Le Petit Prince Farmhouse Table Beer - Jester King Craft Brewery

elNopalero

Texas

4.58/5  rDev +23.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is a cloudy golden straw in appearance. It has an aroma of funky wet hay contrasted by a light delicate, floral aroma. Wonderfully hopped, but lightly so. Tastes of freshly cut grass, peppery/lemony (verbena?) hops, with a rounded smoothness that makes me think of a wheated (not hefe) beer. Some fresh cut grass comes through on the dry crisp finish, making this one a lawnmower beer in my mind. Simply amazing.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2011 03:18:57 | More by elNopalero

FosterJM

California

4.4/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

1130th Review on BA
Bottle to Goblet
750 Ml

Big thanks to lnashsig for this one

App- A straw colored gold with a lemonade yellow and a one finger off white head. Zero cling and only falls to a small pond layer

Smell- Interestingly enough to me this smells like Fantome Saison with a damp, deep, yeasty lemon overtone. Okay but then cut it in 1/4 of that. Super aromatic but a small beer.

Taste- How in the hell?....Lots of flavors and a a bit bigger tasting that that 2.8-2.9% would let on. Peppery, lemon and yeast combine to create a small but well layered saison. I can put my finger on the ending flavor. Tastes a bit soapy but still well done.

Mouth- A lighter medium body with medium carbonation with a good amount of bubbles. Lemons and yeast remain with like the nose a small bit of earthy white pepper.

Drink- For what this is....Amazing simple, crafted and well layered. A great session beer that doesnt drink like it at all. I will be buying this when I see more in CA now that I know its distributed. Thanks again Lee!

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 00:48:23 | More by FosterJM

jmarsh123

Indiana

4.38/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to nate8767 for the unique extra. Shared with some friends as the dinner beer before we tackled stout night.

Pours a cloudy gold with a small 2 finger white frothy head and pretty good retention.

Aroma is light and refreshing with a surprising amount of citrus. Belgian yeast, spiciness and some banana come through as well.

Starts off with some banana, lemon peel and a subtle spiciness. Really a ton of flavor for something with such a low ABV. Finishes spicy with some more lemon and a touch of pepper. Just a light funk to it.

Light and crisply carbonated.

A very surprising like for me. I haven't liked many Jester King beers I've tried and my opinion of saisons usually ranges from ok to awful, but this had the good components (lemon, hop spice) without the bad (hay funk, overwhelming pepper). All in all it was light and refreshing and paired very well as a dinner beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 14:38:40 | More by jmarsh123

elcatan

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Draught House.

Pours a hazy, pale yellow, with a meniscus of light foam. Smell is a subtle blend of malt, Belgian yeast funk, and grassy hops. the beer looks and smells a lot like Noble King, though the aroma is slightly more subdued. The initial taste is spicy, sour citrus with faint hops. But immediately after, you can tell, somehow, that this is low-alcohol beer (I later read it's 2.8 %). It's as if the alcohol presence was replaced by a clean water sensation. Paradoxically, the beer is not at all watery in the light beer sense. It's a biphasic experience: a flavorful saison, followed by a chaser of glacial melt water in the same sip. It finishes with a graininess that becomes minerally and remains through the aftertaste, like keeping a small,smooth stone in your mouth. Wow. What a totally unique, complex, completely refreshing brew. This would be great to session or enjoy daily with lunch or guzzle after mowing the yard in the summer.

I've never had anything like it and hope to see more brewers finally making great beer at the other end of the alcohol spectrum. Small beer perfection.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2012 04:56:30 | More by elcatan

drummermattie02

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Duvel tulip, brilliant light golden color, pretty clear too. Medium dense head that thinned to bubbles across the surface after a couple minutes.

Amazing hop aroma, very floral with a hint of lemon/citrus. Pretty surprising from such a low ABV beer.

Clean tasting, slight breadiness from the malts, very well done, especially considering the ABV. This was a quenching beer that made me want to keep drinking more of it.

Feel is on the thin side, but again, considering the ABV, probably one of the better beers I have ever had. Ultimately, I doubt this beer is for everyone, but for a beer that you can drink all day long, I suspect this will be tough to beat. I plan on using this as an inspiration for a summertime homebrew.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 20:16:57 | More by drummermattie02

omnigrits

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tall goblet.

A. Very hazy pale yellow colour; a white forms but very quickly disappears leaving a rim of small bubbles around the glass.

S. Very citrusy with a distinct lean in the direction of lemons. Some malty grain with underlying floral hops.

T. The lemon really comes through here. For such a low ABV beer they've really packed the flavour in. A slight tartness and maybe even a little sour too. Seriously refreshing.

M. Predictably thin but you can't really fault them for that given the ABV.

O. If this is what they used to drink out in the fields, or at breakfast, or at any time they wanted to quench a thirst without getting drunk, I'm all for it. Once again, Jester King has nailed it.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 00:31:29 | More by omnigrits

brentk56

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Arrives with a pale straw color and a modest head that leaves a smattering of lace behind

Smell: A bit bready, grassy and lemony

Taste: Bready, up front, with a grassy, lemony pith developing by mid-palate; plenty of balance through the finish

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Only 2.8% ABV - are you kidding me? I wish beers like this were far more widely available

Serving type: on-tap

03-25-2012 22:54:03 | More by brentk56

champ103

Texas

4.23/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a slightly hazy, but bright and vibrant golden/orange color. A two finger white head forms with good retention. Light lace is left. Love the color on this one.
S: A huge aroma billows out of the bottle as soon as I crack the cap. Dusty, musky basement like funk. Lemony and citrus aromas with some tart apple skins. Very nice.
T: Follows the nose with a nice musty funk, lemon, tart apple skins. Not acidic at all though. Everything is very clean, for a light funky beer (if that makes sense).
M/D: A light body and light carbonation. Though very clean and dry. So easy to drink. I love the low alcohol, and something I can enjoy all day.

This is excellent, and similar to JP Calabaza Blanca. I have been disappointed with some of the newer Jester King releases, but this is spot on. A very good Saison and the low alcohol makes this incredibly enjoyable and accessible.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 22:08:52 | More by champ103

MEsquandoles

Texas

4.18/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

$5 for 15oz stemmed glass at Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery. Released today, Dec 2.

"brewed with pilsner malt, wheat, a touch of Caramunich and acidulated malt, lots of Czech Saaz hops and farmhouse yeast."

Very hazy golden body with a orange tint, with white head fluffy head. Attractive.

Aroma: Impressive for only 2.8%! Aroma of flowers, honeysuckle, peach, tangerine, and kiwi. Some soft white pepper too, the French Saison yeast more than the malt or hops.

Flavor: Follows aromas, but I get the wheat and acid malt a lot more here, especially in the aftertaste - lightly bready, fresh wet grass, lil earthy and tart - yet this beer still seems to be a showcase for their farmhouse yeast (yet relatively clean, no Brett or Lacto).

Smooth but not boring. Great mouthfeel for the ABV.

Dry, extremely drinkable. I love a good session beer; this is almost as impressive as Commercial Suicide. I almost wish it were summer again. I think I might prefer this to the Noble King, which has more going on, but this one is impressive in it's subtlety. Very elegant. Kudos.

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2011 04:02:28 | More by MEsquandoles

DoubleJ

California

4.15/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

How light can you go? With less than 3% ABV, I have no fear of Le Petit Prince intoxicating me with booze. But there's 750 ml to drink, so why don't we get started and move on to the beer:

It's an unfiltered golden wheat color. Cloudy. The head forms an inch thick on top, retaining pretty well, and creating some quality splashes of white lace. The nose is soft, yet crisp and funky. There are also aromas of grass and lemon. Fsrmhouse light indeed.

Not much of a surprise that the flavor's intensity is light. Yet it is balanced very well, and little flavors of mint, crisp grass, and funk help make this beer very satisfying to drink. It's light bodied, but not "light" as it watery, it feels to have a little meat on its bones. Call it "lean". Peasantly crisp and refreshing.

It isn't often you find a table beer in the US. Le Petit Prince is one of those rare finds, and it's a good beer, not just a beer to drink at mealtime.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 16:19:55 | More by DoubleJ

ngeunit1

California

4.1/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a cloudy golden-yellow color with a finger of frothy white head atop. The head fades down at a normal pace leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of banana, clove, Belgian yeast, lemon peel, bready malt, with some light citrus and floral hop.

T - Starts off with some lemon peel, spice, Belgian yeast esters, biscuit, and a bit of floral hop. Through the middle, some more yeast and light funk comes through with some citrus hop and a touch of bitterness and more pepper and other spice. The finish is a mix of lemon, belgian yeasts, light funk, floral and citrus hops, and some spices.

M - Light bodied with moderate-plus carbonation. Feels smooth with a dry, lightly funky, and spicy finish.

D - Very drinkable. Great session Saison that is very crisp and clean but still has some great flavor for only 2.9% abv.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 00:21:14 | More by ngeunit1

chocosushi

Oklahoma

4.1/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Served at 58* in Melbourne Bros Stemware
A ~ Pours gold w/ carbonation delicate & superfine like a cross between Saison & Pils. Decent lace. Very bright & alluring.

S ~ Pilsner malt sticks out smelling nice & crackery...dry.
Light orange-y citrus w/ nice field-flower notes. Rustic Wheat Bread & proofing dough.

T ~ Candied lemon peel over a palette of stonefruits & very crisp, cracker-y malt. White pepper on the dry finish w/ Hops reminding me of candied orange & apricot. The yeast is showcased very elegantly & allows one to focus. Before I knew it, the beer was gone.

M ~ Beautiful interplay between spice, fruit esters, yeast presence, & the faint malt-backbone. Balanced, dry, & satiating.

D ~ Bravo. My favorite Jester King beer to date. The use of EKG & Saaz worked wonders over the light malt backdrop & farmhouse yeast that this brewery works so well with. Must try.
Thanks David!

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 01:59:08 | More by chocosushi

CliffBrake

New Hampshire

4.08/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Slightly hazy light orange color with a solid one finger head that leaves moderate lacing on the glass.

Prominent aroma of citrusy esters punctuated by a meaty spiciness. Flavor is crisp with fruity flavors from the yeast combining with herbal and earthy character from the hops. A lot of flavor for a small beer!

Mouthfeel is light and a bit hollow with a bit of carbonation and prickly hop bitterness livening things up at the finish.

Wow this is a tasty and characterful beer. It is maybe not what one would expect from a 2.8% abv beer. I suspect this is a lot more true to what a traditional saison was like than a lot of native Belgian examples are today. I could totally see downing a bottle of this after a hot sunny day toiling in the farm fields.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 00:03:57 | More by CliffBrake

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.06/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pretty good table beer. Served with a nice off white head that lasts all the way down. Coldor is a hazy golden amber. Aroma is yeast, fruit, malt. Flavor's distinctively dry, yeast bitter with a bit of hop, and carbonic tang. Body is crisp and good cairbonation. Finish is like flavor, refreshing and, perhaps a bit too dry for me right now, but great at the table.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 00:25:03 | More by drpimento

AdvocateFan

Texas

4.05/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bright golden color, slightly hazed. Nice thin, lacing head. Tangy citrus aromas (tangerines, clementine oranges) mix with fruity esters and faintly musty yeasty notes, atop a bed of fresh-smelling cereal grains, notably wheat. Clean, continental hop profile. Smells fairly lager-like (a la pilsner): well-hopped, clean, light, fresh. Exceptionally clean and light on the palate, with impressions of grain-and-hop tea. Also expect notes of fresh cut grass. The grains give way to an impression of very heavy mineral water and Belgian yeast, including a touch of white pepper. Expect some gentle citrus peel, distinct notes of lemon, and a slightly vinous, green-grape quality, all nicely dried out with a gentle finishing wheat twang tartness. Small beer can be grand! This is a simply beautiful session beer. The smallest of three beers in a series of escalating ABVs: Le Petit Prince (2.9%), Noble King (5.3%) and Mad Meg (9.6%), all brewed with the same base ingredients (malts and hops), essentially scaled up throughout the series. Jester King can make 'em big and they can make 'em small--the small beers are really quite exceptional and what sets them apart--so much flavor packed into sub-4% ABV brews. Fills the niche nicely. Would love to see more breweries taking that kind of gamble and putting out other quality, low-ABV beers.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 07:25:37 | More by AdvocateFan

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle. Served in a tulip-like glass, the beer pours a hazy straw gold color with an inch and a half white head (after a slow pour). Head retention is excellent, and there's a lot of lacing. The brew smells like wheat/grainy malt, yeast, peppery spice, grassy hops, and some lemon peel. Taste is pretty much just like the aroma, there's some nice light tartness in this brew, along with the grainy/yeasty flavors. Mouthfeel/body is light, it's easy to drink and quite refreshing. It's also well carbonated. I'd certainly buy this again in the future. $7.99 a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 23:55:31 | More by bluejacket74

Halcyondays

California

4.03/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle, my bottled listed at 2.9% ABV, 1.027 OG probably lower than Dark Lord's FG, into an Ommegang chalice,

A: Pours a translucent yellow-orange with a small white head. Second pour gets the yeast involved with a witbier look and a more substantial head with excellent lace. Getting the yeast involved also improved the flavour slightly.

S: Orange, honeysuckle, very floral, that farmhouse yeast is working.

T: Yeast nuttiness initially with a good amount of hop character. Earthy, rustic hop flavour - the Goldings, with a great floral finish - the Saaz. It does have some witbier characteristics, but with none of the adjunct character (orange peel). Notes of white pepper throughout. Yeast and hop dominated flavour, the sugar and malt character is minimal.

M: Light-bodied, but this is real beer, don't think light lager. Very refreshing and easy to drink. There's ethanol there, but I never really even felt it throughout the whole 750, 1.2 drinks in the whole bottle, I get it. It's got good overall mouthfeel for being 2.9%, especially when the yeast gets into it.

O: This is a fun beer to try. It does have an American flair, but aside from Avril by Dupont, nobody is making these kinds of farmhouse beers. Slightly better than Avril in my opinion, this is very well made 'light beer'. By my calculations this has 86-90 cal per 12 oz. So-called light beer the way it should be. The only downside is the price. Mid $7s for a 750 makes it tough, but I liked it a lot, for the experience worth a buy.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 01:30:48 | More by Halcyondays

wagenvolks

Texas

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

750ml bottle into a Jester King snifter. Listed at 2.9% ABV.

Le Petit Prince--coincidentally released for the first time in bottles at the same time as Noble King.Gorgeous pour with a bright goldenrod hue that transitions to the color of lemon flesh when held in the light. Head is...well, "petite", but stubborn and slowly diminishes to a wisp of foam and a ring of bone-white bubbles. Nice lacing to boot.

Aroma is amazingly full and decadent for a sub-3% ABV beer. Grainy cereal malts with notes of bread crust and wheat. Hops and yeast combine to treat the nose to a zesty blend of lemon and pineapple, both tart and slightly sweet at the same time.

Crisp body greets the tongue with cereal grains and tangy hops that leave a hint of lingering bitterness on the tongue. Grassy, herbal, and almost minty flavors blend with a tinge of yeastiness on each sip. Prince's body is thin (hah), but has enough heft that it drinks with the mouthfeel of a 4-5% beer with ease. Light carbonation with a dry finish. All in all, another solid bottle release from Jester King. Brings a whole new meaning to "session beer", and I have a sneaking suspicion this might be made from the second runnings of Thrash Metal...

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 03:53:59 | More by wagenvolks

Thorpe429

Illinois

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

Big thanks to wsnich for getting a few bottles of this out my way. Thanks also to kjkinsey and wagenvolks for ensuring that I'll have an ample supply over the next few weeks.

Served in a Jester King goblet.

Pours a very hazy light golden color with a tall, fizzy white head. Fairly good retention before falling down to a thin white collar with a few spots of lacing on the sides of the glass.

The aroma brings an initial whiff of Saaz hops with some nice floral notes. A bit earthy, with light notes of white pepper and dirt in the background. Impressive amounts of yeast notes for a 2.8% beer. The flavor continues down this path with the Saaz upfront followed by light spice and earth. Some light notes of grain in the background.

The finish is fairly dry and perfectly bitter. Just enough IBUs to leave that back end bitterness and keep me coming back for me. Light body with moderate carbonation. I might go a bit higher on that, though the subtle chewiness is welcoming.

Overall, really a nice beer, especially at this ABV. I'm glad I've got some more for basketball watching and sitting outside as the weather gets increasingly better here.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 16:38:03 | More by Thorpe429

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

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

750ml bottle.

Pours hazy gold with a two inch head of white. Plenty of broken ropes of lacing and a solid skim coat on the surface for the duration.

Cut grass, wet hay, spicy yeast, and a wheaty twang leads off the nose. Apples, cloves, and pepper dust follow through.

Light bodied with a crisp, thinnish, but prickly mouthfeel.

Biscuity wheat, lemon-spritzed grass, bitter greens, and a citric bite starts the palate. Appleskins and a hint of grapefruit zest follows through.

Finishes bone dry with some lingering bitterness and a spicy, lemony snap.

Tasty beer. The hopping and zesty, estery snap of the yeast really make this 2.9% beer highly drinkable and certainly not boring.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 00:18:51 | More by brewandbbq

notchucknorris

California

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

A: Pours a super pale and cloudy golden color. It's almost a pale greenish in color. Nice one finger bone white head.

S: A really pleasant light and tart smell. Some wheat definitely comes through along with some light citrus, lemon and a dose of funk.

T: For a beer that's only 3%, this has a boatload of flavor. A good amount of lemon, mint, wheat and some faint grassy and peppery hops. Very light and refreshing while not sacrificing flavor. I'm impressed.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 00:16:02 | More by notchucknorris

grittybrews

Washington

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

Bonus points for an awesome label. Poured a hazy gold with a finger of bright white head. Mild aroma of banana and light spice.

Ample carbonation and a light, creamy mouthfeel. Lots of wheat up front with a hint of fruity esters and a touch of spice on the tail end.

Full-flavored and supremely easy-drinking. Refreshing and tasty...really enjoyed this one and wish there were more like it.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 16:29:11 | More by grittybrews

Etan

Illinois

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

On tap at Roscoe Village Pub, in conjunction with WLV for Zwanze 2012.

A: Mellow orange body with a small white head.

S: Very light grain, citrus, and mild yeasty esters. Smells like a somewhat hoppy saison.

T: Mild clove, citrus, cakey, grain in the finish. Slightly sweet yet dry.

M: Light, active carbonation.

O: I was surprised by this beer. It's essentially a dry, low alcohol saison, and it's quite tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2012 05:16:44 | More by Etan

lnashsig

Texas

3.98/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

My continued love affair with Jester King! Le Petit Prince- poured from bottle into JK Farmhouse Glass. Pours a murky golden yellow/orange color. Looks milky and obviously unflitered. Beautiful. Some tight white bubbles on the head, leaves about a finger. Smell- musty breadiness, cracked pepper, fruity esters. Maybe some orange peel/coriander. Taste- a nice tart sweetness on the tip of the tongue, some lemony zest coats the sides of my mouth. cracked pepper on the end. Man, this beer has a ton of flavor for being 2.8%! This is just a great session beer. DING would be proud, and would love this.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 23:51:02 | More by lnashsig

UCLABrewN84

California

3.98/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2.9% per the label.

Pours a murky honey orange-yellow with a 1 inch foamy white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grain, yeast, and some slight pepper/spice notes. Taste is pretty much the same but is a bit watery in the middle. There is a noticeable hop presence with each sip that quickly fades from the palate. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer and I am quite impressed that it clocks in at only 2.9% ABV for the way it drinks.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 04:33:01 | More by UCLABrewN84