Stateside Saison - Stillwater Artisanal Ales

lovindahops

New York

4.15/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This rainy April calls for a saison to position my mind towards aspects of a real spring. Stateside saison is up

A- a hazy darkened yellow with bumps of cake like lacing on the edges of the glass. Very fluffy and thick foam clings to the edges as a vibrant color still reflects off the white foam

S- musty farmhouse scents partners up with a clove and butter scent as anticipated. Completely spicy with a peppery type scent, stateside presents a Belgian saison representation with the scent profile

T- massive slap of cracked pepper and Belgian yeast... And I mean massive. Very forward and present as some fruit flavor shows up as well. A solid saison that delivers with Belgian properties and flavor

M- strong carbonation and slightly thick with flavor

O- stateside is an excellent full bodies saison that is drinkable and forward of flavor simultaneously. Very impressive and creates a mindset to come back for more

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2013 21:38:20 | More by lovindahops

Rope

Illinois

4.16/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25

Appearance-
Burnt gold, none of that red I love in a beer as dark as this.

Smell-
Spicy with a little bit of lemon.

Taste-
Very fun, citrus hops up front, and ends relaxingly spicy.

Mouthfeel-
The best part about this beer... crisp, refreshing, and disappears.

Overall-
Almost like a bready champaign, probably the best saison i have had.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2013 16:55:58 | More by Rope

socon67

New York

3.91/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A - Golden pour with a bubbly white foam on top. Some lacing is noted. Hazy look to the beer.

S - Citrus notes of lemon and other fruit scents are there. Slight musky smell of damp grains is present.

T - Tartness of lemon with a small hint of peppery spice. Tangy yeast strain gives the finish a puckering bite. More of a fruity saison than the typical style.

M - Smooth feel, medium bodied saison. Carbonation is minor and less than appearance. Slick oily feel.

O - First crack at Stillwater and I enjoyed this. A good farmhouse ale for the warmer months.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2013 04:25:50 | More by socon67

Pinknuggets

Vermont

4.01/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap to worthy burger sniffer

A: golden honey totally see through with a big fluffy white head that goes away quickly but leaves solid lacing

S:you eat some of the farmhouse smell you expect from saisons but not pungent. On the other hand you can definitely smell the hops

T:fairly hoppy for a saison but I like it that way there is hints of that farmhouse taste but it is more light then bold

M: oily and pretty smooth with a crisp bite but does seem a little thin/watery very drinkable for

O: this is a decent saison but nothing to go crazy over needs more flavor and smell but pretty good drinkable beer worth a try if its not an effort

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2013 14:08:05 | More by Pinknuggets

barczar

Kentucky

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

Pours a clear light golden with half inch ivory head.

Aroma consists of wet hay, apple esters, and belgian yeast.

Flavor reveals a sweet malt character accompanied by wine must, vinous notes, and a slightly dry, peppery finish. Citrus is evident throughout.

Body is moderate, with carbonation a touch on the high side.

Most sour of the 4 offerings I've had tonight. Good citrus character, a little funk.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2013 00:49:21 | More by barczar

porkinator

California

3.88/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

On tap at Final Gravity into tulip glass. Dark golden color with some haze, penny thick creamy white head with medium retention. I think the keg was shaken around a bit, lots of head on initial pour. Aroma gives a tropical fruit smell and the yeast really comes through. Flavor is kinda hot on the back of the tongue. Solid malt flavor and a little sweet, tastes like honey. Mouthfeel is thick, and I like it!

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2012 06:22:52 | More by porkinator

Guden

Maryland

4.23/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Super cloudy pineapple juice color with a medium sized white head that has okay retention.

S- Overripe fruit, tangerine and a touch of honey. Nice mix.

T- Up front citrus and pineapple dominate with clean hoppy bitterness building into the finish. Refreshing.

M- Dry with medium carbonation, this is right where it should be.

O- A very good saison, one I will definitely want to revisit.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2012 03:00:02 | More by Guden

UCLABrewN84

California

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

On tap at Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in Long Beach, CA.

Pours a clear honey orange with a foamy white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grain, yeast, slight spice, and lots of fruity aromas. Taste is the same with some perfume-like flavors. There is also a mild bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good saison with a nice fruity presence.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2012 01:48:17 | More by UCLABrewN84

dansmcd

Australia

3.58/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Golden orange body beneath a thick foamy white head with nice lacing.

S - Subtle earthy sourness, with some orange peel.

T - Little bit funky, low hop profile, citrus.

M - Medium carbonation, touch of heat, full body.

O - Not my favourite saison but a solid multi-faceted and interesting beer. Worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

02-26-2012 01:26:30 | More by dansmcd

wedge

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

@ Busy Bee

Foggy gold with a thin, creamy white head. Floral, sweet, mildly phenolic aroma...grassy lemon, pear, and peppery spice. Tastes sweet and floral; creamy with some grain and light zesty citrus. Belgian yeast nails the Saison profile. Medium-light and drying in the mouth. I'm a satisfied customer. I've heard good things about Stillwater, so I'm glad I finally got around to trying one of their beers. They certainly seem to be able to pull off the style in an authentic way.

Serving type: on-tap

02-13-2012 16:38:13 | More by wedge

ThePorterSorter

New York

3.93/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Second time trying this on tap at the blue monk....

The beer pours a clear amber with an initially dense white head. The head falls flat but he beer doesn't. Smelling this beer leaves me unsatisfied, but I'm willing to blame a certain amount on it being served too cold. The taste paints a different picture. There is an incredible sweetness - bitterness interplay, followed by bold yeast character. The beer is paired with some fatty duck fries...excellent mouthfeel. The bitter aftertaste is not characteristic of most saisons, but it's a nice addition. It's worth trying and a great bar drink.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2012 01:48:26 | More by ThePorterSorter

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Bomber from some expensive NY place at $14. A farmhouse ale without the farm, nothing funky at all in the aroma. A tasty ale, overcarbonated but still fairly tasty and drinkable. Some orange citrus, some cola, all within some nondescript saison ingredients. Dark coloured with small white head.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2012 04:46:03 | More by northyorksammy

NittanyBeerFan

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This takes a little while to pour, as incredible levels of carbonation create about a 2-inch cap of eggshell-white head. This leaves a solid wall of lace for about the first inch, and then cobweb-like lace after that.

Aroma of warm alcohol, herbes du provence, coriander, and clove. A definite malted wheat character is also evident. The flavor brings on fresh grassy hops, earthy notes, and a cracker-y crispness. Extremely dry in the finish, this is a winner in my book. The only real problem that I have is that the phenolic spices fade on the palate. Regardless, I would get this again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2012 14:45:13 | More by NittanyBeerFan

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

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

First had: on tap at TJ's, Paoli, PA

Poured a golden orange color with a small white cap of head that retained well and left a bit of soapy lacing. Floral aroma, spicy yeast. Taste is a bit mild and subdued, but crisp and flavorful, with notes of spicy yeast, white grapes, citrus zest, and floral hops that keep the bitterness in check; minimal funk. Crisp, light-medium mouthfeel, and very easily drinkable. Nice.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2012 13:42:58 | More by Rifugium

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

On tap at Goose Island Clybourn in Chicago.

Appearance - golden-amber with a nice head.

Smell - Hoppy floral aromas upfront with a bit of sweet malt and subdued horsy brett character.

Taste - Moderatley sweet with a nice hoppy bitterness, much hoppier than I would expect from a Saison, but I guess that is what makes it "Stateside." The brett is noticeable, but definitely in the background.

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2011 11:57:34 | More by

Halcyondays

California

3.73/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Beachwood I,

A: Pours a translucent goldenrod with a medium white head, solid retention, some lace.

S: Quite hoppy, with grapefruit and pine, hints of esters.

T: A very hoppy Americanized saison, hence the name perhaps. Tons of grass and grapefruit, with some Belgian yeast flavours, notes of coriander and yellow apple.

M: Medium-bodied, crisp and refreshing, biting carbonation.

O: Very much a saison, but really like they married an IPA with it. I can enjoy that, you'll barely get anything traditional, but if you're a fan of the hops you'll like this

Serving type: on-tap

10-08-2011 03:40:15 | More by Halcyondays

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on draft at Craft Ale House, poured into a cervoise glass.

A: Golden yellow body with a fluffly, bubbly and creamy white head. Great retention cap lasting throughout, as well as some seriously sticky lacing around the walls. It's simply a really wonderful looking Saison.

S: Very earthy, mineral notes initially, along with with floral elements and touches of light citrus hops. There is a certain funk character to it but it's not dominating the nose at all. Light bready malts and grains towards the back end. It's a very crisp and refreshing smelling profile.

T: Starts off with lots of doughy, bready and yeasty flavors. It seems fairly one dimensional but there's a peppery and funky kick mid-palate to break things up. Finishes with hints of sweetness from some citrus fruits, orange and lemon. It's not bad, definitely flavorful but no my favorite, though nothing seems really "wrong" with it.

M: Really active in its carbonation, prickly all over the palate but still retains a nice body on it. It's crisp and somewhat light, very nice for the style. Certainly is a highly drinkable beer, without anything nasty in the linger.

This had many good qualities about it from the appearance to feel, but the actual flavors seemed too one dimensional for me. Though, for the style it's plenty good and one I would recommend to try if you get the opportunity.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2011 14:24:19 | More by ShanePB

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

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

Another good Saison from Stillwater here. This brew poured out as a hazy yellow color with a good foamy head on top. The head settles and leaves some scattered lacing on the glass. The smell of the beer was floral and grainy. The taste was nicely balanced between some grainy malts and some smooth farhouse funk. Really an interesting brew. The mouthfeel was bubbly but smooth, overall very good stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2011 02:14:47 | More by Knapp85

scinerd3000

Pennsylvania

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

10oz draft into a tulip. Reviewed from notes at Teresa's Next Door.

A: hazy hay color with amber highlights. Rasied a fluffy white head. receeded slowly and with good lacing.

S: Hay and grass, corriended and slightly sour

T: Wheat up front, complex spice notes but not overwhelming. Very drinkable. Lemongrass upfront and finishes dry. Slight clove as well wit very slight banana esters. SLight alcohol note on warming.

M: excellent carbonation, dry with bubbles on my tongue. Leaves a clean wheat flavor.

O: Excellent example of a saison and hides the 6.8% very well. Slight alcohol

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2011 21:57:45 | More by scinerd3000

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

(Served in a tulip)

A- This beer pours a slightly hazy deep golden yellow body with a creamy beige head that last a good bit. There are tiny strands of carbonation that trail to the surface.

S- The dry buttery diacetyl aroma takes on a sweat sock quality as the beer warms and blends into a pear and apricot aroma in the finish.

T- The pear and apricot estery flavor has a soft diacetyl buttery note and a pleasant soft white cheese rind and saison yeast flavor to it. There are some grapefruit pith notes and a peppery hops bite in the finish that has a butter hint that lingers.

M- The medium-light mouthfeel has a creamy texture in the finish.

O- Lots of pear and buttery flavors that dominate this beer. The fruity esters and saison yeast blend well together but they are not strong enough for the diacetyl that takes over. As the beer warms there is a nice pear and cottage cheese flavor underneath with the yeast and fruit.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2011 14:37:08 | More by rhoadsrage

alexkeil

New York

4.5/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed on tap at Blue Monk in Buffalo. Poured what appeared to be a hazy light orange color. It was a little difficult to see in the light from the bar. It had a nice efferescent white head that lasted a good while. The aroma was grainy, yeasty, slightly citrusy. The flavor was a nice balance of yeast character, grainy malt backbone, enough hop bitterness to balance, some lemon and grapefruit citrus, light spiciness, and a wonderful tart dry finish. Light to medium body with lots of carbonation. Enjoyable throughtout with nice changes as the temperature warmed the beer. Would definitely recommend to have as soon as possible and often as possible.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2011 13:46:45 | More by alexkeil

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Blue Monk, in Buffalo.

Stateside Saison is a dark and toasty golden and has a semi-obscured complexion; it appears much denser than the brighter, sunnier examples I tend to think of as prototypical for the style. But it's certainly recognizable as a saison and is an attractive beer nonetheless. Likewise, although the Belgians take head propagation more seriously, the level of foamy white suds present here is still more than acceptable.

Like all good and proper saisons, this beer has a lot to say about yeast: an undercurrent of earthy funk scampers throughout the aroma. Over top of it, however, is a distinguishably 'new world' hoppiness that is nonchalantly bitter and more than helpful at creating additional depth to the (predictable) elements of fruits, herbs and spices.

The taste, apparently, is where most of the spiciness has come to settle. Trying to capture the essence of this maladjusted 'spiciness' is like guessing lottery numbers - who knows? Cloves, white pepper, dried oregano, grains of paradise? The one thing I do know for certain is that no actual spices were even used. That's just the magic of yeast.

In order for its flavour to really spring to life, Stateside Saison needed some time to warm. It took me the better part of a half hour to realize just how animatedly zesty and precocious a beer this is. Its crispy, toasty, biscuity pale malts are a compliment of the highest order for all this spicy yeast. It has an interplay of tastes and textures that comes only from top quality ingredients, a clever recipe and an imaginative, adept brewer.

Stillwater is an ironic name for a brewery that is creating so many ripples in the craft-beer pond. The mind behind this outfit is clearly a visionary and, fortunately, one with the proper appreciation and understanding of classic styles to possess the necessary tact when putting his own personal spin on them. Stateside Saison is exactly what it says it is: an homage to old world tradition and a celebration of new world innovation.

Serving type: on-tap

01-12-2011 15:11:24 | More by biegaman

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

on tap at devils den in philly

Pours a clouded darker orange with some golden tones. An off white head fades slowly into well retained lacing and thick film.

Some fruit and citrus in the nose with lighter spice and faint yeasty funk.

Somewhat sweeter fruit up front with blood orange and apricot. Assorted spices mix in with sone light funk. A bit more of sweetness rides through towards the end. Finishes dry and a little spicy with a barely any hint of alcohol.

Lighter medium body, higher carbonation, a little dry. Drinks well, light alcohol, and a decent balance between funk and spice. Overall not super impressive but a solid saison.

Serving type: on-tap

01-04-2011 05:21:50 | More by xnicknj

bobsy

Ontario (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap in Buffalo. A golden pour with a long-lived white head and good lace. Clean grain nose with hints of fruit and spice. Dry flavour with grain, mineral, some floral notes and a light hint of funk. Nothing overly exciting, but a solid rendition. Body, as mentioned, is dry with a pleasing billowy carbonation.

A good saison, but I'm perplexed by its spot on the best in style list - there are far better ones out there.

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2010 02:14:51 | More by bobsy

CHickman

New York

3.15/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours cloudy orange in color with a creamy 1 finger off white head that faded quickly and left great lacing; the lacing stuck to the glass and slid down very slowly.

Smells of funky yeast, sweet malt, coriander, pepper, light spices, cinnamon, allspice and citrus hops; it was quite a funky aroma that was almost too much.

Tastes like it smells, with funky yeast, sweet malt, coriander, pepper, light spices, cinnamon, allspice, citrus hops, sour fruit like grapefruit and a slight alcohol twang; a very funky beer overall.

Mouthfeel is crisp, light and airy, with very light carbonation, a light body and funky dry aftertaste.

A very tasty beer, but way too funky to be a session beer. A bold beer for those with an adventurous palate, but just not my cup of tea. I'm glad that I tried this, but I won't seek it out again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-24-2010 04:20:01 | More by CHickman