Three Cranes - Mystic Brewery

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

For patriots game I need to have a beer from MA, so why not one with cranberries.

Pours a pasty white fizzy slight fluffy large 2 finger head that fades at a med pace, soapy spotted lacing, just slightly hazy golden lager straw colored.

Nose has plenty of saison aromas, light straw and grainy but at the same time golden Belgian malts, slight yeasty aroma, hint of wheat like, then saison spices, light citrus, faint hint of tart berry but hard to label it as cranberry, just a bit of farmhouse funk.

Taste starts with Belgian flavors, Belgian golden malts and sweet malts, as well as light straw and wheat like. More funk this time, farmhouse saison funk and fairly up front. Light saison spices and a nice citrus flavor with touch of orange peel, light grassy flavors and hint of lemon. Again there is a tart berry that tastes slightly fruity, and quite a bit of tartness but not sour tart, although the cranberry flavor eventually squeaks out with the faintest hint later. The middle brings some esters from the yeast, and hint if phenols from the light booze. Finish is dry and long lingering tart flavor, bit more farmhouse funk and yeast flavors, more esters and grainy straw malts.

Mouth is med bodied, nice fluffy carb.

Overall not bad, decent malt profile with a bit of warming booze and light phenols and esters, nice farmhouse funk from the saison yeast, nice Belgian flavors. However, the cranberries are mostly just tart fruit flavor and not really in there for flavor. Most brewers make that mistake with cranberries their first time using them, and I've done that myself my first cranberry homebrew, just brings tart flavors and petty much none or very little cranberry flavor.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 02:57:14 | More by jlindros

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.76/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

750ml bottle purchased as a single from Central VT somewhere. Corked and caged.

Poured into a Harpoon LE tulip, formed a 2" off-white head over the cloudy golden brew. Head sno-cones above the lip before receding ever-so slowly, with sporadic chunky lace. Aroma is effervescent, with a light tinge of berry.

Taste starts delicately sweet of cranberries, with a moderate tartness in the middle, and prickly hops through the close. Mouthfeel is reasonably smooth, and drinkability is pretty good. Wish it had a bit more sweetness and/or cran, but that might be just my tastes.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 00:20:28 | More by ppoitras

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.18/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The pour is a slightly hazy medium golden color with the faintest of a pink tinge to it and a huge fluffy white head that slowly recedes to a cap on top. The aroma is sweet lightly bready malt beneath a whole lot of yeast funk, a tart fruitiness, and a hint of phenol. The flavor is quite a bit nicer than the aroma. A sweet sugary maltiness up front melds into a tart fruitiness, cranberries obviously come to mind. Medium body with a spirited level of carbonation and a tart bubbly mouthfeel. This is probably my least favorite beer from the Mystic Saison brewery. It's a bit too heavy with yeast and phenols for my tastes.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 01:41:10 | More by johnnnniee

tigg924

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Appearance: 1 inch head, cloudy, red-gold in color, high carbonation

Smell: cranberry, funk, hay, and light holiday spice/bread

Taste: funk, Belgian spice, hay, light tart cranberry, and sugar that that comes out as the beer warms

Mouthfeel: sweet start and funky/bitter middle that is less bitter towards the end, light bodied with high carbonation

Overall: This is not a cranberry bomb yet the tartness and touch of it add a different dimension to this saison. Not my favorite from Mystic, but well worth a try. I appreciate the added dimension to a quality saison.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 14:02:07 | More by tigg924

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed at Tree House Brewery. Reviewed from notes:

A - Poured in to my Tree House glass a clear light golden hue with a thin, fizzy quarter inch head that fades to leave minimal wisping.

S - Lots of esters here. Fair amount of booze...where are the cranberries? The beer claims to have cranberries in it but try as I might I cannot find them.

T - Taste is similar to the nose, good esters, light banana, hints of lemon and light barnyard funk and Belgian yeast. Again though, where is the cranberry?

M - Mouthfeel is light and crisp. Nice carbonation here.

O - Overall, while not a bad saison, nothing irks me more than a beer that states to contain or resemble one flavour or ingredient only to not deliver. No cranberry = no money from my wallet.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 21:12:56 | More by rudzud

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

3.79/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

750ml bottle.

Pours hazy gold with an orangy hue and a half inch head of bone. A few whisps remain on the surface for the duration of the glass.

Aromatics lead off with cloves, apples, grapeskin, and earthy funk. A light spicyness follows through.

Light bodied with a crisp mouthfeel.

Clove-studded apples with a hint of cranberry and a wheaty twang start the palate. Drying and fruity with a husky undertones and mild spice.

Finishes with a mild tartness, apples, and a hint of honey.

This beer is seriously lacking cranberries and otherwise a pretty average saison.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 01:31:50 | More by brewandbbq

rab53

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

New arrival at the bottle shop. Saison brewed with cranberries. Sounds great for Thanksgiving dinner.

Pours a pale gold with crisp white head that fades quickly. Effervescent.
Smells like nonspecific tartness. Assume this is the contribution of the cranberries. Reminds me on Sam Adams cranberry lambic, but not in a bad way.
Taste follows suit. Crisp, dry and tart. Great accompaniment to some of the heavier holiday foods.
Initially finely carbonated, but became nearly flat after 20-30 minutes. Disappointing.
Overall a nice seasonal spin on the saison, though I prefer Mystic's unadulterated version better.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 02:45:40 | More by rab53