Existent - Stillwater Artisanal Ales

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.66/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a bottle into a Bell's tulip. The pour is very dark - nearly black with mahogany highlights - and sports a nice rocky tan head that dies down a bit quickly. The nose is a little on the faint side, but I do get hints of yeasty fresh bread aromas, wheat, cereal grains, and a faint roastiness.

The beer has a light-medium body. The flavor is well balanced between roastiness and herbal spiciness and has a little sweetness as well. Faint wheat and cereal notes up front joined by a faint roasty coffee-like note at mid-palate. A gentle hop kick dries up the finish and adds just a bit of spice, but the roastiness seems too persistent and drags through the finish. I like herbal spiciness in Saisons and I'm not sure the roastiness allows the spice to come through all that well.

It's time to recognize a new category - Black Saison. I think there are enough examples of it out there right now. While I enjoyed this one, there's something about the roastiness of it that just didn't do it for me. I haven't had a lot of Black Saisons, but the roastiness seems to benefit from additional spiciness, which this one doesn't have. See Goose Island's ``Pepe Nero'' for more details.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 21:34:32 | More by deadonhisfeet

dar482

New York

4.68/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

The beer pours out in a dark brown/black color with some red coming through in the light. The head is a 1 finger and off white. By the way, props on the beautiful dark label with a negative of Friedrich Nietzsche.

The aroma has quite interesting. It has spicy notes of coriander, and tons of breadiness.

The flavor is lovely. It hits you first with some dark fruit and yeast, again, hints of being a hefeweizen, but also a Belgian dark ale. Then the dark malts take over with some round, but light mouthfeel and roasted malt flavor.

The finish has this spicy rye breadiness and is quite dry and lingering. It’s almost floral in flavor too.

This really is an interesting brew. I had a sip after my friend ordered it and it blew me away. I had to buy a bottle and reviewing it, it still is quite the brew. It’s so different and hard to pin down stylistically.

It has that fruitiness, breadiness, and strong yeast flavor that makes it so Belgian, but then there’s also this refreshing spicy peppery bite. The gentle carbonation keeps this brew uplifting and light as well.

I give this beer tons of credit for being so amazing, but also innovative and different.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 04:49:36 | More by dar482

wedge

North Carolina

3.71/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours a deep chestnut brown with a low, creamy head that shrinks to a spotty covering. Smells hoppier than expected...fresh, soapy, earthy, and spicy with some mild roasted malt and wood. The flavor is not super malty, but "darker" tasting than your average farmhouse brew. Spicy fruit esters, floral hops, pine, orange, a touch of chocolate, and dark bread. Fluffy and tingly in the mouth with a long, lingering dryness. A little aggressive overall and personally, I'm generally not a huge fan of roasted malt and Belgian yeast coming together. Pretty good though...

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 00:59:25 | More by wedge

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: A deep, rich dark brown. Dark reds and lighter browns show up when held to direct light. Small tan head drops to an almost non-existent cap with a small loose collar. Moderate carbonation on the pour.

Smell: Loaded with ripe banana. Soft clove spiciness. A bit of roasted malt with some underlying cocoa. A bit floral. Earthy. Powdery yeast. Some hay and grassy elements. Very clean with a soft complexity. Light malt sweetness pushes a good bit of caramel. Even some toffee and licorice in the back.

Taste: A blend of farmhouse funk and Belgian influence. Rich caramelized malts with some backing roasted elements. A touch of cocoa and black licorice. Slight peppery spiciness with some earthy and grassy hops. A bit on the sweet side to start with ripe banana and some bubblegum. Solid yeast presence. Dark fruit, but vague. Very yeasty.

Mouthfeel: Surprisingly dry given the sweet malt profile. Crisp with a mediumish body. Medium to high carbonation. Pretty much spot on.

Overall: This beer exists and we are better for it.

A good American saison/farmhouse ale. A solid punch of Belgian influence tempered by the softer funky elements I expect from the American style. A bit sweet overall.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2013 21:03:57 | More by Goblinmunkey7

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.91/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark brown with a tan foam head with some splashy lace. Very pretty.

Yeast and spicy grain notes in the nose. A little wood, maybe even a little clove.

Dried out and a bit coarse. The malt has a bitter husk edge to it, that leads to hop bitterness, and a little dried dark maltiness. Unforgiving in the layers of bitter and dry, these flavors push the yeast and funk notes out of the way. Finishes with a little alcohol and bitter grain.

Medium bodied, nice carbonation.

Decent brew, like a black IPA meets farmhouse. A sipper, and something to share if you get a bomber.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 21:44:51 | More by OtherShoe2

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a tulip.

Appearance
Dark, dark brown with garnet highlights. 1 finger of light tan head with decent retention.

Nose
Dark fruits, plum and potpourri.

Taste
Overripe plum and fig. Raw grains and hay. Touches of potpourri and chlorine. A tiny hint of chocolate. Finishes with orange zest, rye and coriander. Floral perfumey flavors linger.

Mouthfeel
Light bodied, crisp, clean and dry.

Overall
A crisp and refreshing Black Saison. Spicy, complex and hides the alcohol well.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 13:45:07 | More by justintcoons

MaineBrewing

Maine

3.04/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

A - poured a dark brown almost black with mahogany hue when held to the light. Two finger light tan head that seemed very loose dissipated quickly.

S - nice sweet malt with hints of caramel, peppery spicyness. Slight licorice character.

T - taste is interesting. Brown ale ish in malt character with a bright citrus hop. Very prevalent yeast character throughout, almost an autolyzed flavor. Weird baked cookie notes in the background, if that is such a thing, tastes like it. Finishes really dry. Seems to be missing somethin, there is a pleasant fruityness that just can't find it's way through.

M - light body with dry finish, too light for the appearance.

O - this is weird, not in a good way. The flavors from malt and hops are subtle behind a massive yeast character. Not the best experience, probably wouldnt seek out another. Not a drain pour by any means, just not that good.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 01:48:25 | More by MaineBrewing

DenverLogan

Colorado

4.38/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 750 ml bottle into medium sized Duvel tulip glass.
Pours a dark brown with large brown head.
Aroma of roasted malts, nuts, lactose, slight sweet malts.
Medium carbonation and significant mouthfeel.
Flavors of dark malts, malt balls, slight chocolate, espresso, caramel, bitter hops, cola, semi-sweet chocolate, persimmon fruit, white grapefruit, brown sugar and raisins. Overall quite complex, certainly not a European style farmhouse! Overall damn tasty and full bodies, challenging yet relatively easy to drink for an American farmhouse/dark saison.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 02:47:23 | More by DenverLogan

metter98

New York

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is very dark brownish red in color (opaque when viewed from afar) and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. The first pour resulted in light brown colored head than beer; subsequent pours resulted in increasingly proportions of beer compared to foam, the latter of which consistently left a head covering the surface.
S: Light to moderate aromas of earthy yeast and dark malts are present in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell but also has additional flavors of roasted malts and some hints of dark fruits.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate to high amount of carbonation.
O: I found this beer to be rather interesting for the style but overcarbonated. It almost seems like it should fit into a "Black Saison" category, just like there is one for a Black IPA (American Black Ale).

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 03:35:28 | More by metter98

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

4.34/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottle into tulip.

Dark, opaque black/brown pour. Booming three plus finger light tan head. Lacing is large bubbled gobs around glass.

Dark stone fruits, grapes, apple skins, candied sugar, spicy yeast with some light roasted coffee. It's truly up and down between dark and sweet and light and spicy. There is a cherry syrup in there somewhere like maraschino syrup; slightly tart with a sweetness.

Chocolate covered cherries, candied sugar, spicy yeast, plums and figs, some caramel and burnt toast. This is truly different. It's almost a soured/spiced Belgian Dubbel. It's very original and very good.

Light to medium body, high carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 23:08:16 | More by korguy123

zeff80

Missouri

4.01/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark brown color with a two-finger, light brown head of foam. It left sticky rings of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of dried dark fruits and candy sugar.

T - It tasted of rich maltiness, chocolate and cherries. A touch of spiciness, too.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry finish.

O - This is a really tasty saison. Not surprising that Stillwater has done a great job here.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 01:30:08 | More by zeff80

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.01/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Muddy molasses color with garnet highlights. Pretty sturdy tan head of about two fingers after a restrainted pour. The tan foam sticks around for almost the whole 750ml bottles worth. The bubbling is hard to see, but you can find it eminating like a good saison should. One of the darkest saisons I've ever had.

Done dry hay and wheat field. Dry, pumpernickel bread crust. Soft, yet dark herbal aromas. Smells like a pretty good, dark saison.

Dry, chalky, earthy bitterness, yet cottony. Dark malts and hinting herbals all combine quiet well. Add to that a dry, yet well carbonated, bubbly palate and you have a fun sipping beer to share with friends. Or in my case, slowly enjoy over the coarse of an hour ;).

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 19:06:52 | More by scruffwhor

MrCee

4.4/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

So darkly brown it is almost black. It delivers a nice frothy head. Boldly carbonated in a way that makes it sit comfortably on the tongue for nice savor. Great malty flavor that does not overpower and yet is not to wan. Other beers match this type but not the near perfection that this one achieves.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 02:08:28 | More by MrCee

ngeunit1

California

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a dark black with a touch of brown with a finger of frothy khaki head. Fades slow.

S - Dark caramel malts, dark fruit, a bit of chocolate, Belgian yeast, clove, pepper, a bit of grains.

T - Dark caramel malts, dark fruits, chocolate, clove and other spices. Belgian yeast, pepper, some grains, hint of caramelized sugars. Dark malts, Belgian yeast, spices, chocolate.

M - Medium bodied moderate carbonation. Smooth with a dry, sweet, spicy finish.

D - Nice darker saison. Good balance of malt and yeast character.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 08:06:23 | More by ngeunit1

superspak

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating. Pours cloudy fairly pitch black color with a nice 2 finger dense tan head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lasts. Nice foamy lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of big dark chocolate, roasted malt, light char, pear, pepper, clove, apple, caramel, toffee, herbal, earth, and light yeast spices. Damn nice aromas with good balance and complexity. Taste of big dark chocolate, roasted malt, light char, caramel, pepper, toast, clove, tobacco, earth, apple, raisin, and yeast spiciness. Lingering notes of dark chocolate, roasted malt, light char, apple, caramel, toffee, pepper, herbal, clove, earth, tobacco, and yeast spiciness on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic flavor complexity and balance; nice roasted malt/peppery spice balance; zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a creamy, slick, lightly chalky, and lightly prickly mouthfeel that is very nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent black saison! Great robust roasted flavors with nice yeast spice balance; very smooth and lush to sip on. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 05:09:31 | More by superspak

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a deep dark color ale with a large light brown foamy head with good retention and some good lacing. Aroma of roasted malt and fruity ester with light funky notes is pretty unique and very interesting. Taste is also dominated by light roasted malt with some light funky ester and some what of a fruity and dry raisins finish. Body was quite full with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Very different and complex – almost like a mix between some element of a foreign stout and a farmhouse ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 19:06:10 | More by Phyl21ca

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep amber to black in color with a light brown head. In the aroma, a lighter roast and notes of horse blanket. In the taste, dry to earthy small tartness and a caramel like roast. A small hop like bite and a lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a dry yeast and note of caramel like roast in the aftertaste. Nice mix of caramel and earth, quite pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 17:18:48 | More by OWSLEY069

larryi86

Delaware

4.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle poured into a snifter

A- Dark brown with a four finger light tan head.

S- Fruity farmhouse yeast, some chocolate, roasted malts, earthy hops, nice spices.

T- Again fruity yeast, roasted malts, chocolate, touch of smoke, earthy hops, some spices.

M- Smooth, medium body.

O- Another tasty beer from Stillwater, pretty unique. Worth the price, will pick this up again.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 02:04:24 | More by larryi86

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle to tulip.

A - Very dark brown. Lots of head on the pour that slowly receded to a thin layer.

S - Bready malts. A touch of chocolate. Lighter Belgian yeast and spice notes are present but they aren't dominant like in many saisons.

T - Belgian yeast a touch of chocolate, raisin, dark fruit and spice. All the flavours are well integrated with nothing dominating, including the yeast characteristics.

M - Medium body. Creamy. Moderate carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 15:30:48 | More by TheSevenDuffs

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.03/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I generally make distinctions between how Belgian brewers make authentic and high quality tasting ales and how American brewers try to emulate them. Where I usually think American versions fall short, I may have to re-evaluate that reason if beers like Existent becomes the new benchmark.

With a russet and tawny rubyish brown hue, the yeasty haze casts a mystic glow of eerie effect. The nearly opaque beer immediately releases a billowing sand-stained head which retains stubbornly and laces impressivley with random character on the glass.

Strong aromatics of toast, starch, burnt embers, and scorched molassas begin to frame the malty matrix. Not to be outdone, a balance of spice ensues- led by the scent of freshly cracked peppercorn, coriander, and grilled fruit, fennel, the beer's aroma is strong but never plays favorites. It has to be said that a light phenolic note of burnt plastic persists far in the background.

Flavors however do not. As the taste of dry heavy toast, cocoa powder, smoky mole, light vegemite , and spent coffee grounds provide a robust and creamy taste that starts early and extends well into the finish. But the middle palate of coriander, fennel, currant, red grapes, and curacao ride just above the starchy taste of spaghetti before landing at the dry threshold of dry toast and peppercorn that return in finish.

Medium-dry in texture, the high effervescence pushes the beer off the mouth and creates a sense of dryness from the very start. But as the carbonation subsides, its the interesting dialogue that continues with creamy maltiness and peppery spice. - all works toward an off-dry finish of acrid toast and dry spice to close the beer with minimal aftertaste.

Immediate comparisons come to mind with Goose Island's Pepe Nero. Existent pushes further into that balance of flavor with greater fruit, spice, and malt complexities while offering similar drinkability. Score one for Stillwater!

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 06:26:47 | More by BEERchitect

AgentMunky

California

3.93/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750mL bottle into a brandy snifter.

A: Two fingers of off-white head. The beer is gorgeously black with ruby glints in direct light. Good lacing.

S: Muted and vague, with some zesty yeast. Spicy, but not that interesting.

T: Roasted Belgian yeast is the first thing that comes to mind. It's bizarre, but very tasty. The endtaste is long, lingering, and almost porterish in its chalky, nutty, clinging bitterness.

M: Generously full-bodied throughout, with a sense of flavour.

O: A nice beer, interesting and recommended. A sort of hybrid saison-porter. It's got the spicy yeast and the roasted malt. Would try again.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 07:07:32 | More by AgentMunky

DonDirkA

Arizona

4.48/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nose is cloves, banana, caramel, kind of nutty, cinnamon and a slight hint of coffee. Taste is really similar, almost exactly but the cloves are strong and right up front followed by roasted notes and coffee all rounded out by banana. To me it tasted very Belgian, which isn't what I expected. One other reviewer said that if you blindfolded him and smelled it he'd think it was a stout or porter and I have to agree with that. I'd think a Belgian-style stout. It was nowhere near as heavy as a stout though. It had a very dry finish and was a real nice sipper. This is I think 4 out of 5 awesome beers from Stillwater in my books. Very awesome.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 05:26:48 | More by DonDirkA

tlazaroff

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Smells fantastic! It doesn't smell like any other Saison that I've had though, if I were in a blind tasting, I would consider this aroma as coming off of a porter or stout. Chocolate is the first thing I get, with pumpernickel black bread and a touch of light funk on the tail end of the aroma.

Very dark brown with ruby highlights where the light strikes. It has a light mocha froth head and lacing comes in the form of nice rings around the glass.

Existent is a beautiful beer! Upfront I get chocolate with a hint of sage. It lasts through the finish but is accompanied by this kind of gritty floral taste in the mid palate to the drying finish. Moderatly high carbonation with a smooth medium body. Tasting this reminded me of why I like Saison so much, and this has a nice twist on the style. I'll be enjoying this one for a while as I take my time with it.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 22:45:12 | More by tlazaroff

vfgccp

New York

3.98/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Towering khaki head with moderately loose bubbles.  Great retention and stellar lace. Deep mahogany body.

S - Dry nose.  Dandelions, mint, hay, roses, and Chardonnay.

T - Lightly toasted malt and caramel latte with great, dry, woody and floral hop notes throughout.

M - Refreshingly light body.  Nice carbonation.

O - Well executed. The delicious roast profile is prominent but well restrained, and manages not to overwhelm the otherwise light and brisk Saison frame that supports it.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 19:23:09 | More by vfgccp

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pour is black with a tan head. The nose is interesting, citrusy with an assertive smoke to it. Light peppery spice that is very faint. The taste is sweeter but not sugary, it has a faint smoke and some tropical fruit notes. Good soft body, gentle carb and dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 13:46:09 | More by cpetrone84