As Follows - Stillwater Artisanal Ales

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.05/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On cask at Max's during their Belgian fest.

The beer pours a hazy gold color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is attractive, as I get considerable honey, orange and light clove in this one. The flavor profile replicates the nose, and it struck me that this beer is pretty similar to the regular stateside beer from Stillwater. Mouthfeel is very soft and smooth, with the low carbonation working very well in this one. Alchol is well disguised, and the finish is long with a hint of ginger at the the end.

Nothing extraordinary, but another solid beer from Stillwater nonetheless.

Serving type: cask

03-06-2012 16:10:08 | More by johnmichaelsen

Kendo

New York

4.23/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A: Poured from the bomber into a Piraat tulip/snifter-type glass. Body is hazy light-golden-orange with a big (2-finger-plus) bubbly white head that settles slowly and leaves rings of foamy lace.

S: Vinuous with some lighter fruit (grapes, pears, apple skins) and a touch of biscuity/bready malt.

T: Bready doughy malt foundation is followed by a touch of spice and the skins of fruits - grapes and apples come to mind. Some faint yeastiness too. Finishes with a modest lemony bitterness that provides a nice balance or offset to the yeasty/doughy stuff.

M: Real nice - tinkly effervescence makes it drink pretty light. Call it medium in heft, though it really drinks lighter.

O: Really good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 23:27:04 | More by Kendo

beagle75

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev -9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a tulip glass.

A: Hazy, medium golden color with over one finger of white foam head. Moderate lacing remains on the glass.

S: Bread and mild phenolic yeast stand out, with lemon citrus and ashes in a supporting role. No alcohol is detected.

T: Begins almost dry, with cardboard and bright fruit. Hops are earthy but muted, seeming stale. Late flavors are nuanced and unctuous, buttery at times, overlapping into the texture. No alcohol is detected.

M: Medium to thick viscosity, creamy on the palate, with moderate carbonation.

D/O: Fairly light and refreshing for a strong ale, this beer is strange perhaps because of the way that is retains levity in the face of what ought to be burdensome flavor and texture. The combination of stale and creamy is not one often encountered.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 21:13:44 | More by beagle75

bashiba

Iowa

3.95/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a milkey yellow with a huge and frothy white head, sticky lacing and good retention.

The smell had an almost lactose dairy quality to it mixing in with the nice notes of musty farmhouse yeast.

The flavor has the lactose here as well with an almost white cheese quality. A bit funky with a light creamy sweetness and a big shot of fennel in the finish along with a touch of juniper.

The mouthfeel is rich and creamy with just a touch of warmth.

Very nice, has a great farmhouse quality to it.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 23:01:09 | More by bashiba

Chrysostom

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

As always, this beer is reviewed live - not from notes. Authentically. Hipster-approved.

As always, I review to style (ala BJCP), modified by personal taste (contra BJCP), not to personal taste alone. If I reviewed to personal taste alone, certain excellent exemplars of styles I do not prefer would receive lower marks than poor exemplars of styles I love.

This is called an "Eschatological Ale" - I'm a Catholic seminarian-monk and theologian, so I couldn't not buy it (eschatological, adj. theology dealing with the end times and the consummation of all things, from root eschatology, n. the study of the last things). The label looks like a 1920's tattoo, like Sailor Jerry's. The name reminds me a bit of "Arrogant Bastard: Can You Handle The Bastard?" advertising.

Without further ado, a review.

P: $9.99 750mL bottle, crown capped (under a plastic-backed foil that took a wine key to remove), poured at around 40ºF, warming as I write the review, in to a Chimay goblet/chalice (I forgot my Duvel tulip again). Thank you to Blacklick Wine and Spirits in Columbus, OH.

A: Dark yellow, almost golden colour, almost cloudy. A bit cloudier than Duvel, but, overall, similar in appearance with a similar head, creamier, with less (but still strong) retention and slightly less (but still strong) lacing. The head recedes very slowly to a thick cap which, as mentioned, leaves a good deal of lace, indicating a strong hopping in such a high-ABV brew. Highly active carbonation - at least three or four separate streams of bubbles.

S: Straight English IPA in the nose, modified by some Orval-esque barnyard funk. Way outside of style. Heavy amounts of citrus fruit and citrus-y hops come through, and nothing much else. Kind of like an American take on Duvel Tripel Hop. Some Belgian funkiness, but it's subdued. Alcohol is surprisingly subdued (almost non-existent) in the nose. As it warms, it smells of heavily-hopped and alcoholic Orval.

T: A big wallop of citrus followed by a big kiss of hops. Hopping in this beer is higher than most English IPAs, and heads towards the middle of the American IPA spectrum. No sweetness here. There's a strong malt backbone, though, which more than holds up to the hopping. There is a thick maltiness up front, where the hops keep in and keep going, and going, like the Energizer bunny. Strong bitter finish.

M: Tight carbonation folding and fading in to a bitter, somewhat smooth, tart and lingering finish which coats the mouth thoroughly, (more than) reminiscent of an English-style American IPA like Great Lakes' Commodore Perry. It reminds me a bit of Great Lakes' Pale Ale, Burning River, as well.

D: Moderately-low to Moderately-high, depending on your taste for IPA. IPA is not my style of choice, but this is still a pretty good beer.

O: This is an IPA modified with some characteristically Belgian funk. On the whole, it reminds me a bit of a more-hopped version of Steenbrugge's Tripel. Recommended for lovers of Duvel Tripel Hop, and recommended for lovers of IPAs - either English or American - to try. Everything pulls together well, and the mouthfeel is a highlight. Not exactly Belgian - as a BCJP "Recognized" Beer Judge, I'd reject this for "out of style" (granted that Belgian IPAs fall under the same category as Quads in BJCP... [what?!]... so, maybe not), but a pretty damned good Double IPA with less hopping than is customary.

This fits in so many of the pale ale/IPA style it's ridiculous:

To style: 60/100.
To English IPA style: 76/100.
To American IPA style: 72/100.
To American Pale Ale style: 75/100.
To American Double IPA style: 64/100. (Marked down only due to absence of extreme hopping.)
To taste: 68/100.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 06:50:02 | More by Chrysostom

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.79/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pours a cloudy golden wheaty color with a monster of a bubbly white head.

Smells of white grapes, dry yeast (brett?), bananas and pears and apples and other sweet fruit.

Taste is pretty dry at first, fades into sweeter fruit flavors similar to the nose, lots of dry white wine like flavor. Pretty good!

Mouthfeel is very nice, tons of carbonation obviously, nice full body and really drinkable.

7.6/10

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 01:48:26 | More by AlexFields

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Very saison, yet it is not. Golden ale smell. Very good for the style. A tasty spicy fruity apricot peach creation, with white pepper. Big head. Smooth above average mouthfeel. Nicely hopped. Yeasty but it is well integrated. Very drinkable.Bottle from Premiere.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 05:26:30 | More by northyorksammy

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Greenish gold color with a decent level of haze. Large head with plenty of large bubbles. Yet, it settles in a rocky fashion. Spotty and chunky lace on the glass as it settles.

Sour with a bit of earthiness to it. Good dose of Belgian yeast aroma as well.

Sour flavor start with a bitter finish. Good lemon rind and peppery hop finish. Short aftertaste that is a blend of the hop and the soured malt. Less Belgian in the flavor than in the smell. Thinnish body with ample carbonation. Overall, a classic Belgian pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 21:07:01 | More by smcolw

spointon

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I poured this one from a 750ml brown bottle into a stemmed Belgian tulip glass.

A= This ale poured a very pale yellow color, initially clear but increasingly hazy with each pour. The head was very lively and initially poured out at 2" of snow white foam. Settled to a rocky surface and left a lot of stickage behind.

S= The aroma was full of sweet pils malt, candi sugar, Belgiam yeast, esters, and hops.

T= Started off slightly sweet with a nutty/biscuit character that I found appealing and very much like the best Belgian examples of this style. Surprisingly but pleasantly hoppy flavors all through the middle. Finished dry and hoppy.

MF= Effervescent carbonation under a medium body. Crisp. Palette cleansing.

D= The alcohol stays well hidden, making this a dangerous beast. I would gladly drink this again, and again.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 03:12:52 | More by spointon

ngeunit1

California

4.23/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a hazy golden yellow with a big finger of frothy white head.

S - Sweet grainy malts, Belgian yeast, coriander, spices, lemon zest, a bit of funk, fruity esters, hint of booze.

T - Grainy malts, lemon zest, coriander and other spices. Belgian yeast, a bit of farmhouse funky, bready malts, some more spices and fruity esters. Sweet bready malts, Belgian yeast, a bit of funk, spices, lemon zest, a hint of booze.

M - Medium bodied moderate-plus carbonation. Smooth with a dry, estery, and spicy finish.

D - Nice balanced BSPA. Good mix of spices, yeast character, and malt flavors.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 06:20:17 | More by ngeunit1

drabmuh

Maryland

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer is hazy and golden with a white head, small bubbles, some lacing, high carbonation.

Aroma is yeasty and sweet with a nice malt backbone to it, interesting aroma.

Beer is a little spicy with a nice floral character and an almost champagne like yeastiness to it. A very effervescent beer with a nice finish. Decent saison.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 16:18:52 | More by drabmuh

flexabull

California

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle courtesy of joshdykema, thanks again!

Pours a cloudy gold color with a huge bright white head.

Aromas are of champagne, dust, some floral notes, and some lemon citrus. Pretty nice nose.

Taste is peppery up front. Some notes of lemon zest, sugar, bready, champagne, earthy, with a bitter mineral like finish.

Mouthfeel is crisp, and clean with good body.

Overall, a pretty tasty, complex and well done take on the style. Solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 04:07:20 | More by flexabull

atr2605

New York

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-pours a hazy straw color with a massive white head with ridiculous retention that clings to the glass
S-orange, pepper, lemon
T-Citrus lemon up front met withn lots of hop bitterness(bit of pine) finishes earthy and peppery
M-medium bodied, light for abv
O-Well balanced and tons of flavor. Never head of the brewery before and was drawn in by the artwork. Look forward to trying more of their beers.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 00:26:45 | More by atr2605

MadScientist

New York

4.83/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: The beer pours a hazy light gold. The head is a massive three fingers of stick, mousse-like, white foam that takes a long time to settle to a half inch or so leaving a lot of Belgian lace.

S: Moderate orange and pear ester and peppery notes with a hint of vanilla and light honey-like malt sweetness. The aroma only gets better as it warms with tropical fruit like hop aromas.

T: There is a moderate pepper and moderately strong hops bitterness up front with just a bit more honey-like malt sweetness than it need for support. It's close to IPA like territory for the bitterness malt balance. There is esters of lemon peel, strong grapefruit and a touch of pine apple. A super dry finish with a bit of lingering bitterness and clove.

M: A light bodied beer with high carbonation. A touch of dryness on the the tongue

O: Truly a work of art, I am hard pressed to name a Belgian ale I've enjoyed more, even my beloved sours. The smell is fantastic, it's everything I want in a Belgian with excellent balance. There was so much going on in the first couple sips it took me a minute to get my brain around all that was going on with the flavor.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 22:46:07 | More by MadScientist

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle. Served in a tulip, the beer pours a gold color with a couple inch white fluffy head that stays around a long time. There's also a good amount of lacing. Aroma is nice and fruity, the brew smells like pears, lemon peel, bready malt/wheat, peppery spice, cloves, and a bit of tropical fruit. I think the taste is similar to the aroma, but I think the spicy and bready flavors are stronger than the fruity ones. There's also the addition of some green grapes and an herbal flavor to the taste. Mouthfeel/body is medium, with high but soft carbonation. I think it's a good overall brew, even though it has a bit too much carbonation for me. With that being said, I'd like to try it again in the future. $9.99 a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 22:16:22 | More by bluejacket74

emerge077

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a mini nonic, huge overflowing head of foam that lasts for a good while, leaving behind copious sudsy lacing. Great retention, head remains for the duration. Lightly hazed pastel yellow that glows a bit in the light.

Dry and spicy aroma, lemongrass and some sort of dried citrus peel.

Flavors are well integrated and the overall feel is very smooth. Moderate spice, dry herbal and bitter, light clover honey on the back end. Somewhat grassy, leaning toward hops but it could be a bittering spice instead, hard to pin down. Possibly some chamomile in there. Medium bodied with very charged carbonation. Nice with washed rind cheese or charcuterie.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 02:02:42 | More by emerge077

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.28/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from tap into snifter at barley oak in mandeville, LA. Pours a golden straw with good head and lacing. Smells of great belgian wheaty yeast and slight funk. Taste is citrusy hoppy belgian wit. Mellowed out by nice malty flavors and a slight alcohol burn. A bit dry but bursting of belgian pale flavors. Great brew and reminds me of a slightly hoppy and "wit" saison.

Serving type: on-tap

10-08-2012 23:45:04 | More by DrinkSlurm

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

$7.00 pour a 10oz pour. Served in a tulip.
Sampled 07AUG12

[A] A bright white fluffy foamy head of 1 1/2 fingers with average retention. The body is a gorgeous hazy straw color with a soft, white incandescent quality if you will. Lacing is slim to modest.

[S] Think 'hoppy farmhouse saison.' Then think 'masterfully executed.' this beer is that. Floral, citrusy hops stand against the expectations for the style, but work impressively well with the faint earthy farmhouse notes.

[T] Summer fruit notes of peach and nectarine with gentle tangerine-like acidity and sweetness. ABV seems about right at 7.5%, but I would believe an entire point lower as well. [Man, I was way off]

[M] Crisp throughout and very refreshing. Acidity works the tongue front to mid, while the dry finish braces you for the next sip. Medium body with just a hint of alcohol on the end.

[O] One of Brian's best yet.

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2012 19:53:12 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle, no bottled-on date, poured into a tulip glass.

A- Pours an almost-clear golden color. A gentle pour produces 2 inches of white head, good retention and lacing.

S- Fruit (apples, pear and lemon) as well as some spice. Bready, doughy malt aroma and some clove as well.

T- Fruit, spice and bready malt. Pear, lemon and apple fruitiness blend with banana and clove. Mild booze and a bit of pepper towards the finish.

M- Medium-bodied, smooth and very creamy, with a dry finish.

O- A pretty solid BSPA, good work from Stillwater.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 09:19:26 | More by WillCarrera

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.08/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

With uncharacteristic dry-fruit taste with zesty effervescent and a superb peppery balance, Stillwater hits a chord with this Belgian-style strong pale ale that's rarely seen from brewers outside of Belgium.

As follows starts with a bright absolute yellow pour that glows brilliantly through its yeasty haze. The somewhat eruptive carbonation builds a dense creamy stark white foam stance that proves to be stubborn and structural as it clings to the lace, building rings of foam along the glass as the beer fades.

Zesty aromas of tart apple cider and lemons spring to the nose with sharpness and intensity. White pepper, light coriander and clove bounce off of the fruity scent while the spicy pang of alcohol tingles the olfactory senses. All this yeast character is packaged into a thin envelope of doughy malt and fresh baked wafer crackers.

The blend of malt and fruit coat the front of the tongue with restrained sweetness, dry bread, and zested lemons and peeled green apple- yielding a dry cider and chardonnay taste to start. But the peppery notes of clove, coriander, and freshly ground white pepper extends from the alcohol taste and pulls the malt and fruit across middle palate. Landing at a surprisingly bitter hop finish of straw or hay, the beer begins to resemble bolder saisons.

Medium-light in body, the early carbonation seemingly evaporates from the tongue and leaves a dry cotton candy texture that flushes the beer past the mid palate and into a terse finish of ultimate dryness and bold alcohol warmth. Mild hop-derived astringency accompanies the bitterness and gives the final impressions something more to ponder.

Where we're quick to applaude Delirium Tremens, Piraat, and Lucifer ales for exhibiting similar and authentic Belgian character, let's not forget to throw this one into the conversation as well.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2012 15:49:42 | More by BEERchitect

zeff80

Missouri

3.93/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a hazy, golden-orange color with a rocky, three-finger, white head of bubbly foam. It left thin rings of sticky lace on the glass.

S - It smelled yeasty and spicy with some caramel notes.

T - It tasted spicy and yeasty with some sweet caramel and grain flavors.

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

O - This was a really tasty Belgian-style ale. Another great Stillwater brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 01:38:45 | More by zeff80

impending

California

3.95/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

B+

750ml into a tulip. Pours a mid hazed pale orange, froth continues to grow 2 minutes after the pour, excellent lacing.

Wonderfully vivid aroma, all high notes. Strong citrus, unripened light skinned fruits, pineapple, cedar all enveloped in sweet yeasty goodness. Bright clean pure.

Surprisingly strong hop dominated flavor. Pine and grapefruit. Slightly dry, a bit more herbal bitter is the finish. Powdery yeast in the aftertaste.
Light to middln lively mouthfeel.
cheers
jd

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 04:43:40 | More by impending

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.23/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Gouyasse tulip glass. Pours a light, clear golden amber with a massive slightly off-white head and pillowy lacing. A careful pour had half a glass of foam, which slowly formed large bubbles but had good retention. Aroma of apple, grape and pear juice, Belgian spicing yeast reminiscent of saison. Flavor dry, apples, pears, slight citrus, light bready malt, finishing with and interesting spicy herbal taste, similar to sage or rosemary. Bitter herbal and citrus peel aftertaste that had interesting enough flavor to be enjoyable. Light to medium bodied, but active carbonation gave this a pleasant mouth feel. Another interesting and off-the-main-road ale from Stillwater. These guys are great.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 03:59:48 | More by LiquidAmber

Guden

Maryland

4.18/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Max's tap house in Baltimore following a Weezer concert.

A- bright pale yellow with no head and just a hint of haze. Looked simple enough that my light beer friends decided to give it a try.

S- bright citrus of grapefruit peel and pineapple with some pizza dough yeast and bread notes.

T- like the smell the citrus dominates with pineapple being the primary flavor (my friends thought it was a lot like sunny d) surprisingly little bitterness for a beer so hop forwards but certainly not a sweet or malty beer.

M- part of the reason the beer doesn't need heavy hops to maintain the balance away from sweet is how dry it is with just enough body to keep it in the beer realm. The high carbonation also adds to the prickliness and drink ability.

O- As Follows (like everything else I've found from Stillwater) is a well done and interesting beer. The alcohol isn't noticeable at all and I gladly went for a second pint. Very different and refreshing.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2012 04:06:36 | More by Guden

harrymel

Washington

4.18/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottled: unk

Pours a golden, diaphanous ale with a thick, three fingers of light cream. This falls slowly. Smells of hops, and strongly of fresh mint (never had this experience with hops, but I’ve heard tell of it). Hints of resin, skunk, Belgian yeast, earthy hay and soil. Flavor is exceptional: grain, measured bitterness, hints of grass and classy Belgian yeast character. Nicely balanced and tasty. Medium bodied with hi, sparkly carb, even a bit too high. Semi dry finish. A really fine beer. I questioned this brewery with its obscure labels and sudden appearance in my area, this is worth it.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 06:35:06 | More by harrymel