Tropic King (Māori King) - Funkwerks

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Draft at the brewpub.

Pours a hazy dark golden orange  color with golden tangerine hues and a one finger white foam head that slowly settles into a lasting ring.  Sporadic spots of lace left behind.  

Earthy, slightly funky aroma with the earthy citrusy hops complimenting the saison yeast.  Hints of hay,straw and grass as well as some zesty, peppery spice, lemon zest, apple, pear and citrus, notably pear, mango, pineapple and  papaya.  slight sweet alcohol presence.  

Medium bodied and fuller than expected yet it still manages to be light and very drinkable.  Slightly bitter and dry up front with the earthy hops complimenting the zesty, peppery spice.  Hints of coriander and lemon peel with some Bready yeast that adds fullness and complexity.  Sweet alcohol toward the finish but abv is very well masked.  Lots of light and tropical fruit, especially apple, pear, banana, mango and papaya.  Excellent balance and incredibly flavorful.  One of the best saisons I've ever had.  

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2011 01:07:59 | More by corby112

JayS2629

Alabama

4.55/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Lots of tropical flavors and spice dominate.

It pours a hazy golden color with a huge white head, great retention, and full rings of creamy lace.

The aroma is full of tropical scents. Mango and peach with hints of ginger and clove. Green bananas, and pear with some tart funky notes of chardoney.

The flavor is a horn of plenty of tropical fruits. Let me name them all. Tons of pineapple, peach, mango, green apple, green banana, and pear. Bubblgum notes, cotton candy, and dry finish of spicy black pepper, and clove. Alcohol burn shows up a bit.

Nice balance, dry finish, light and refreshing.

Complex and fruity, delicious and complex.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2011 00:50:36 | More by JayS2629

julian

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle says 7.5% ABV / 1yr cellar limit. This should be consumed fresh!!!

A: Semi cloudy, thick billowing snowy white head with spotty sticky lacing at first, but doesn't seem to stick. Color is golden/coppery orange. Lots of head on the first pour. This beer is definitely carbonated to style. Love it!

S: Smell is intoxicating. Lots of peppery belgian spice and phenols. Hints of lemon and citrus. Bitterness is mild, but peppery and earthy. This actually smells quite amazing.

T&M: Carbonation is spot on for the style. Mouthfeel starts off prickly and bubbly, and finishes smooth and clean. Lots of flavor here. Pepper, earthy bitterness, lemon zest, mild citrus, floral. Awesome. Really drinkable. 3711 yeast is a workhorse and this is a prime example of what it can yield.

O: Love it. This is a SERIOUSLY delicious Saison. Alcohol is undetectable, flavor and aroma are intoxicating and leave me wanting more. I polished off a whole 750ml bottle and could easily drink another. This is a prime example of an American made Belgian Saison done right. Funkwerks - you rock. I will see you again soon :)

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 08:36:21 | More by julian

riored4v

Colorado

4.4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed on 9/27/11

Poured in to a tulip. Dark golden body, clear. 3.5 finger, pillowy, white head.

Smell was estery, spicey, malty. Notes of of coriander and orange. Some mild sweetness and tropical fruit.

Taste was big on tropical fruit flavor. Light ginger and orange followed with a mellow bitterness. Slight pepper and malty sweetness. Some earthiness and some bready notes. Very good.

Mouthfeel was light body, crisp/dry finish with high carbonation.

Overall it was really good. No signs of ABV and drinks suprisingly well. Love the peppery, tropical flavors.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 22:23:42 | More by riored4v

Twal

Colorado

4.35/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Rueben's in Boulder.I was talking about this beer w/friends having read about it on FW's website earlier that day,no sooner did I mention the beer did the owner appear telling me he had just tapped a new keg,Māori King from FW...asked him if he was serious,were you standing behind me a moment ago,are you joking...

Not really good at the reviewing but I'll give it a shot...
Tastey,front of the mouth flavor w/ some fruitiness and not much actual "funk" thought it was balanced and subtle.
Need to go back for another and take better notes,this one was post Karmeliet so hard to stand up next to but was very impressed!

Serving type: on-tap

05-14-2011 18:28:55 | More by Twal

Oxymoron

Colorado

4.3/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I would call this a Belgian IPA more than anything. Pours out a lighter orangey color with some golden hues through out. Mostly hazy. A soft fizzy white head with good retention and decent lace.

The nose has a good blend between spice and hops. Some minor malty undertones, but places behind everything else. The spice is more of a pepper note with a hint of coriander. The hops are kind of a mix between a citrus and lemon but a hint of earthiness as well. Some noticeable yeast character that is common in their beers

The taste is similar but the hops come out more verses everything else. A more citrus, mango hop note up front that continues into the finish. The yeast comes out more with some esters and phenols. Some light peach and tropical fruits. The spice backs off from the finish but some peppery notes in the finish. Some winey notes but not over the top.

The body is dry which helps bring out the hoppy notes. Carbonation is a bit much but overall ok. Some lingering yeast notes that come out more as it warms. Overall a good beer, but more of a Belgian IPA for me than anything else.

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2011 15:23:25 | More by Oxymoron

fmccormi

New York

4.29/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Straight pour from a 750ml pry-off bottle to a large wineglass (Hill Farmstead stem); no bottling date visible, but there's a note that says to cellar no more than one year. It was purchased within the last month, for what that's worth.

Appearance (4.5): Pours with three to four fingers of eggnog-colored head, composed of a mixture of fine and big, fat bubbles that slowly bubble away as the head recedes (which is extremely slowly). The head caps a glowing, orange-amber body, which is very cloudy. Shows excellent head retention with significant lacing, webbing the sides of the glass—even has a little plateau in the middle of the head. Awesomeness.

Smell (4.25): Walks the line between BSPA and saison, showing some candi sweetness in the malt body, throwing some simple syrup into a subtle, pale, crackery-bready character. But spice and fruit dominate the nose: candied orange slices, some sweet pear juice, and a good dose of warming spice (coriander, light clove, light ginger).

Taste (4.25): Really interesting things are going on here: honeydew, blood orange, some grapefruit peel bitterness, and then some cutting lime / lemon tartness intermixes with some vaporous (BSPA-like) alcohol warmth in the finish . . . all the while almost matched (like 60/40?) with coriander and ginger spiciness, a hint of black pepper, and a floral-herbal bitterness to boot. So much going on. Pale, bready malts with the brightness of wheat acts as a canvas for this craziness, and as it warms more of that starchy, bready, biscuity malt body comes out, and the fruit notes shift toward peach, mango, and lemon.

Mouthfeel (4.5): Great feel: slightly oil and viscous with a medium-full body, marked by sharply tingling carbonation that foams softly and smoothly on the way down, filling out moderately. The alcohol and hop oils dry out—gently, gently—the finish and it becomes very, very drinkable.

Overall (4.25): This shows off a very solid base saison, amped up to the point that it blurs the line with BSPAs significantly; the spiciness of the yeast, which creates a clear ginger character, acts as a fantastic complement to the juicy, fruity character of those Kiwi hops. More like a juicy-hoppy BSPA with a rustic, farmhouse-y side to the spiciness of the yeast. Great beer, worth seeking out if you’re a fan of saisons or BSPAs like me.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 01:32:35 | More by fmccormi

GilGarp

Colorado

4.22/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 mL capped bottle served cold into a chalice.

Maori King is an "imperial" saison according to the label. It has a very hazy appearance with golden yellow color and a thick white cap. It settles slowly and leaves some nice lacing behind.

The aroma is full of tropical fruit and peaches. A nice spicy note coming from the yeast, I believe.

The flavor is intense and I can see now why they call it imperial. It's isn't unusually strong in alcohol but the flavors are impressive. Big hit of sweet tropical fruit up front. Mangos, bananas, and (not so tropic) peaches all come forward. The middle is spicy, bitter, and a little funky. It finishes super dry and leaves me wanting another sip.

Mouthfeel is medium-light in body and nicely carbonated. Fairly well balanced but, like I said, big flavors and a bone dry finish.

Overall a really nice saison if you like your beers big, fruity, and dry. Definately worth a try.

As a side note, I'd like to point out that the bottled version is labeled 8% ABV, not 7% as it is here on BA.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2011 23:27:50 | More by GilGarp

srhoadsy

Florida

4.21/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Served chilled into a fluted tulip.

Pours a bright yellow gold with 2 inches of foamy white head that very slowly recedes leaving moderate surface layer and lacing.

Aromas of citrus, sour grapes and tropical fruits.

Very strong flavors of fruit. The aforementioned citrus, sour grapes and pears, pineapple and other tropical fruit. Just enough spice and funk to keep this one from being a little too sweet.

Medium bodied with a sweet, crisp finish. Moderate to heavy carbonation with a strong but quickly fading aftertaste.

Overall a very nice beer. Crisp and clean in appearance and feel, but very complex in flavor. Quickly becoming a fan of Funkwerks.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 21:53:15 | More by srhoadsy

blackie

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

a: served in a brewery snifter, pours a cloudy medium gold in color, spotty head, looks nice

s: clean plis and pale malts give a slight malty sweetness to accompany the tropical New Zealand hop aromas, peach, grape, mango, pineapple, some slight yeast, maybe even a minty note here, delicate spices, like this

m: carbonated on the lighter side, body around light-medium

t: a pale/pils malt body serves as a structure for various tropical and white tree fruits, peach, grape, and pineapple all come through, some yeasty flavors and light ester influence, pulpy tropical hop flavors creeps to a delicate bitterness that cleans what was a slightly sugared middle

o: really like this saison - it's perhaps a little more yeasty than some examples but that's not a complaint, flavorful, plenty of good tropical character and nice balance

draft at the brewery tasting room

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2011 14:19:46 | More by blackie

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.2/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours with a bright white head and a hazy orange with reddish hints. There's plenty of juicy citrus, mango and papaya with a slighter funky barnyard than the regular Saison. Same with the taste...bright citrus and tropical fruits backing a funky wet hay taste and slight sweet finish. Feels crisp, with a hint of creaminess.

I didn't like this as much as the regular saison, but hell if this isn't a stellar Saison still. I don't get the "Imperial" part as 7.5% seems fairly standard...

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 04:02:04 | More by EgadBananas

ottovon

Arizona

4.18/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed at the brewery. Says it's an imperial saison.

A: pours a straw yellow with a foamy white head.

S: I get some pepper and Ginger. Also a nice bit of clove and some light fruits like mango and peach. I also get a little bit of a Chardonnay aroma.

T: I get clove, mango, straw, and spice. Has a nice bitterness to it. The finish is fruity and dry with a slight bitterness to it.

M: it has a medium-thin mouthfeel with a nice bit of carb.

D: a very drinkable beer. I could drink a lot of this. It is a very good saison.

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2011 19:57:14 | More by ottovon

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.16/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Received as an extra in a trade and poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - A slow gusher, a crystal clear dark golden hue with an almost 4 finger head that slowly faded down to a thick, fat blanket but did not leave much side lacing. Looks very carbonated.

S - Like others have said, this walks the line between a Belgian strong pale ale and a saison. Candi malts, light bready/yeats, coriander, clove, very faint citrus.

T - Taste is a bit more citrus than the nose. Faint melon and grapefruit. Light alcohol esters. Finish is more belgian with coriander and faint clove. Light bread too and faint wheat. Alcohol gets more prominent on the finish. Not getting much tropical notes.

M - Mouthfeel is nicely carbonated, keeps the alcohol up off the tongue. Easy drinking.

O - Overall, a solid saison. Wish, for namesake, mine was more tropical though.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 21:03:05 | More by rudzud

BradLikesBrew

Missouri

4.13/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy apricot body with a thick, fluffy, dense and enduring white head. As it finally settles, a sheet of lacing remains. Combine that with the Funkwerks snifter it was served in and you have quite the presentation. A good start.

A rustic Saison aroma. Earthy, grassy and spicy.

Mmmm...this is what I'm talking about! The first thing that comes to mind is the interesting fruity character. Rakau hops add citrus and tropical fruit flavors reminiscent of American IPAs. But don't worry, while it does have solid bitterness and good hop flavors, this is no hop bomb. The Saison characteristics quickly take over and brush aside the hops. Musty and earthy, a complex layer of dry, spicy flavors captures the finish and ensures both depth and balance.

Māori King is not only an example of the excellence with which Brad, Gordon, and the rest of the gang at Funkwerks approach Farmhouse brewing, but also the relevancy and importance that this old world style still commands. Packed with bold flavor, yet subtly crafted with nuance and sophistication, no other style can toe the line between flavorful and sessionable as well as Saison.

All preaching aside, this is good beer, go check it out.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 20:42:18 | More by BradLikesBrew

emmasdad

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

We took a trip up to Fort Collins last week to hit a few breweries. Sadly quite a few were closed so we hit this one out of necessity; fortunately for us, this one was quite good across the board. Poured a nice medium yellow color with a nice white head. Nice hoppy aromas, mango, orange zest, citrus. Medium bodied, fruity, hoppy and spicy.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2011 03:24:11 | More by emmasdad

Domingo

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

One of those beers I keep forgetting to review, but have enjoyed for much of 2011.
Pours a foamy gold color. Lots of lacing and a lingering head.
While I was initially thinking this would be a super-hoppy saison, I was surprised exactly how floral and fruity the yeast and hops manage to make this.
Mango and peach seem to come from the hops and body, while the yeast gives it a slight citric touch. The hops give everything a dusty aspirin note (which I like) to finish slightly bitter, but without any harshness at all.
One of the best beers from FW, and one I’ve gone back to many times since I first discovered the brewery last Winter.
Worth grabbing if you like saisons, IPAs, or both.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2011 21:16:12 | More by Domingo

AlexFields

Tennessee

4.06/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy toffee color with a huge white head--head takes up at least 2/3 of the glass.

Smells tropical indeed. Pineapple, mango, lemon, citrus zest, tons of coriander and others zesty spice, tons of farmhouse yeast. Very bright. Smells excellent.

Taste is concentrated on lemon and citrus zest and spices. Bright but also fairly sweet, a pretty strong malt character, maybe wheat? Plenty of yeast again too. Very tasty.

Very carbonated, almost too carbonated but it works well for the style.

Excellent saison! Complex, drinkable, very well done.

8.1/10

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 04:01:35 | More by AlexFields

wethorseblanket

California

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle picked up in Denver during last GABF and finally opened at a share.

A: Pours a hazy yellow with a very large (2") white head and minimal lace.

N: Peppery with nice pronounced cracker yeast. Lots of fresh floral notes here.

T: Mostly follows the nose with lots of yeasty overtones and bright citrus fruits.

M: Somewhat heavier than others for the style and a bit of a roasty finish. Some prickly carb, but not as much given the large head on the pour.

O: Very good and a nice find should you come across this.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 02:37:09 | More by wethorseblanket

GRG1313

California

4/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Purchased end of August 2011 with a marked "1 year cellar limit." This is one of the new ones from the great new Ft. Collins "funkwerks." Marked a Belgian Style Ale on the front of the label, further reading on the side reflects that this is an "Imperial Saison."

Pours orange/amber with a white head.

Nose is fruity and orangy-almost like fresh orange juice or orange peel spice and with nice citrus tones, pineapple and flowers. Not a lot of saison character in the nose but really smells nice and very inviting.

Mouthfeel is rich and full with some creamy character that is appealing -again, not real saison-like. One begins to think that this beer has an identity crisis.

Flavors strengthen the identity problem in that flavor profile is far more "belgian traditional ale" than saison. Lots of esters, banana, cloves and "typical" Belgian ale characteristics. Tastes good and inviting but one must ask what is "an Imperial Saison.?" (Maybe it's just me). Flavors are big assertive Belgian malts - banana/clove/yeast carryover from nose. The flavors are pleasant and inviting but one should not expect a saison. There is the orange citrus character in the flavor profile that's very pleasant. I like this one; it is very drinkable and inviting.

Citrus flavors and big yeast carry over to finish. I'm not sure what to call this beer but it's good. Imperial Saison? Are there others?

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2011 18:34:36 | More by GRG1313

merc7186

New York

4/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this beer poured from a bomber bottle into a chilled pint glass.

The beer pours perfectly with a nice hazy orange hue to it that passes almost no light through it, a solid white foamy head, and great lacing on the glass at all time. (For The Record, Ive Never Given Out Any 5's before). The smell is great with a blend of orange peel and lemons, with a spicey follow up of pepper and corriander. The taste is great with orange up front then follows with a lemony and peach bitterness. The mouthfeel is decent with a dryness and the beer is well carbonated. Overall, this is a great beer that acts more like a Saison than a belgian as the bottle advertises.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 01:07:14 | More by merc7186

UCLABrewN84

California

3.98/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Freshcraft in Denver, CO.

Pours a murky honey orange color with a 1/2 inch bone colored head that fades to a film on the top of the beer. Random spots of lace form on the glass and drip back down into the remaining beer. Smell is of wheat, spices, and floral aromas. Taste is of whet, spices, and flower notes. This beer has good carbonation with a crisp and bubbly mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good saison that I would definitely get again. I am glad I got to try this one as this is nowhere to be found in CA. My first beer from Funkwerks.

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2011 16:51:03 | More by UCLABrewN84

Rbald42

Montana

3.98/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy golden to honey-colored hue. Massive amounts of foam create a big white frothy head from a simple pour. Be careful when pouring this. I had to let it sit for a few minutes before attempting again, and then had to be very gentle when filling the glass.

Smell is of pear, apple and other stonefruit. Hints of citrus and lime, followed up by light peppery phenols and a bit of band aid. Taste is of stonefruit , light white pepper spice, giving way to a mild grass note on the finish with fruity esters. For being very high in carbonation, I did get a sort of fullness and creamy mouthfeel. The high carbonation didn't detract for me,and it helped bring out subtle flavors as the beer warmed. An enjoyable beer for sure. Better to share this with friend or two.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 06:26:04 | More by Rbald42

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.98/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

mmm alcholy and sour in the nose, lively and jubilent in the pour, with a whitish head as agressive as you pour it. yeasty and bright this one tastes faintly of dried fruit, possibly tropical fruit, and a balanced brett-type sour vibe. tart finish settling nice in the tummy despite the quantum carbonation. my first funkwerks beer paired with an all time dinner at fruition restaraunt in denver. seek this one out ladies and gents!

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 05:15:31 | More by StonedTrippin

DearthVader

California

3.98/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle poured to my Fantome tulip. Thanks for this one LSUPT!

I think this is the first beer I've ever added so the nerves are rattling.

A steady pour produces a nice 3 finger head that falls to a tight 1/4" cap of white foam atop the golden orange body. Very nice sticky lacing grabbing my glass.

Smell is full of bread, banana, ginger, slight mango, and some straw-like funk.

Taste is upfront with the banana. A peppery ginger profile takes over rather quickly with a little less tropical fruits that I was expecting (given the name). The mango does shine through as the beer warms up.

This is a rather creamy Saison. Very chewy and full bodied. Less carbonation than expected.

Very interesting Saison and I look forwards to the rest of my Funkwerks stash that's chillin' in the fridge.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 06:37:00 | More by DearthVader

Forb

Nebraska

3.88/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Enjoyed at the Great Nebraska BeerFest 2011 - Papillion, NE

Appearance: Orange haze within the color amid a fuzzy foam of a white head. Decent lacing and retention.

Smell: Spices and hops intertwined with peppery accents and some faintly citrus notes.

Taste: Tropical hops is what I feel here. Fruity flavors tangle with the hop and yeast elements here.

Mouthfeel: Dry and highly carbonated.

Overall: Great saison.

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2011 23:44:47 | More by Forb