Das Wunderkind! Saison - Jester King Craft Brewery

elNopalero

Texas

4.63/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This was fantastic. Poured a dark golden cidery-straw color. Limited carbonation, just a few bubbles lingering around. Big citrusy aroma, reminiscent of citron or lemon zest. Wonderfully tart flavor that just goes on for days. Pucker up and pour me one more! Another great sour from Jester King.

Serving type: cask

02-13-2012 17:43:04 | More by elNopalero

drummermattie02

Texas

4.55/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle says 4.5% ABV. Golden yellow and a bit cloudy, not the most attractive beer, thin white head subsides to a ring of larger bubbles.

Smell is fantastic, earthy brett and a hint of lemon peel and peach.

Tastes very sour, floral and dry. A bit of saison spiciness.

Carbonation is very good, and this beer feels more substantial than the ABV suggests. Jester King has done good with this one - probably the best sour I've had from a TX brewery.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 00:57:38 | More by drummermattie02

cnbrown313

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had to make a trade with a friend in Texas to get my first bottle of this, but I was glad that I did! I liked it so much that I traded for a 2nd, shared with friends, and took some notes. Poured from a 750ml bottle into 3 wine glasses.

A - Pours a beautiful, golden / straw color with about 1/2 a finger of off white head.

S - Has a very tart smell that hits you right away, followed by some barnyard funk smell.

T - Very tart, sour, crisp and refreshing. A great beer for a warm Summer day. Also, very complex. You can taste the oak flavors from the white wine barrel aging. There is definitely a lot of funk from the Brett and several strains of wild yeast in there too. Amazing sour taste!

M - Very fine carbonation with an almost oily and buttery consistency that coats your mouth with every sip.

O - Outside of Belgium, this is the best sour I have ever had. Hands down.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 20:18:25 | More by cnbrown313

wagenvolks

Texas

4.45/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle into a tulip glass.

A soft hiss upon opening but the bottle nearly gushes, stopping short just before the foam erupted. Effervescent body is a hazy golden color, bright and yellowish with a thin wisp of off-white foam. Excellent aroma, with fruity hop notes balanced nicely with a whiff of Bretty funk and a tinge of sourness. Grassy, with barnyard hay and earth, too. The dry-hopping has really worked nicely for Das Wunderkind!

Oh wow. I am now sold on Jester King's mission of bringing Farmhouse wild ales to the imbibers of Texas. Tart notes from the Lactobacillus mesh beautifully with funky Brett and earthy, grainy malt notes. Sour grips the sides of the tongue, but not so much that the rest of the palate can't enjoy the delicate hop flavor. Crisp, medium-thin body with a perfect carbonation level. In many ways, Das Wunderkind! reminds me of New Belgium's Le Terroir---the sour, dry-hop, and funk all blend together supremely well. Really enjoyable, and at 4.2% ABV, immensely drinkable. Easily Jester King's finest effort to date.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 04:29:19 | More by wagenvolks

StoneBrewFanatic

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours into my Jester King glass hazy golden straw in color with about one finger of soapy white head that has moderate retention and minimal lacing.

S - Forefront is barnyard funk with lemon and orange citrus as well as sour cherries and grassy hops.

T - Delightfully sour and tart, orange and lemon zest, sour cherries and grassy hops, grainy malt and funky brett.

M - Tart and dry, medium body with mild carbonation.

O - This is a top notch beer from a top notch brewing company. These guys know what it's all about and know how to deliver. Highly recommend trying this if given the chance.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 04:18:45 | More by StoneBrewFanatic

mdaschaf

Washington

4.4/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to Lee for hooking me up with this one!

A: Pours a hazy golden color with orange highlights. A one finger white head forms upon pouring and reduces to a thin rung on top. Spotty lacing.

S: Definitely funky with a bit of barnyard/hay. A nice sour component with some lemon and apricot.

T: A great, tart fruit flavor hits right away with more apricot, lemon, and some green apple. A little bit of a woody/earthy flavor with nice sourness.

M: Light to medium bodied, low to medium carbonation, but drinks very easily. Had no problem drinking the entire bottle. Slightly dry finish.

O: A great beer. Almost like a gueuze with the flavor profile. Would drink this all the time if I could.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 01:02:48 | More by mdaschaf

brentk56

North Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a cloudy goldenstraw color with a rather modest head that fades rather quickly though it does leave some splashy stippling behind

Smell: Tart and citrusy, with a range of fruit aromatics (lemon, strawberry and green apple); lactic sour elements build though they are complemented by a floral perfume

Taste: A range of fruit flavors (lemon, green apple and strawberry) is joined by the lactic sourness in the middle; the oak adds another dimensino, after the swallow, along with a hint of floral flavor that lingers into the finish

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with low to moderate carbonation

Overall: Jester King has a real way with low ABV beers, packing them full of a range of flavors; having made my way through almost a dozen of their offerings, this one may well be my favorite

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 00:09:44 | More by brentk56

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to wsnich for getting some of this out my way. Thanks to kjkinsey and wagenvolks for providing bottles for future tastings.

Served in a Jester King goblet.

Pours a very hazy apricot color with a short white head. Retention is fairly poor and there isn't much lacing on the way down. No cap or collar either.

What it lacks in appearance it really makes up for in aroma. From the start I get some fairly-brisk lactic notes plus a moderate amount of fruit -- mostly peach and apricot, but also a bit of strawberry. Light earthiness to the background. Very well integrated with complexities throughout.

The flavor meets the high bar set by the nose. There is light acidity at the front end, followed by a mélange of fruits and mild perceived sweetness through the palate. Some barnyard funk hits alon side some peach, melon, and strawberry. Lactic acidity is Perfect.

Body is light with nice lactic and Brett presence throughout. The carbonation is a bit low, but that's the only place I can knock it.

Great overall beer and something I would be thrilled to drink again and again.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 00:24:58 | More by Thorpe429

FosterJM

California

4.35/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

1212th Review on BA
Bottle to Goblet
750ml

Thanks to lnashsig for this one.

App- A very hazy golden yellow with soft orange highlights. A very quick fading 1/2 white bubbly head with zero cling.

Smell- A soft sour with punchy fruit, yeast and a thick malt backbone. Retains the wheaty soft and light Saison notes but is dominated by the sour.

Taste- Well, for 4% this has some great flavors. I get some apple, sour candy, orange and lemon citrus sour. On the back more yeast and wheat saison with a good balance and small pockets of flavors.

Mouth- A very light and grainy body with a light and fresh cabonation. Left huge residual sour notes and citrus orange and lemon.

Drink- Very good. Highly drinkable and small. Big pockets of sour and a balanced yeasty, wheat like small saison. Ive enjoyed the small drinkable sours.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 02:23:36 | More by FosterJM

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.35/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bomber into a 25cl Duvel tulip. Big thanks to Dan for sharing this one.

A: Cloudy orange body with a thin, fine off-white head. Not all that great.

S: Bright, fruity, vibrant. Tart lemon + lime, sharp blue cheese, and grassy hay-like funk. Really nice.

T: Even more sour than the nose, with lovely fruitiness and citric acidity ahead of some vegetal, earthy funk. Vanilla and dry tartness on the finish. Excellent.

M: Moderately light-bodied with vigorous carbonation. Nice and lively.

O: Really, really tasty little sour. Refreshing, complex, and easy-drinking. I'd love to have it again, and look forward to trying more stuff from this newly funkified brewery.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2012 22:27:13 | More by woosterbill

womencantsail

California

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A pale yellow color with a tall white head. Starts off with a mild lemon nose and some tart melon. Great wine aroma and a moderate funkiness, mostly straw and grass, maybe a hint of must. The flavor is more enjoyable than the nose. Great lactic tartness with some white grape, wine, and a hint of green apple. A light citrus note, plenty of straw and grass, and a bit of oak. Really an all around great beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 19:07:55 | More by womencantsail

Auror

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance- A cloudy, orangeish golden color, with a moderate soapy head. The head recedes quickly and does not leave much of a ring. Peppery sediment evident on the bottom. There is a small amount of lacing, which is nice for a 4.5% beer.

Smell- Green apples and pears from the wine barrels, lacto, wheat, some spiciness, lemongrass. Very nice.

Taste- Very refreshing first sip. Tart apples fades into a mild wheaty backbone. Wine barrel dryness evident at the finish demands I take another sip. Not overwhelmingly sour, more tart, although there is some acidity. Hops provide a background bitterness, but are not very prevalent.

Mouthfeel- Light carbonation allows the barrel and sour notes to take center stage. Very light in the mouth, not very viscous. The main sensation is the dryness from the barrels and brett.

Overall- Liked this a lot. Probably my favorite Jester King offering I've had. It strikes a good balance in the saison and sour notes. A little like a Berliner weisse with more barrel notes and a stronger wheat base. Very drinkable and leaves the palate wanting more.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 05:22:17 | More by Auror

gtermi

Texas

4.3/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: The beer pours a cloudy golden body with a inch thick head that slowly fades. The head never really goes away though.

S: A LOT of sour notes and a some sweet saison scents. It really reminds me of sweet candy.

T: Its pretty light at first, but has a nice amount of sour flavors. I also get a little bit of sweet grain too. The flavor lingers for a while, but goes from sour to sweet.

M: There is a strong amount of crispness all across the tongue and as it goes down the throat. It also has a nice thin body too.

O: This is a very nice beer and super excited to find this. I prefer Boxer's Revenge more, but this is still a delicious beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 03:51:56 | More by gtermi

cvm4

Mississippi

4.3/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

The label picture shown is of the Das Uberkind ... FYI

A - The beer pours golden, slightly opaque with a one finger white head.

S - Lemony, citrusy, good amount of yeast, hay and funky.

T - Lemon zest that develops into a green apple sour. Very funky/yeast/brett flavors.

M - Light, effervescent, high carbonation.

O - An awesome lightweight sour saison.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 17:57:43 | More by cvm4

MasterSki

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared by Mike (Thorpe429) in an attempt to prove that Jester King brews shouldn't be judged by their hideous labels. Served in a tulip.

A - An finger of off-white foam settles to a thin collar, topping a hazy peach body.

S - Nice funky brett, some sour lemons, mild toasted grains, crackery malts, and a hint of lotion.

T - Taste is equally enjoyable, with lemon and lactic sourness, a bit of dry wood, mild crackery malts, and some stone fruit in the periphery. Quite refreshing.

M - Smooth yet dry texture, surprisingly hefty medium body, medium-low carbonation, and no apparent alcohol. Thought this was bigger than 4.2%, so color me impressed.

D - Quite nice - if Jester King is getting these flavors from their local terroir I may need to seek out future farmhouse offerings from them. Well played Mike - this was a really nice beer that was a well-timed palate cleanser during the evening. I may need to trade for a bottle or two to enjoy during the summer months - or hopefully this gets distributed in our neck of the woods.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 23:49:33 | More by MasterSki

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.24/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Served from bottle into a DogFish Head Signature snifter. Poured a hazy golden yellow-orange with a one finger white head that subsided to a half finger very slowly. Maintained phenomenal lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, fruit, orange, funk, orange zest, and spice. The flavor was of sweet malt, lemon rine, citrus, funk, fruit, and lemon juice. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a pretty good brew. While this one was not quite as robust as some from the style it managed to be very refreshing and very well balanced. The lemon note going on in this one was very nice and well incorporated. Wish more breweries would do the same with their saisons. A must try if you have not done so already.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 22:42:52 | More by thagr81us

jamescain

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a tasting glass at the Draught House 43 Anniversary party.

Appearance: Hazy straw yellow with the only head being a white ring around the center of the beer.

Aroma: Citrus, lemons, orange zest, lactic acid, and a touch of funk.

Taste: Very citrusy with subtle earthy notes and a mouthfeel with a sour finish.

Mouthfeel: Tart and acidic with a very dry lingering acidic finish that is highly drinkable.

Overall: I could easily drink this all summer, which means they need to get it bottled and on the shelves so I can do so. I look forward to being able to have some more.

Serving type: cask

10-24-2011 19:33:43 | More by jamescain

Mora2000

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Draught House 43rd Anniversary Party.

The beer pours a cloudy yellow color with a large white head. The aroma is full of citrus notes. I get a lot of orange and lemon character, as well as a little bit of tartness and a little bit of barnyard funk. Very nice.

The flavor is similar. The orange and lemon notes dominate the flavor, but there is also a nice acidic component which adds some sourness to the beer. The two sides of the flavor go very well together and make the beer very drinkable.

Medium mouthfeel and low carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2011 21:27:16 | More by Mora2000

tjkinate

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Jester King is quickly becoming my favorite brewery.

A: Single fingered soapy white head that displayed good retention settles to a thin soapy ring around the glass leaving little lacing in its wake. The body is a cloudy yellow with hints of orange, kinda looked like a mango!

S: Barnyard funkiness is detectable but not overpowering. Sour cherries, lemon tart, and oranges are the most dominant scents that really got my mouth watering.

T: This is definitely a sour Saison. After a few sips the sourness on the front begins to mellow allowing hints of tart cherry, lemon, and bitter citrus to present themselves. Grains and spice pull up the backend and really round out this unique entry.

M: Light bodied, extremely well carbonated, fairly dry.

O: I'm usually not a fan of sours, but this one seems to be the exception. I enjoyed this beers complexity not found from competitors. I recommend this beer to anyone who enjoys sours, or to those looking to make the leap into sour beers. Holding onto my remaining bottles to see how time will affect the flavors, hoping for the best.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 18:45:32 | More by tjkinate

kzoobrew

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hazy goldenrod colored body. A one and a half finger bone white head develops. The head recedes is short order, scant cap is left floating atop. Slight amount of lacing is left behind.

Funky, rustic aroma is noted right off the bat. Underlying graininess from the malt provides a pleasant base. Bright lemony aroma is coupled with a sweeter tangerine aroma. A bit of a bretty mustiness develops on the back and. Slight woody earthiness noted through out. Very pleasant aroma, develops nicely from beginning to end.

Tart fruit flavor immediately develops on the tongue. Tart lemony flavor is not over powering but develops as it sits on the palate. Mandarin orange sweetness accompanies the tart flavor up front. Very subtle malt flavor, again displayed with a slight graininess. Brett flavors are not assertive, they become most notable post swallow as they linger on the tongue.

Very light bodied Saison. Carbonation is much lower than I expected but still manages to hold up the beer. Finish is rather dry, nearly zero residual sugars or lingering flavors.

An impressive beer. Light in body but full flavored. Jester King has not developed the complexity that Jolly Pumpkin has in similar beers but that should not be held against them. The flavors that are developed are tremendously enjoyable. If this were to be available locally I would drink it often. Big thanks to Lee for the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 21:37:37 | More by kzoobrew

ngeunit1

California

4.16/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Hazy golden-orange with a finger of frothy white head. Fades fairly slowly.

S - Sweet wheat and grainy malts, lemon zest, tart green fruits, funky Brett and other yeasts, lactic acid, Belgian yeast, light spices.

T - Sweet grainy malts and wheat, tart green fruits, funky Brett and other yeasts, lactic acid, Belgian yeast, coriander, some other spices, lemon zest, citrus hops.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a sour, tart, and dry finish.

D - Great sour saison. Good balance with nice complexity and body.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 00:06:29 | More by ngeunit1

mdfb79

New York

4.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From 03/30/12 notes.

a - Pours a murky orange yellow color with one finger of white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of sour fruits, peaches, light citrus, earthy notes, floral notes, yeast, and some light funk. Very nice nose.

t - Tastes of sour peaches and fruits, wine, yeast, funk, earthy notes, citrus hops, spice. Again, quite nice.

m - Medium body and low carbonation. Very easy to drink. Very smooth.

o - Overall a very nice beer. Some nice light sourness and funk, but not too much, and very easy to drink. Would love to get more of this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 17:31:59 | More by mdfb79

mjtiernan

New York

4.13/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks for sending me this one lnashsig!

750ml bottle poured into a stemmed tulip. Can’t find bottle date info but I’m sure this is quite fresh.

A: Fairly aggressive pour leaves a white one finger head that dissipates fairly quickly. After that, it’s pretty much gone. Body is a very cloudy honey peach color. Zero lacing.

S: Fruity barnyard funk! Lacto sourness. Light fruit and citrus...heavy green apple, apricot and lemon. A bit of woody oak.

T: Lovely tart sourness. Somewhat floral ...reminiscent of lilac. You get a flash of the fruit from the nose mid-palate along with grassy hops. Only a bit of the oak barrel shows up. Assertive puckering finish with pale malt biscuit in the aftertaste.

M: Light body. Overall carbonation is low but the acidic sourness makes up for it in spades, providing plenty of prickliness on the tongue. No sign of alcohol to be found.

O: The critters were busy with this one! I really enjoyed it and would love to have another bottle to share with others on a mild spring day. I bet this would pair nicely with creamy cheeses like Brie or Camembert.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 02:49:14 | More by mjtiernan

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.13/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

750 mL bottle pours a mostly clear gold color with a small white head. Lots of lace but not much retention.

Nose is surprisingly equal parts saison and sour. The grain and yeast are pleasantly prevalent. Peach, white grapes, honeydew melon and dough. Light tartness.

The base saison is quite impressive - light, grainy and yeasty. If you want a super sour beer though, this is not the beer you seek. The sourness is noticeable, but it is light and delicate. Too light for an expensive 4.5% sour, at least for my wallet. Its a really nice beer, but I just wish it was more sour, either that or less expensive. Mouthfeel is really nice, the carbonation is superfine and the base saison could hang with many of the better saisons from Belgium.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 22:28:41 | More by twiggamortis420

fatmcb1

Texas

4.1/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On cask at the Jester King 1st Anniversary Party

Poured a hazy yellow straw color with very large bubbled white head that quickly retreated to a ring then dissipated.

Very strong aroma. Funk, pear, sour apple, and caramel malt.

Taste includes the funk and sourness. Vingarish taste combined with spices. Lots of pepper. It is highly tart and has a very drying finish.

Carbonation is on the medium side, as is the body.

Overall, I enjoyed this beer, and am hoping to get a couple of bottles.

Serving type: cask

02-04-2012 19:05:06 | More by fatmcb1