Spelunker - Barrier Brewing Company

greybeardloon

Rhode Island

3.8/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Dark reddish-brown, like a brown ale. A very thick, khaki head that quickly subsides. Splotchy lacing.

S: Fruit and spice, a touch of chocolate roastiness. The smell turns medicinal if I concentrate on it too much, but I don't have this problem when I drink from nonic.

T: Grapes with a bit of vinous acidity. Dry and a bit spicy at the end. A roasty, mineral aftertaste lingers pleasantly.

M: Medium to light with medium to heavy carbonation. The mouthfeel is basically what one expects from a saison, but it doesn’t match the color and roastiness.

O: I’ve never had a dark saison before, so I don’t have much to compare it to. It’s certainly an interesting beer, and I liked it, but I’m not surprised that I haven’t seen more dark saisons.

Reviewed from notes.

Serving type: growler

05-19-2011 20:01:45 | More by greybeardloon

JxExM

New York

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

05-27-2012 06:50:14 | More by JxExM

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had a tulip at Crescent and Vine in Astoria. It's sort of a mix between a light-bodied porter and saison. The barley lends a gentle cocoa roast that can stand up for itself and balances nicely against the peppery Belgian spice. It's a well-made take on the dark saison with more roast than most but it works.

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2012 03:12:58 | More by tempest

david18

New York

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This was one of a number of Barrier Brewing Company beers that I sampled on a recent visit to Rattle N Hum in Manhattan's midtown area. This is not my favorite style of beer but I liked this one very much.

Appearance is a little dark for a Saison. Almost amber in color. Nic carbonation that stuck around for a while.

Aroma was citrusy/spicy. Very nice.

Flavor was quite interesting. Spicy and refreshing with a very nice balance of yeast, malt and alcohol.

Overall a very good Saison.

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2011 13:03:20 | More by david18