Stateside Saison - Stillwater Artisanal Ales

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Went to a friend's this last holiday weekend and we cracked this one among others. Poured into a mason jar (that's all we had at the time). Pours a fair honey gold with a big frothy white head on top. Great retention; leaves lots of sticky lace. There are a ton of bubbles rising through this one, feeding the head. The nose is yeasty, tart, earthy, and mildly fruity. Some pineapple noted.

The bubbles create a prickly feel that borders on harsh. I know many of this style are over-carbonated in my experience, but I really wish this was tamed down a smidge. Flavors of pineapple, apple, lemon pepper, dirt, spicy yeast. This is flavorful as all get out. There's a lack of sweetness though, that would help balance it out a bit more.

This was a good domestic take on the style. It's not a style I visit often, but this was good. Thanks, Marco!

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 21:46:43 | More by Onenote81

Jslay013

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-20-2013 21:28:09 | More by Jslay013

Apathetiq

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -24.8%

05-20-2013 16:03:02 | More by Apathetiq

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%

05-20-2013 04:34:29 | More by Kmat10

Giantspace

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-20-2013 02:59:08 | More by Giantspace

George2744

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%

05-19-2013 18:25:02 | More by George2744

harrisjohnson

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%

05-18-2013 15:19:05 | More by harrisjohnson

Focusf111

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev -6%

05-18-2013 00:55:41 | More by Focusf111

LiquorsInc

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -6%

05-17-2013 18:06:13 | More by LiquorsInc

jgammoniv

Maine

3.75/5  rDev -6%

05-17-2013 03:03:03 | More by jgammoniv

ktblue22

Vermont

3.8/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Beer pours a beautiful hazy golden amber color with a 3/4 inch light head. Smells of wheat, straw with a sharp tang. Taste is not quite what I expected, very dry with a sharp hop presence and a lot of carbonation. Mouthfeel is again very dry and carbonated, you can definitely feel the near 7% ABV after a few sips!

Overall I think this is a very well saison. Nothing spectacular about it, just very good.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 22:09:17 | More by ktblue22

kangarooAdam59

Maine

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

Born on date 04/02/2013:

Thanx Aaron:

Into a pint glass (also had in a tulip, no changes):

A - hazy yet clear yellow/golden body with some noticeable carbonation seen rising, two finger white foamy head rises and then falls leaving some nice foamy clingy lacing gracing the sides of the glass

S: sour yet funky but also muted musty maltiness combined with some citrus, light hops

T: spicy yet sour yet funky through the esters, clove, and hops, sweet yeasty aftertaste, sticky finish

M: light, mostly sessionable, carbonation is spot on

O: wow, what another nicely done saison, I'm glad I'm starting to get into this style, I would gladly have another

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 16:04:43 | More by kangarooAdam59

gshackles

New York

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-12-2013 18:53:08 | More by gshackles

NoCurse2012

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%

05-12-2013 16:23:43 | More by NoCurse2012

marshmeli

New York

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%

05-10-2013 20:55:01 | More by marshmeli

Dreamer

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-10-2013 17:49:10 | More by Dreamer

Nutwood

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%

05-09-2013 02:26:50 | More by Nutwood

geocool

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%

05-09-2013 01:38:21 | More by geocool

MaineBrewing

Maine

4.13/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A - poured a hazy gold with tons of apparent carbonation, fluffy white head with some large bubbles. Appeared lively and well carbonated throughout, not much for lacing.

S - smell is a sour, dirty malt character with a citrus hop bite, some nice pine and resin hop character as well.

T - Really amazing taste, nice cereal malt character with a dominating fruitiness, hints of banana and clove with a great hop finish. Bitter and dry on the end, very thirst quenching with a slight lingering sweetness. Nice clean yeast character with only the slightest of Brett funkiness at the end.

M - very light body with ample carbonation and dry finish. Makes a great thirst quencher, much needed sitting in my hot non air conditioned house. didn't read the abv until now, was thinking this was 4.5~ but at 6.8 it is doing a great job at keeping everything balanced, bravo.

O - Great refreshing brew to quaff in the summer, the hoppiness is much appreciated. I also appreciate the fruitiness, there is some mustiness but it is subdued. Will certainly reach for this again.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 00:57:56 | More by MaineBrewing

Monalenard

Illinois

3.76/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

this beer pours a lightly hazy copper gold, exactly what i expect from a good saison. it has a huge head, thick, white and pillowy so be careful while pouring. Excellent lacing, the head takes about a minute or two to die down to a finger so thick it looks like you could peel it off. it certainly isn't going anywhere on its own... The smell was that of nothing more than a golden ale. Spice and little else which makes the taste, perhaps even more enjoyable than it is on its own cause, guess what, its a ruse. This is one complex and nicely balanced beer. I am usually not one for spicy beers so saisons are tricky for me. This one has a nice sweet malt flavor, the spice is similar to maybe a belgian dubbel. It's strong, but well complimented. There is also some decent hops presence here. Actually, nothing is very subtle, its all pretty strong but at levels that don't out do one another. Now, with a beer like this you can either add the yeast at the bottom of the bottle or not. This will do one of two things depending on the freshness of the beer. This one is still only about two months old and i made the mistake of not checking before i added the sediment. In the case of a young beer it is going to make it spicier. However, if you have a beer that's been around a little longer, 6 months to a year, you're going to get some added banana bread-ish sweetness and body which is what i was going for without really thinking. Oops. still good but i'm now having my second and enjoying it much more. Mouthfeel is nice, a bit sticky, full, small carbonation. Overall, a really ideal saison. i have a new regular.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 21:17:39 | More by Monalenard

dalepryor

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-07-2013 20:30:56 | More by dalepryor

mklisz

New Hampshire

3.25/5  rDev -18.5%

05-07-2013 20:03:13 | More by mklisz

bacher468

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%

05-04-2013 19:52:50 | More by bacher468

bostonryan

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +12.8%

05-04-2013 18:44:39 | More by bostonryan

FembotsUnite

Pennsylvania

4.31/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Pours a lovely hazy gold/amber hue with an ivory head and nice lacing. Delicate carbonation.

Smell: Clove, tropical fruit, bread, faint rose and floral notes. Slight hop presence. I found myself breathing in so deeply I got foam up my nose.

Taste: Clean and crisp like a saison should be. Winter spice and banana with a peppery finish. Almost no hop bitterness and the abv is concealed well.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied with a mildly dry aftertaste that leaves you wanting more.

Overall: An excellent saison for the coming summer months. Strong enough to satisfy the beer geeks in your circle yet accessible enough for even the Bud drinkers to enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 17:54:27 | More by FembotsUnite