Mad Meg Farmhouse Provision Ale - Jester King Craft Brewery

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to ApostleBrewing as well as dcloeren for this one.

Pours a ridiculous creamy 3+ finger head that takes up 2/3 of the glass, many small bubbles popping makes it fade at a med pace, some lacing, hazy honey nectar orange color.

Nose brings some sweet malts, a golden malt, light hay and wheat like, plenty fruity between orange zest and light lemon as well as fruity Belgian esters with apple and pear, light booze like phenols, very green rind aroma, hints if spices.

Taste starts with grainy malts, toasted wheat and hay, no funk at all... lots of Belgian malts, golden like but sweet syrupy and candy. Then fruity flavors, apple and pear esters again, orange peel and lemongrass, a light fruit candy like jolly Rancher, tons of carbonation makes it hard to even get the flavor. The sweet candy turns to booze warmth and tingle and light phenols, little yeasty flavor, and faint saison spices. Finish is sweet and sticky, lingering orange peel and light spices, more tingly booze, light fruits and candy lingering.

Mouth is med to a bit bigger bodied, some warming tingly booze and way too much carbonation.

Overall not a winner for then, maybe my least fav beer so far from JK. No real saison flavors except hints of spices and lemony flavors now and then, no funk, very light on the grassy straw flavors, too boozy, too much candy and Belgian golden sweet malts, too sweet for that matter, etc. This was much more like a Belgian strong ale with some wheat, but I would hardly call it a saison.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 14:01:19 | More by jlindros

LittleDon

Texas

4.24/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

From a bottle stored refrigerated approximately one year.

Huge head the color of aging lace curtains. Great retention and lots of lace. Pale copper with a slight bit of haze. Floral aroma with a hint of caramel. On the dry side. Decent amount of carbonation with a medium-light body. Herbal/floral to start. Alcohol is slightly noticeable middle to finish in addition to a bit of acidity. Some Band-Aide funkiness in the finish with a low-medium amount of bitterness.

Given the review, I'd be interested to see how this drinks brand new.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 21:55:30 | More by LittleDon

metter98

New York

3.85/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is very hazy light amber in color. It poured with a two finger high off white head that gradually died down but consistently left a short head covering the surface.
S: This beer smells kinda of like an amped up biere de garde and is rather malty with notes of earthy yeast and hints of sweetness.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and is quite yeasty but this is balanced off by hints of sweetness and caramel malts.
M: It feels nearly medium-bodied and a little chewy and dry on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is a very interesting and saison that is quite drinkable considering its strength. The alcohol is very well hidden and the maltiness is the only giveaway.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 22:42:20 | More by metter98

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours a hazy (almost milky) copper to amber in color with some light to moderate amounts of visible carbonation, moderate to significant amounts of dark visible sediment near the bottom of the glass, and some orange highlights. The beer has a huge head, at least four fingers tall dense foamy light beige head that slowly redues to a thick film covering the entire surface of the beer and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Very significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate amounts of caramel malts with some light amounts of fruity yeast (apple, grape, and apricot). There are light amounts of herbal and earthy hops.

T: Upfront there are light to moderate amounts of caramel malts which contribute a touch of sweetness with some moderate amounts of fruity yeasts (apple, grape, and apricot). There are light to moderate amounts of herbal and earthy hops which contribute a light amount lingering bitterness. There are some spicy notes as well including clove and pepper.

M: Slightly heavier than medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Light amounts of alcohol warming and some light amounts of dryness in the finish.

O: This beer had one of the biggest heads I have ever poured on a beer - it was huge and just continued to grow with the pour (the bottle was foaming the minute I opened the bottle). The beer is big from an ABV perspective, possibly the biggest saison I have ever had. This is a sipping beer but definitely one to enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 22:41:33 | More by dbrauneis

weonfire

Kentucky

3.96/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

A - Orange/Brown with a touch of red. HUGE head. straight to brim. demands a VERY slow and careful pour. obviously high carbonation, big bubbles, very nice lacing.

S - Lemon, orange, grass, clean, hopps

T - initially- creamy carmel. followed by grass but a bit bland. finish is a mellowish wheat but very hoppy, sour bitter citrus. 9.6 ABVs are strong. booze comes thru.

M - really nice and frothy, viscosity is med/low, very high carbonation.

O - It was descent. Very bitter. Enjoyed the funky floral flavors. But the whole brew hasn't blended fully. goes from bland...to very high ABV hoppy.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 18:51:01 | More by weonfire

merc7186

New York

3.99/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber into snifter glass.

A: Amber/Golden Straw Hue, Passes Some Light, White Head, Some Lacing

S: Apples, Grassy, Pears, Mild Black Pepper

T: Apples, Black Pepper, Pears

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Spicy, Mildly Drying

Overall, a pretty nice 'sessionable' saison, nice spicy, fruit profile.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 23:46:31 | More by merc7186

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.2/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bottle opened on 1.8.13.
Thanks john!

A - Pours a cloudy medium dark orange with a two finger yellow-tan head that's fluffy with good retention.

S - Dry wood, oak, funk, floral, bread.

T - Spirng flowers, earthy-wood, oak and some bret.

D - Tons of carbonation with a light body and a dry finish.

O - Nice funky saison - floral, earthy and dry.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 06:21:50 | More by HuskyinPDX

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Fairly clear orange, amber with a big pillowy white head leaving thick patches of foam behind.

S - Grassy hops with some fruit and spice. Sweet malt with spicy yeast notes.

T - Earthy and spicy with grassy hops and light citrus. Sweet malt in the beginning but finishes with a dry, spicy note.

M - Medium body and well carbonated.

D - The 9%+ abv is barely noticed.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 01:41:20 | More by brewcrew76

SHODriver

California

3.63/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: poured into a duvel tulip a bright orange with a dense three finger head white head that retains well
S: smells of spice, yeast and a bit of grassyness. smells good
T: tastes of spice, and light malt but a lot of peppery spice and yeast character, slight noble hop flavor as well. swallow is a bit grassy, some spice with a touch of alchohol and caramel sweetness
M: medium in the mouth with moderate carb that flirts with being prickly
O: A decent saison. it's a bit larger than average but seems to lack a bit in complexity. not bad but not great

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 04:37:23 | More by SHODriver

DocJitsu

California

3.78/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a cloudy light golden color with a sticky off-white head. Apple cider, green grape, and Belgian yeast nose. A rich, nearly syrupy mouthfeel. A lot of malt of the front and on the finish. But, quite spicy in the middle. Too much so for a saison. There's a little earthiness underlying it all. I couldn't drink a lot of this, but I respect what they've done.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 22:23:51 | More by DocJitsu

stxSS07

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

750ml into a tulip. No indication of vintage or bottling date.

A- Pours a beautiful hazy golden/sunset orange with 3-4 fingers of ice-cream head. Sticks around for a bit, but settles into a 1/2 finger or so. Leaves some great cobweb lacing. 4.5

S- Spicy/dusty Belgian yeast up front. Some fruity esters come into play while mixing with a pretty good zing of piney/bitter hops. Picking up a decent amount of caramel as well. Nothing crazy here, but smells like a well-executed brew. 3.5

T- Taste follows the nose with some funky Belgian stuff going on up front. Immediately followed by a much sweeter mid-palate than the nose indicated. Waves of caramel wrap around a touch of fruity ester, sharp hoppy bitterness, and some more spiciness. Much better than I thought it was going to be. 4

M- Pretty heavy for a saison, which takes away from the drinkability a bit. Not as refreshing as I'd hoped for. Also has a bit of an alcohol burn as it warms. 3

O- Not a bad saison at all. The taste/appearance are definitely high points. After having this once, I don't think I'd seek it out again due to my ability to pick Tank 7 off of the shelf. 3.5

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 01:19:22 | More by stxSS07

brentk56

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a hazy brilliant copper with a massive head (a bit of gushing at the outset) that sheets the tulip

Smell: Herbal funk and caramel, with hints of clove and peppercorn

Taste: The beer lays down an earthy wheat and caramel base that is quickly pushed in an herbal/spicy/funky direction; mid-palate, the hops add bitterness and rotting citrus flavors, as well; after the swallow, the flavors arrive in waves, bringing pepper, funk, caramel, cloves, grassy bitterness, and Bretty tartness; the abv is also noticeable in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate to high carbonation

Overall: It is remarkable how many flavor directions are displayed in this one beer but it is almost a bit too much, with the noble hops clashing with the spices and both together fighting against the Bretty funk; a bit too much underlying sweetness and booze, if the rest of it was not enough already

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 16:59:12 | More by brentk56

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks goes out to the BA who sent me this one so I could share this one at a recent tasting! Served from bottle into a Sweetwater 15th Anniversary snifter. Poured yellow-orange with a one finger white finger head that subsided to a minimal amount quickly. Maintained phenomenal lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised sweet malt, citrus, orange peel, and orange. The flavor was of sweet malt, citrus, orange rine, and orange. It had a light feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a fairly good brew. While I did enjoy this brew, I did have a few things about it that I didn’t find to be above other brews of the style. I really wish this one would have been quite a bit more complex on the flavor. The aroma on this one was really quite nice for the style as it really stood out from others. I would definitely love to try this one again, especially if it were a cask with some citrusy fruit added to it. Worth your time trying this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 10:44:49 | More by thagr81us

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml, Spring '12
Victory tulip

A: Pours a bright golden orange color. Nice fluffy HUGE egg shell white head. Tons of carbonation. Tiny bubbles streaming up the sides of the glass. It's over carbonated for sure. Can barely pour out without over pour. Score knocked down for this.

S: Farmhouse yeast funk. Spice: coriander and clove hints. Clean Euro hop aromas that lead to that citrus note that I am getting.

T: Get that spice right at the tip of the tongue. Leaves some bitterness. Then you get those Euro hops adding in that zesty citrus flavor. There are some simple malts in there to balance it too. The funk is more on the nose, although that spice hint is coming from it throughout. Finish is dry like most Saison styles. The ABV is hidden very nicely. It's actually refreshing.

M: It's a medium bodied brew. Carbonation really helps make this one very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 18:06:15 | More by inlimbo77

GregSVT

Texas

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle into a tulip

A: Pours a hazy dark yellow with a huge white head that fades to a layering and leaves some big lacing on the glass.

S: The nose is full of citrus and funky brett aromas. The citrus is in the form of orange and lemon.

T: The taste is a great mix of citrus, hops, and funk. There are nice orange and lemon notes along with a touch of pine and funky brett.

M: The feel is medium bodied and very bubbly due to the carbonation. It's almost overcarbed.

O: This is a tasty Farmhouse Ale and one I could drink on occasion. The funk isn't over done and actually complements the other flavors. I'd love to try this with a few years to see how everything develops. This and Thrash Metal are the better of their regular lineup.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 02:12:54 | More by GregSVT

TexIndy

Texas

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750 ml crowned bottle into a tulip glass. No dating info that I could see. It was a slightly hazy orange amber color with good carb streams especially with the etching kicking up a lot. It had a massive 3-4 finger head that finally settled to a constant 1-2 fingers. Good lacing with some sticking.

The aroma was led by spicy yeast and a good amount of funk on top of some noble hops and alcohol. Smells dry and peppery. The taste follows the aroma with good spice and pepper bite complimented with a good funk finish. Dry finish to go with the medium mouthfeel. Over carbonated but that could be due to the etching so next time I'll put in a non-etched glass.

Overall, a great funky saison that satisfies both urges if you looking for a saison or something funky. It's pretty dry and good dose of funk so, for me, I need to be really looking for that when I drink it or it might be a bit too much. Available here in TX obviously. Rotation: can see a few bottles a year but as noted I need to be in the mood for this particular taste profile.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 01:41:28 | More by TexIndy

Gobzilla

California

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: poured a murky golden orange in color with yellow highlights and a finger of head that left some good lacing sticking to the glass.

S: prett basic saison ingredients present in the aroma such as funky brettiness, some spice, hints of citrus and s bit of toasty grains but not much pear or clove qualities.

T: the clove character was more apparent on the palate alongside citrusy flavor, brett barnyard funkiness, very mild tartness, more spice mid palate and plenty of grain tones.

M: the brew was medium in body with plenty of carbonation which had a sweet, bretty funky, mild fruity, spice, and prickly finish.

O: just a decent mild saison to say the least and is also one of my least favorites from their offerings.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 21:06:00 | More by Gobzilla

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ml into a tulip. The brew appears a clouded orange with 3 fingers worth of fluffy off-white head. A fulk wall of lace paints the wall of the glassware.

It smells fruity like lemon, wheat mixed with cheesy foot grain. Sulfur is present blending into a carbonic quality like minerals. Earthy with barnyard funk that is pleasing.

The taste is herbal with hops and bitter slightly more than imagined. Clove and the expected saison yeast esters fill out the middle of the palate. A bit of carbonic and mineral quality exists just like the aromatics which keeps this from being clean. Toasty grain across the back and mild almost with a buttery note.

This is a medium bodies brew with a modest amount of carbonation. Lots of saison yeasty esters that form an interesting take on the style. Not my favorite but not bad either. The abv is integrated quite nicely.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 19:18:45 | More by stakem

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

3.85/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle, the ale had an aroma that I would associate with a cordial type of liquor. It had characteristics of the funk in a farmhouse. The color was yellow straw with a bubbly white head. I can see how this beer might have erupted for other drinkers. The initial taste was a smooth liquory type of taste with notes of corriander and lemon. Some farmhouses make a drink feel like he/she has a mouth full of lemon rind. The lemon in this ale is strong enough to be noticed, but not overwhelming. The lemon yields in the aftertaste to a pleasant sweet peppery profile.

I am not big on farmhouse ales, but I did enjoy this one.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 16:09:58 | More by JohnnyHopps

TX-Badger

Texas

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

An offering from Jester King Craft Brewery, a 750mL bottle poured into a tulip glass.

A - Mad Meg has a cloudy blood orange appearance to it, with a nice amount of off-white foam head that lingers for a little while.

S - spice, cirtrusy esters, along with a noticeable amount yeast.

T - on the palate I mainly get an earthy spice with hints of citrusy hops. There is also good balance between the hops and the malt.

M - full-bodied, some chewiness, but to be expected with the cloudiness of the beer. The carbonation is almost spot on, maybe a little more than what I would like for this style of beer, but nothing to noticeably take away from the beer.

O - a very good Belgian-like saison/farmhouse ale. I like the fact that the 9.6% ABV does not kick you in the pants. The higher ABV is subtle and doesn't dominate the beer. I have another bottle that I plan on letting rest for a few months. It will be interesting to see how this ages.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 18:17:35 | More by TX-Badger

chanokokoro

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle poured into a Jester King goblet/globe glass

Pours a hazy orangish gold capped by a bright white two and half finger head with a large amount of lacing present as the head recedes, great retention. This brew is extremely well-carbonated no extra effort will be needed in achieving an adequate head on the pour. The nose has fruit, floral, and grassy notes, and the distinctive smell of farmhouse yeast. Opens with a some fruit, a bit of citrus, apricot, and perhaps some peach which melds with earthy yeast and finishes dry. Average mouthfeel, abundant carbonation, fairly slick. The 9.6% is clearly evident with the alcohol present midpalate through the finish. I enjoyed this brew however it is quite boozy; so much so that I feel that some of the other important aspects of the brew were overshadowed.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 04:54:23 | More by chanokokoro

Treebs

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750 ml bottle shared by Dan (danielnovak3) before the Cubs vs. Sox game. Served in a Bell's tulip.

A: Quite the gusher. We lost about 30% of the beer in a little under a second. Once we got it to calm down it was poured very carefully. The pour yielded a body with a cloudy orange color with golden yellow highlights. A large pure white head formed on the pour and receded slowly leaving behind some splotchy lace.

S: Big fruity esters, spiced yeast and tart citric acid all make up the nose. There is a nice wheaty malt base, but the yeast and tart smells really dominate.

T: The taste is much like the nose, but is more balanced out by the malt base. The yeast is a little spicier with some light pepper corn as well. There is a creamy berry sweetness in the there as well with some fruity alcohol and a tart finish.

M: Medium bodied with a creamy middle and a drying finish. Semi tart finish.

O: A little too big for my liking. I like my saisons a little less chewy, but it was solid all around. I would definitely lay this guy (or girl) down for a little while.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 20:15:36 | More by Treebs

DRyan

Texas

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

6/10/12
Jester King
Mad Meg
Poured in JK Tulip glass

A: Ruddy orange copper with fluffy white head that dissipates slowly and laces a lot
S: Spicy, citrusy, pungent
T: Spicy, funky, a tinge of sour, strong aftertaste that hang around on the back of the palate
M: Almost champagne like, light bubbles, very light mouthfeel, not heavy at all
D: Lends its self to sipping not chugging, refreshing and strong

I'm aging this one, so we'll see how it is in a year or two...

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 00:48:19 | More by DRyan

MutualAid

Texas

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours out a golden haze with a beautiful, sticky off-white head that clings to the inside of the glass.

S - Nothing over the top here. Hints of barnyard funk, a good helping of sweet malt, and a slight hop bouquet.

T - The yeast definitely makes itself known here: lots of green pepper and clove. The finish is dry, which is probably attributable to both the presence of wheat on the bill and a highly attenuative yeast.

M - As with all Jester King beers, the mouthfeel is in the Goldilocks zone: somewhere between drinking water (or light lager) and a poorly brewed Russian Imperial Stout.

O - As with all the Jester King beers I've had this is a well executed ale, although I think it's more of a Biere de Garde than a Saison. Also, while Mad Meg is a great beer, I'm not seeing a lot of difference here from several other Jester King offerings; the brewers may want to either streamline their catalogue or amplify the differences between the beers so that more of a distinction can be drawn.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 03:32:49 | More by MutualAid

dfwprosportsjon

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had at the house and poured from a bomber.

A: Pours a cloudy, golden orange with a nice billowy head that lasts awhile. Has legs as you drink it.

S: The smell surprised me as it lacked the saisson yeast smell I expected. This smell was all belgian with only a slight hop aroma.

T: Has a slight spiciness to it but overall it lacks the tartness I expect from a farmhouse ale. It's very smooth for a big beer (9.6% ABV) but isn't that flavorful for a Jester King selection and underwhelmed me.

M: Good thickness to the beer with a nice carbonation to it. If anything it's too carbonated but I prefer my beer at a lower carb than most.

O: I was excited to try this beer but it was very bland with some spiciness and mild hop taste that never went anywhere. Jester King is known as a high priced boutique brewery where you pay for quality and to me this was an average beer that left me unimpressed. I actually would have graded it lower if not for the smoothness it exhibited at nearly 10% ABV. It was more belgian than farmhouse to me and just was too bland for me to rate it any higher.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 20:31:25 | More by dfwprosportsjon