A Saison Darkly
Stillwater Artisanal Ales

A Saison DarklyA Saison Darkly
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Stillwater Artisanal Ales
 
Washington, United States
Style:
Saison
ABV:
8%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.89 | pDev: 11.57%
Reviews:
134
Ratings:
348
Status:
Active
Rated:
Apr 25, 2018
Added:
Nov 13, 2010
Wants:
  23
Gots:
  38
Brewed at Huisbrouwerij Sint Canarus in Deinze-Gottem, Belgium with Dr. Canarus. This black saison carries qualities similar to a stout with light roast and burnt sugar flavors, spiced with rose hips, hibiscus, and Schisandra berries.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by CHADMC3:
Photo of CHADMC3
Reviewed by CHADMC3 from Connecticut

4.09/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a very dark brown body, almost resembling root beer with a foamy tan head that is very quick to dissipate and leaves no lacing behind.

Traditional saison aromatics are present which after the pour I was skeptical about. Yeast, pepper, citrus and other spices dance from the glass. There is also something floral to this beer and if it's possible, I think you can even smell the carbonation, or at least it lights up your nose.

The flavor features generous citrus and pepper-like spice as well as yeast and even a tough to identify sweetness that is slightly boozy and may even be vinous, likely a result of the berries. As it warms, some of the roasted aspects you would expect visually seem to appear. This beer really changes from start to finish and is quite unique.

Generous carbonation and a light, and almost tart body that is a touch drying at the finish.

Clearly not your typical saison, I think this is a quality beer where the consumer can appreciate what the brewer was going for. I really enjoyed this and will be looking for it again.
Jan 24, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by bacher468 from Pennsylvania

Apr 25, 2018
 
Rated: 3.56 by Songminx2 from Korea (South)

Oct 08, 2017
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Treated as a saison, this was poured into a tulip. The appearance was a dark brown close to black color with a thin white to off white foamy head quickly dissipating and leaving some messy lacing. The smell started off with floral sweet notes rolling over some white bread. Delicate sweet rye, and some sweet berries. The flavor leans to the sweet floral side with a crisp breadiness about it. Wet dark-like bready aftertaste leading into a quick sweet finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a nice sessionability about it. Carbonation rides fairly low and easy on my tongue. Overall, nice saison, I believe it to be one. And I’d have this again.
Jun 08, 2017
Photo of hoptheology
Reviewed by hoptheology from California

2.36/5  rDev -39.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2
Coffee brown color with an off-white head of 3 fingers. Leaves nice lace on the sides of the glass as it recedes.

Nose is faint but consists of some herbal qualities, molasses, some nuttiness and coffee.

Oh. This is nasty stuff. It's like a fistful of rosemary and a glug of expired cough syrup. Dry herbs and alcohol finish out the flavor.

Feel is creamy and heavily carbonated. A bit dry on the finish.

Overall, no, this is not good. Will not revisit again.
Apr 07, 2017
Photo of josanguapo
Reviewed by josanguapo from Spain

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From miguel. In Goose Island glass. Watching Los Soprano 5x13-6x01. Slight sour notes like in a saison mixed with dark notes but not in a chocolate or coffelike way but more like in a belgiun dark
Apr 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3.74 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

Sep 23, 2016
 
Rated: 2.83 by Miami66 from Nebraska

Jun 24, 2016
Photo of ByronDBeer
Reviewed by ByronDBeer from California

3.68/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
L: Black but a little transparency
S: Yeast, hefeweizen
T: Coffee, a bit cola
F: Very crisp due to carbonation, light feel, almost like a lager. Not too much carbonation.

Quite weird, like watery coffee and cola.
May 27, 2016
 
Rated: 3.72 by TheHopsman from Nebraska

Apr 27, 2016
Photo of Apellonious
Reviewed by Apellonious from North Carolina

3.96/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle poured into a tulip glass. 316:15 code. Could mean it was bottled in Nov 15.

A - Pitch black like a stout, little to no head that moves immediately to a tiny thin lace.

S - Interesting. A combination of roast, coffee, and some underlying floral spices.

T - The taste leans back to a regular saison, with some banana, clove, slight touch of funk, berries, and a mild roasted character.

M - Carbonation medium high, mouthfeel on medium light side. Finishes dry.

O - Interesting take. Worth a go.
Apr 22, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by Mantooth from North Carolina

Apr 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.25 by Dewsby from Kentucky

Mar 21, 2016
 
Rated: 4.24 by RachelinBrooklyn from New York

Feb 18, 2016
 
Rated: 1.85 by rrafnad

Jan 20, 2016
 
Rated: 4.18 by Smconnor from Iowa

Jan 19, 2016
 
Rated: 3.64 by WillWrkForBeer from Ohio

Jan 09, 2016
 
Rated: 3.68 by jazfst1

Jan 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.99 by Gkruszewski from New York

Dec 30, 2015
 
Rated: 3.71 by Budlum from Maryland

Dec 26, 2015
A Saison Darkly from Stillwater Artisanal Ales
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 348 ratings