Four (#4) - Upright Brewing Company

Philousa

California

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Imbibed at Good Karma on 10/26/12.

Pours a hazy, tawny gold with a billowy white head that laces well. Aroma is mildly spicy (pepper, clove), mainly lemon and wheat. Flavor is a little subdued and the feel is a little light because of the low ABV. Lots of peanut and cashew with a slightly tart wheat flavor. Hops are floral and light, leaving a pleasant aftertaste. This is what I imagine a farmer would want after a hard day's work. Very flavorful, but doesn't knock you on your ass. Digging the recent trend towards flavorful session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-27-2012 20:27:21 | More by Philousa

ehammond1

California

3.65/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

On Tap

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

Very light straw yellow in color, with a slight haze, that leaves regular, nearly perfect lines of stick down the glass. Very pretty.

Mild aroma, with some grain and apple notes, along with earth and grass.

A very simple flavor of grass, grain, mild lemon and apple, and just a hint of funk. Very low bitterness and incredibly drinkable.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation, though airy and light. Marvelously drinkable. This beer scores major points here.

Gulpable, though not particularly interesting, even considering the ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

06-30-2012 04:26:35 | More by ehammond1

UCLABrewN84

California

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

On tap at Little Bear in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours a murky orange-yellow with a foamy bone colored head hat settles to an island of film on top of the beer. A foamy latticework of lace forms around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grain, malt, yeast, and spice. Taste is much the same with a mild spice bitterness on the palate after each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2012 08:34:39 | More by UCLABrewN84

djbreezy

Washington

4.55/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Upright.

Appearance - fluffy white head, hazy yellow color

Smell - lemon and spice on the nose

Taste - yeast and lemon tang

Mouthfeel - good carbonation, medium/light body

Drinkability - nice and refreshing session beer. Overall my favorite from Upright of the numbered beers.

Serving type: on-tap

02-02-2012 21:05:53 | More by djbreezy

cbarrett4

Oregon

4.05/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed from tap at Upright Brewing's cellar.

This is my self proclaimed favorite beer from the main lineup (4, 5, 6, and 7). The guys in the cellar describe this as their wheat ale/saison style.

Smells and tastes of a wheat ale made with French/Belgian Saison yeast. But it works. Lots of wheat, yeast, and spice are present on the nose and palate. A slight funkiness works into the mix from the yeast. Very clean and nicely delineated aromas and flavors.

The texture is light, but doesn't seem thin. Nice play between the acids and alcohol, good grip. Nice finish.

Overall a stunning beer, and one that deserves a taste!

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2011 22:27:44 | More by cbarrett4

dgilks

Australia

4.2/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hazy pale gold colour with a fluffy white head. Nice lacing.

Crisp pepper and lightly herbal noble hop aroma with some light wheat tartness. Good.

Light wheat with some nice spicy yeast notes. Great balance.

Medium light body with moderate carbonation. Well suited to the underlying beer.

A really solid Belgian farmhouse style with good flavour. I find this really tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

08-08-2011 11:21:21 | More by dgilks

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

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

Finally getting to some old reviews from my BC trio. On tap at Alibi Room.

Pours a lightly hazed yellow/golden, a few straw highlights, thick white head forms and settles down to a thick ring around the glass and a thin layer, some lace spirals stick, looks good.

Smell is nice, light and malty, some oats, a bit of lemon and orange zest, lightly yeasty, some wheat, toast, very faint barnyardy funk, a touch of spice, pretty nice.

Taste is similar, quite light but flavourful, toast and some oats, a bit of honey sweetness, biscuit, orange and lemon, coriander, has a bit of citrusy zing to it, a bit of yeast, lightly funky, pretty neat.

Mouthfeel is light bodied with medium carbonation. A nice light saison, approachable with enough funk to keep me happy, refreshing stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2010 16:02:49 | More by Viggo

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

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

On tap at Bailey's the other day.

The beer pours a hazy honey gold color with good head retention and lacing. On the nose, there's a pretty noticeable "wheatiness" to this beer, though there's also some attractive spice, including lemon zest and light ginger. The flavor profile generally replicates the nose, but with some attractive hoppy bitterness on the finish that tames the modest sweetness in this beer quite nicely. Consequently, the finish on this beer is pretty much on the dry side, and mouthfeel is light and a bit crisp. Still, for such a low alcohol beer, I have to say I'm pretty impressed by the amount of flavor in this beer. Drinkability is excellent, and I couldn't help thinking what a great beer this would be for the warm, summer months on the East Coast (except, of course, this beer unfortunately is not available on the East Coast).

Very nice beer...

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2010 15:32:19 | More by johnmichaelsen

Oxymoron

Colorado

4.35/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tried in the basement that is Upright. Of the saisons that I tried, this was my personal favorite. Poured a hazy light golden color with a foamy off white head with some light carbonation. Some lace but limited.

The nose is complex. Some malty undertones with a hint of pilsner malt but some spicey wheat notes. The yeast notes are prevalent. Some pepper notes, a light plumy and a noticeable ester profile that really is complex. Some citrus notes with more of a lemon peel thing than anything. Very nice.

The taste really compliments the nose. The malt backs off a touch versus the yeast notes coming out. Some pils flavors as well as wheat but they take a back seat to the yeast notes. Pepper notes as well as an citrus taste that really come out and balance well. There is a tartness that reminds me of a lemon or orange, but leaves a dry finish that is nice. There is a touch of sour on the back end that leads to a drier finish. Touch of grass in the finish but limited.

The body is moderate to low and carbonation is light. The sourness helps out the body a touch. Overall this a great beer. Saison's are all over the board but this is a good example of a light saison.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2010 04:22:09 | More by Oxymoron

ccrida

Oregon

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

On draught at Bailey's, Dry-hopped Four (it's not clear if they always dry hop it, or this is a special batch) is a cloudy gold with a white head that leaves foamy lace.

Smell is big bright tropical fruity saison esters. Love this yeast! There's a bit of minty hops, but they're really not particularly strong for being dry hopped.

Taste is great, classic saison - clean grain, big esters, actually a bit hoppier on the palate then the nose, which is weird. Nice little sour citrus component.

Mouthfeel is pretty dry, but slick. Nice carbonation, light bodied.

Drinkability is good, the quintessentially refreshing session ale. To nit-pick, compared to the most classic examples, it could use a drier, more mineral laden snap.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2010 00:59:41 | More by ccrida

jdense

Oregon

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

On tap at Upright tasting room 1.16.10.

Clear golder body, minimal white head and lacing. Lemony esters from the house yeast, a bit of pepper and corinader. Same taste profile as the nose, with a bit of dried citrus peel present. Pretty dry and tart finish. Very drinkable. A good starter Farmhouse Ale for the uninitiated, a nice change of pace for the devotee. Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2010 15:33:07 | More by jdense

PDXHops

South Carolina

3.33/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

On tap in a goblet.

Pale yellow body with a finger of bright white head. Retention is OK with a regimen of intermittent swirling. Wet lacing is teased, but it sort of drips back into the beer.

Bouquet is mild, but pleasant: light grains, some lemony/wheat tang, bit of cloves and some other spices, a hint of funk.

In the mouth, husky grains and light malts are livened up with a that lemon/wheat combo again, a bit of sourness, cloves, banana, and again a vague bit of funk. All these elements are rather subdued, but identifiable. There's a grassy bite of hops at the swallow that lingers for a second, then gives way to a dry, slightly chalky finish.

Overall impression: A bit subdued for my liking, but a tasty, refreshing brew.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2009 20:57:33 | More by PDXHops

ckeegan04

Texas

3.83/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From notes from my week in Oregon in June. On tap at Belmont Station.

A - Golden yellow with a foamy three finger white head. Lightly hazed. Very active carbonation quickly rising to the top. Smattering of thin white lace left behind.

S - Hints of lemon zest, wheat and a light spiciness. Light tartness in the smell as well. As the beer warms the wheat really starts to shine through.

T - Light tartness right off the bat with hints of lemon zest. The spiciness quickly comes in as well and matches up aaginst the tart lemon tastes. Somewhat grainy towards the end.

M/D - Light anc crisp with excellent carbonation. Very easy drinking with a nice blend of flavors. None are phenomenal, but they all play off of each other nicely.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2009 15:20:21 | More by ckeegan04

RedDiamond

Oregon

3.58/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A casual tasting of this clouded wheat beer suggests a Belgian-style wit, though apparently the cloven phenolics that might otherwise suggest coriander are the product of Upright's signature saison ale yeast. Aside from unmalted wheat, no flavoring adjuncts are used.

Four is sunny yellow and modestly clouded with a thin white head and modest lace. Its flavor is snappy, peppery, and crisp though not tart. The aroma is delightfully spicy.

A nice little farmhouse beer though a bit thin in the finish.

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2009 00:09:04 | More by RedDiamond

ElGordo

Oregon

4.35/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Picked up a corny keg from the brewery last week for the holiday weekend. It was a surefire hit among my guests for the Independence Day party, for sure.
Pours a slightly hazy golden color, topped by an energetic creamy white head that leaves some nice lacing on the glass. Assertive aroma of wheat, allspice, lavender, and a touch of citrus. Palate is nice and easy-going - light wheat and malt provide the backbone for mild fruity hops and notes of citrus and light herbs (thyme?). Body is light, bubbly, and silky, just great for a light summery ale.
I've had a number of light, easy-drinking summer ales over the last few weeks, but I think this takes the crown for best summer session ale. A thirst-quenching, satisfying brew that I can (and do) drink all day.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2009 07:00:24 | More by ElGordo

Floydster

California

4.53/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I had a few glasses of this at the brewery, first stop after first arriving at our hotel in Portland, poured by Alex himself, what a great guy, and to boot he makes fantastic beers, reviewed from notes, served in an old GABF flute glass, color is a golden yellow with some orange tint, about a one inch soapy white head, decent retention, some lacing too, aroma consists of mild spice, wheat, citrus, floral accents, light fruits, Belgian yeast, some mellow funk, and light straw, flavor starts off with an chewy wheat flavor, citrus in the middle with a lot of lemon, finish is pretty funky and that is in a good way with dried apricots, gets a little more citrusy as it warms, not very acidic but glimmers of tarty fruit at times, cannot believe how complex this is for a beer under five percent, slightly dry, funky, and chewy mouthfeel, thin to medium bodied, moderate carbonation that was perfect which caused this beer to be even more drinkable and flavorful at the same time, taste lingers a long time for the style, could have drank this stuff all day long, light as can be, refreshing, full of great flavor, most sessionable beer I had all trip, I cannot wait to have more of this in the future and see what else this great brewer comes up with, also really look forward to the cherry version of this that is currently sitting in oak barrels, highly recommended

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2009 22:55:51 | More by Floydster

HopHead84

California

3.78/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at The Belmont Station. Light gold and semi-cloudy with a small white head. The retention is good and there's a little lacing.

Aromas are of wheat, spices, and some tartness. Yeastiness and some light fruity esters are present. The flavor has some spiciness up front with light fruits: lemon and apricot. The beer has a low level of acidity. This is very flavorful for a 4% beer. No alcohol is noticeable.

The beer is light bodied. It's flavorful while having a low ABV and being light on the palate.

Serving type: on-tap

05-11-2009 23:14:00 | More by HopHead84

FondueVoodoo

British Columbia (Canada)

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

A: Big show on the pour, giant soapy white head tops a hazing dark wheat coloured brew.

S: Overall the smell is clean and approachable, plenty of freshness of lemons, tart apples, yeasty bread & pale malts with clean minerals and a mild barnyard funkiness.

T: Clean minerals, lemons and tart apples make this immediately refreshing and an easy drinker. A pleasant mild bretta yeast supports the minerals without detracting from clean feel. Spiced with white pepper and coriander and wheat profile throughout.

M: Dry and crisp with a fuzz of carbonation supporting the dry profile. Delicate and light as expected, unobtrusive with a meal.

O: A delicate drink that is an excellent introduction to brettas, clean and crisp and an easy drinker.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 02:51:46 | More by FondueVoodoo

popery

California

3.95/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From notes 1/31/11. Bottle. This is a very nice light saison. It packs a lot of flavor for the abv. The aroma is quite fruity. It’s mostly yeasty and lemony, but there are apricots, oranges, peaches, grapes and barley in there, as well. Sits lightly on the palate. The beer is dry and lively. Nice yeast character and fresh malt in the taste. Light yellow beer with a frothy white head. Refreshing and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 00:33:17 | More by popery

joeseppy

Illinois

4.36/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Loads of bubbles in a champagne manner with a thick head.

Bright gold color in a hazy lemon-honey hue.

Smells of tart lemon, mild spice, and bright.

Light, crisp and refreshing. Mild citrus notes and yeast.

Mouthfeel is dry and pleasing. Slightly bitter at the end.

I could drink this all day long. This will join my upcoming spring saison lineup. What a fantastic bottle to setup on the patio and share with friends. Coming in at 135 calories per bottle and a 4.5% ABV----drink up. Great respite from a RIS winter.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 00:33:32 | More by joeseppy

cfrances33

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into a HF stem.

Pour: Mostly clear pale gold body with a billowing three plus finger white head. Head is very fluffy, leaves solid lacing, and the hangs around.

Smell: Quite a solid bit of funk up here!!! Some sweet bread and a light lemony citrus. A little bit of honey.

Taste: Lemon zest bite up front, followed by a light biscuity sweetness and funk throughout. A light pepper on the finish.

Mouthfeel: This is so incredibly refreshing. A light clean tartness, and a lighter breadyness that packs so much flavor for sure a drinkable beer.

Overall: A beautiful easy drinker, and maybe my new favorite in the table beer category. Very, very nice.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 01:43:51 | More by cfrances33

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.18/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Poured a cloudy straw, deepish yellow color with good carbonation and a nice white cap which fades leaving some light bubbles and a little white ring circling the glass

S: Wheat, lemon zest, dash of salt and light barnyard

T: Immediate lemon zest, barnyard with a pronounced barnyard but no funk, more like hay and light horseblanket. The finsh has a light, lingering bitterness with a lemon drop and hay note to finish it off

M: Light bodied, little booze, very effervescent with a good amount of citrus and wheat setting up camp on the palate

O: Good. Easy drinking and well rounded.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 21:30:49 | More by barleywinefiend

PEBKAC

New York

4.3/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from Made in Oregon.

Ommegang chalice. Dusty, golden straw body. Flimsy white head.

Smell is bit unexpected & quite awesome. Mild lemon-lime citrus rind, wheat, & sour candy upfront. A dusty, sweet herbal quality, sort of like woodruff syrup.

A little twang, a little itchy wheat. More wheat then anticipated. Lemon juice & dusty bread. Aerosol. Bitter greens & saline on the finish.

Spritzy carbonation. Subtle bitterness. Lovely acid, & just dry enough.

Really refreshing. Why does this have to be $10 a bottle?

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 04:47:05 | More by PEBKAC

mmapes

Colorado

3.73/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy yellow, fizzy foamy head. Dry, grassy, almost winey at first followed by malty notes that remind you it's beer not wine. Yeast in the finish as well. I like Tank 7, but this seems more quaffable because it is not so sweet. Very refreshing. Would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 17:41:53 | More by mmapes

alpinebryant

Connecticut

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a massive overflowing head in my tulip glass. Lacing on the sides of the glass evident. Body of the beer is hazy and straw pale malt yellow.

S: Aroma of lemon rind, mustiness, pale malts, Czech/Noble hops, some fruit blossoms and a french saison yeast. I have brewed a few saisons with very similar aroma that were not at all hard to brew.

T: Starts off with a pronounced lemon rind flavor , a bit of coriander and some mustiness. The flavors are really more lemon and lightly flavored pale malt than anything else. I suspect the temperatures did not get as high as I prefer to make my Saisons that I put into the 90's in the early to mid summer to pronounce its flavors.

M: The body is light and fluffy with a ton of carbonation. Too much, however this was probably not completely fermented at the time of bottling and the sugars have been finished afterwards.

O: I am not overly impressed with this although it is not bad. I have a slightly biased assessment coming from some Saisons that I have made with little difficulty that were very similar or better than this with a little more flavor. With that said, this is a highly drinkable light summer Saison which is what these are supposed to be. I would recommend trying Saison Dupont over this however it is a nice light Saison that is not offensive to those who fear flavor.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 23:05:26 | More by alpinebryant