label this beer sounds like it was brewed with me personally in mind...

750mL into a Hennepin glass. Pours a hazy light straw color w/ a disappointing head, almost zero. Lazy carbonation rises from the bottom of the glass. Not starting well.

Aroma is lightly funky: green apples, pears, wet hay. Floral Belgian yeast, white wine.

Taste is very grainy right off the bat. Wheat malt, white wine grapes, floral hops. Can't get past the coarse, grainy, minerally quality, although it mellows a bit as the beer warms and breathes. Hints of crushed aspirin and Alka-Seltzer too. Reminds me of Fremont's The Lamb, and not in a good way.

Mouthfeel is pretty flat, lackluster; definitely a disappointment for a saison.

Overall, I'm let down by this beer. Especially considering the lofty promise of a barrel-aged saison, this one fell flat. I've got another bottle in the cellar so we'll see if maybe this one was just a dud.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 05:53:41 | More by draheim

dirtylou

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bomber, split

appearance: served in my hopleaf tulip - pale copper-orange body, a light layer of white foam but little retention

smell: green apple, grape skin, a touch vinous

taste: Not sure about this one - an odd bready base, grape skins and sour green apple, very musty yeast, light touch of brett, some white wine vinous notes.

mouthfeel: dry finish, very light

overall: well crafted but missed the mark for me

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 02:56:47 | More by dirtylou

bifrost17

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

11-24-2012 23:31:10 | More by bifrost17

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.23/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Black Raven pint glass. Pours a light golden amber with active carbonation and a finger hight fine white head constantly renewed by carbonation. Aroma of spicy light pear and apple juice, saison yeast and a hint of lemon. Flavor of light grape, green apple, pepper; finishes slightly dry with oak and a light brett touch. Very understated but well integrated with light flavors that fit together very well and a nice oaky aftertaste. Light bodied with a refreshing mouth feel from the active carbonation. Nicely made saison, the light touch of brett is perfect in this ale for me.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 03:44:55 | More by LiquidAmber

strongaf

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

11-16-2012 07:30:05 | More by strongaf