Love Buzz Saison - Anchorage Brewing Company

emerge077

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Hazy orange, languid trails of rising carbonation. Lasting head of white soapy foam, drippy downward webs of lacing. Good retention, it lasts for the duration of the glass.

Grapefruit pith, white pepper, tangerine from the Citra, tart fruitiness, dry finish. Clover honey aftertaste, big sandalwood aroma, woody and spicy with a backing fruit bouquet. Nicely balanced tartness, mild bitterness underneath that lingers into the dry finish.

Despite the flowery romance novel BS on the label, the beer is in fact pretty decent.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 04:28:19 | More by emerge077

wedge

North Carolina

4.3/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Batch #2 August/2012

Pours a cloudy orange with a large, fluffy, chunky head on top that eventually settles down to a lumpy covering. The aroma is fantastic...citrus peel and soft floral notes upfront, peppery spice, juicy and slightly grassy hops, yeast esters, and a lovely pale malt base. Juicy citrus and tart fruit sticks to the tip of the tongue and stays there. Here is where the Brett reveals itself, but it's not super funky. Lingering peppery bitterness, drying wood, flower petals, and earth. Some wine-like tannins perhaps, but the Pinot doesn't really come through in any significant way. Very dry and quite tart, yet soft and fluffy in the mouth. With the rose hips, peppercorns, orange peels, dry hopping, barrel aging, and wild yeast, this could be a total mess in other hands. This guy obviously knows what he's doing. Good stuff...

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 18:48:32 | More by wedge

srandycarter

California

4/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A gift from a friend back east.

A - Murky apricot, light near white head, some cling lace.

S - Tart, funky, malt takes the back seat.

T - Very tart and refreshing. Lip smacking flavor. Malt and hops play second fiddle to the funk and tart. It's very nice.

M - Medium body, nice carb and balance.

D - I would session this in a second!

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 04:05:13 | More by srandycarter

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

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

I had this bottle at Holy Hound in York, thanks to tenderbranson for sharing this w/ me. served chilled in a tulip glass.

The color is deep golden with peachy hue and thick cream cap which falls rapidly to a ring with good lacing and tight bead. The smell is very brett influenced right off with small amount of hop aroma with mild grapefruity tropical odor which is very fragrant with the yeast which adds a vinous note in the mix which is more white grape tang than juicy. The feel is lively and full with yeast and brett adding a dry almost mineral essence. The spiciness of hops is moderate with carbonation semi-high and subtle acidity of citrus with slightly dry finish.

The saison tastes nicely of brett and fruity with a subtle citrus tanginess and white grape tartness from the barrel with mild pepper and lemony hop qualities w/ slight cracker taste of malt in the finish. Overall a pretty top notch example of a brett saison with nice spice and hop flavor with the additon of a white wine elment from the barrel augmentation.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 19:39:56 | More by Slatetank

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

thanks to egrace84 for the share! Thanks elliot.

reviewed from notes taken 01/01/13.

Appearance: hazy golden apricot / almost an orangish bodied beer with 1 finger of white head.

Smell: This beer orange hop bomb! Floral, fruity, earthy, citrusy.

Taste: Oranges, wheat, black pepper, mild bitterness, mild tartness. A hint of oak, earhtiness, and red wine. A floral tea flavor seems to come out in the middle of the beer. A nice spicy herbal bite to this beer as well. There is so much going on in this beer is redicoulous. Hard to get all the neuances from the beer.

Mouthfeel: light almost medium bodied beer with moderate carbonation. Lively carbonation and this beer is so damn drinkable! Fresh, brilliant, and bright feel to this beer.

Overall: The beer is so awesome! What a complex saison! The citra hops are amplified by the orange peel and love that about this beer. Geez its that frickn good. This would be my second Anchorage beer and they just make beers with crazy complexity, and just are killing it with their brews!

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 21:22:50 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

rawfish

California

4.2/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tulip glass. Tight white head forms over a dark orange body, cloudy from the yeast. The carbonation is very active and it sizzles and pops during the pour. Average retention and slight bits of lacing left on the glass.

Complex with citrus, hay, touches of Belgian spice and barnyard. I get lemon and grapefruit, apples and papaya on the front with a mesh of Belgian anise and oak. Funk comes in with a slight musty hay and ascorbic acid, vitamin quality.

Toasted grain with lemon peel, apple juice, Pinot Noir and hibiscus tea up front that evolves with coriander, anise, peppercorn, oak, more lemon zest and grassy noble hops. Hop, grass and pine bitterness carries into the finish with some earthy barnyard, vinegar, rose hips and lemon which lightens up the beer quite a bit and finished with a nice zip across the palate.

Medium to light body weighted down by the yeast. Prickly carbonation with brings out the nuances in the flavor.

Terrific beer and my first from Anchorage, I really can taste the bright orange peel and rose hips in this which leads to a bright and exciting saison. The brett, pinot barrels and citra all play a part as well and I will seek out their other brews.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 01:31:07 | More by rawfish

vfgccp

New York

4.15/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - A little haze on a golden apricot body. Creamy off-white foam pours tall and then hangs around with ok retention and lace.

S - Great nose. Fruity for a saison. Green apple, hay, papaya, golden raisin, white grape, and a light earthiness.

T - Tart papaya, lime, green mango, pineapple rind, plantain, and lemon zest. Sour hay backend. Fantastic complexity.

M - Nice carbonation on a medium/light frame with a pleasant dry/sour finish.

O - This is the third Archorage beer I've ever had, and I'd buy any of them again in a heart beat. Another excellent job pushing the boundaries of contemporary brewing.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 08:17:01 | More by vfgccp

Vonerichs

Illinois

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

Dark and hazy bright orange body contrasted with a stark white froth of a head that persists.

This has layer upon layer of aromas. Zesty orange, grapefruit, and lemon qualities are held up by a peppery note. The brett adds a funky note in the end along with floral perfumes.
In
The taste is equally complex. It's bursting with fresh grapefruit juice and orange peels. The rose hips give it a huge but delicate floral flavor. I also encountered white sweet tarts (whatever flavor those are) and pepper.

The mouthfeel is tart and acidic with a tannic quality.

This is a seriously great beer. It's 12/22 and I think I just found my favorite beer of 2012. Anchorage has got this brett and barrel thing down.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 02:44:28 | More by Vonerichs

BEERMILER12

Maine

4.45/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Batch #2 from August 2012

A: Pours a slightly hazy straw yellow color with 2+ fingers worth of head that settles to an inch or so. This lasts for quite a while

S: Nice and citrusy with Belgian and brett funk, peppercorns, orange peel, light oak, and a light sweetness which I'm guessing is the rose hips

T: Follows the nose. Incredibly complex. Starts off with light sour, spicy, and fruity notes, which then goes into the oak and pinot notes. Finishes lightly dry with hop bitterness, light sweetness, and more barrel notes

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Drying towards the end

O: I was hesitant to pick this up with the cost (14.99 for a 750) but I am very glad that I did. Amazing complexity and great drinkability make for a great drinking experience. Highly recommended

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 06:19:49 | More by BEERMILER12

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

(Served in a teku)

A- This beer pours a hazy deep dark orange body with a strong microcarbonation and a bubbly rocky beige head

S- The dry wine hints mix with brett's bright grapefruit pith and a blend of fruity floral with some saison yeast character finishing the aroma.

T- The grapefruit pith brett character balances with the bright red wine pinot noir barrels and a lemony hops flavor finishes. There is a hibiscus flower tartness and some rose hip flavors in the dry finish that linger.

M- This beer has a medium-light mouthfeel with a gentle fizz texture and no alcohol heat or astringency noticed.

O- The light beer has a full flavor and complexity that is unique and really works together. None of the flavors are out of balance and it makes this beer really drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 22:01:46 | More by rhoadsrage

seedsofchaos

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Overwhelmingly fruity in the nose, Love Buzz begins with a massive bouquet of grapefruit and just a touch of tart funk as if anticipating to bite into the melon itself. The smell of citrus is delightfully simple and dominating. Immediately puckering on the palate, citrus and tartness follow. A bit peppery indeed but lacking the "caramel beauty" promised on the bottle. Simple, tart and perhaps better paired than alone, Love Buzz neither impresses nor disappoints. A solid offering but, overall, not memorable.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 00:19:54 | More by seedsofchaos

ArrogantB

Colorado

4.2/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle $14.99. These Anchorage beers aren't cheap but I've had good experiences with Bitter Monk and Galaxy IPA so I'm becoming a believer. Orange-yellow color, small but visible head ans a bit of lace. The nose is really incredible in how intriguing it is. I knew right away I liked it but I just have to keep inhaling away to try and figure out what I smell. Its sort of perfume, candy, a touch of brett hiding in the back, slightly earthy, slight touch of alcohol. Great aroma. The taste is pretty damn crazy too, sort of sweet, dry, some orange, pretty good. I must say these Anchorage beers are quite unique and while they seem expensive at first they are actually priced less than Russian River and about equal to Jolly Pumpkin and I'd say the quality is not questionable. Can't wait for the next batch of Bitter Monk.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 05:23:32 | More by ArrogantB

BeerNFoodDood

Colorado

4.38/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured slightly chilled into a tulip.

The color was a mix between a light amber and a light, bright rose color.

The smell was pretty nice. You could note the citrus and peppercorns on the nose. There was a slight brett note right away, a subtle funk with a bright lactic note. Dry hopping was slight but noticeable.

Taste was great. It is a very bright uplifting beer. The rose hips in this beer a nice bitterness and and peppercorn and orange peel make your taste buds come alive. Very session-able at 8%.

Great barrel aged wild saison.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 02:42:47 | More by BeerNFoodDood

srhoadsy

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured chilled into a tulip.

Pours a nice hazy bronze color with an inch and a half of light airy head that quickly recedes with little lacing.

Aromas of sour grapes, pears, citrus and spice.

Very complex flavors follow through from the aromas with some others in there I couldn't quite place.

Mouthfeel is crisp and tart with moderate carbonation.

Take one part IPA, one part saison and one part sour and here you go. Definitely an interesting and complex beer. Would like to try again after some aging.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 01:04:55 | More by srhoadsy

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured from a corked and caged bottle into a Duvel tulip. Batch two.

A- pours a cloudy shade of orange with a two finger white head that quickly fades, leaving some pure white froth. A little cloudy from the bottle ferm, but still looks really nice

S- the smell is incredible and nuanced, with the rose hips and orange peel blending together perfectly to create a sweet, yet flowery, aroma that is balanced perfectly

T- it starts off a little sweet from the orange, then you get a nice smack of the rose before the finish, which gives off a slight vinous character along with the beautiful flavors from the rose and orange. It's not sour, and it's not overly tart, but everything meshes together so perfectly

M- medium bodied, on the thicker side. I'd prefer it to be a bit thinner, personally

O- out of the three Anchorage beers I've had, this is my favorite. The beer is more subtle than most barrel-aged beers, and isn't overly funky, and it's very approachable

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 23:31:12 | More by bigfnjoe

dirtylou

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle, split

appearance: served in a delirium chalice, hazy orange-amber body, nice creamy white head and light lace

smell: pinot barrel very noticeable - in fact the pinot nearly overpowers the brett yeast funk. interesting

taste: funky brett yeast, oak, sweet pinot grapes - sweetness and tartness collide on the palate. pepper, earthy, a touch acidic.

mouthfeel: tart, sweet, dry finish

overall: cool beer - enjoyed this

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 01:58:22 | More by dirtylou

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

The complexity keeps building in these brett-infused base beers. This time Anchorage reaches for the seamless bridge between saison and wild yeast, but then layers on the character of rose hops and wine barrels. These guys have it figured out!

Its burnt orange appearance is laced with haze from yeast, hops, and wood tannin which brings out a dark honey-amber hue. The beer releases a creamy dense froth of medium stature which retains and laces the session very well.

Bright and zesty aromas of dried oranges, red grapefruit, dried lemons and limes, melon, apricot, mango, white grape, passion fruit and papaya all rise from the contibutions of yeast, hops, and wine barrels. Balanced with earthy complexities of fresh cracked white peppercorn, dried wood, vinous alcohols, and light horse hair- the aromas of the beer weave together seamlessly.

Flavors are pungent, raw, and acidic with the taste of tropical and citrus fruit that the nose unveiled. The dry acidic taste is matched with earthen wood, wine, pepper, and softer floral taste. There's just enough powdery sweetness to create a ripe and creamy taste to accompany the fruit and must. Finishing with citrusy bitterness, a slim taste of pine resin comes to life and dries the saison much like an IPA.

The magical textures of the beer might be its strongest suit: both creamy and powdery from the onset, the tartness of fruit morphs into full-blown acidity and invites the spicy tannin character to complement in the most pleasant way. Remaining powdery and smooth until the end, the beer continues to dry and become spicier all the while.

There's an element of class and sophistication associated with the beer, yet still making it look easy. The beer simply comes together in the most majestic and whimsical way. But its power and punch to the palate won't be ignored.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 18:42:43 | More by BEERchitect

TheCrowsNest

California

4.25/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Batch #2, August 2012

Hazy golden orange, with a thin head that drops quickly leaving a thin film of very fine bubbles. Aromas bring it right back into style with huge passionfruit and citrus, finishing it off with some funky yeast notes and a nice tartness similar to that in yogurt. The complexity is awesome, starting with tropical fruits like mango and papaya and shifting into a myriad of citrus notes that are complemented by an awesome yeast profile of Brettanomyces. Finishes nice and dry.

Overall, this is an awesomely fruity saison and definitely worth picking up a couple to set down and see how the brettanomyces plays out over the next couple of years.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 03:58:49 | More by TheCrowsNest

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured a cloudy golden orange with a 2 finger white head that fades slowly leaving a moderate amount of lacing

S: Immedite Brett here. A good dose of baby diaper coupled with smoe barf and branyard. The rose pedals, citrus fruit basket is very prominent

T: Where to start? Delicous. Immediate lemons and coriander, rose petal and subtle Brett notes start to appear upfront and early. This is followed by barnyard funk, more coriander, a little spice, light booze sting , wood, Earth and a dry grassy finish

M: Light-medium bodied, smooth, bitter, crisp, clean and extremely dry.

O: This beer was all over the place. The only think I missed was the Pinot. Maybe my palate was off today but I will re-visit and look for more Pinot. Excellent.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 13:58:32 | More by barleywinefiend

spicelab

Australia

4.3/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bomber from Wholefoods, Bend. Shared with MrKennedy. Reviewed from notes.

Cloudy apricot with a pillowy but firm white head that falls reluctantly and quietly with decent lacing.

Nose is a melange of yeasty goodness that lends sharp, chalky, sherbety and funky characteristics in ever-changing measure. Collision of bitter peel, candied citrus, horse blanket, cut grass and herbs, rose petals, horse blanket, fruit salad, red grape and lovely pinot duskiness. Lots happening, but far from chaotic.

Flavours are less expressive, but still very good. Palate is beautifully benign, with silky, almost dusty carbonation that produces an even, mild tartness across the palate.

Very skilfully done. The Brett and barrel treatment are used with restraint, which makes for impressively coherent complexity and great drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 05:22:04 | More by spicelab

Jmamay22

New York

4.38/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Beer pours an orange copper with a thick foamy head that leaves webbed lacing in my empty glass. Smells of orange citrus, all spice, and full on bretanomyces. Nice complex scent of resin that is hard to put my finger on it.

Taste is more of the same with a flavor that continues to build as it sits on my tongue. Fruity and effervescent gives way to spices and funky complex yeast. Top notch with favor on top of flavor. Finishes with a spicy peppery dry bite. Great beer I would look forward to having more.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 21:38:15 | More by Jmamay22

PEBKAC

New York

3.43/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Edit: Let it breath. Left half the bottle in my fridge overnight & today it's much more bearable. The fruit on the nose is a little jucier, the brett a little downplayed, with more savory funk.

Taste is much the same as it was, though less rose & more of an orange character. Nice & acidy. Aerosol. Still yeasty, still a bit lacking.

---

Batch 1 bottle. Tight cork & a strong pop, but no gushing. Tulip. Orange/amber body. Stiff peaks. Incessantly frothy.

So perfumey. Just like kissing grandma, Rose, saline, mulch, apples, cheese rind, herbs. Adhesive, rubbing alcohol, yeast. Noxious. I sort of like it, but it's too strong & blunt, & interferes with what I could be tasting.

Big yeasty. Some orange. Something tropical. Some Band-Aid. Wood pulp. Faint, rindy bitterness. Soft, but spritzy carbonation. I liked this better fresh. The Brett ate up a lot of the wine. Though it still manages to retain some body.

One word: Potpourri.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 06:41:26 | More by PEBKAC

cfrances33

Illinois

4.63/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle served in a teku glass.

Pour: Completely hazy deep orange with two fingers of very, very sticky off white head. Head sticks around for a long time, and leaves incredible lacing, This is what I want a saison to look like.

Smell: The nose bursts of grapefruit, pears, and a nice grape musk. Brett says hello with a clean funk. This beer smells incredible. I can't tell if it's a sour or a Brett forward saison.

Taste: Amazing juicy oranges right off the bat. Wow. Chardonnay barrels come through with a red grape muskiness and a nice oak. Barnyard funk comes along and mingles with the rest of the flavors.

Mouthfeel: A combination of juicy and dry. The beer toys with my desire to sip it and to drink it more quickly to compensate for its dryness.

Overall: This beer was incredibly unique in the pairing of sour and saison attributes. I would get this all the time if it was a little cheaper, and available. Awesome.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 22:23:18 | More by cfrances33

russwbeck

Virginia

4.28/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Very hazy yellow pour with a number of fingers of white head. Murky, bubbly, and very inviting.

S: Big Pinot Noir characteristics on the aroma, with a very nice funkiness. Full of grapes and barrel aging.

T: The grapes and Pinot notes are huge on the taste. Funky and fruity with a really nice saison base. Very slightly spicy, but mostly fruity. One of the better tasting saisons I've had.

MF: Really nice carbonation level and drinkability. If it wasn't so high ABV I'd say it was sessionable. Extremely drinkable and refreshing.

O: This was a really impressive beer. Solid saison with barrel aging adding to it. Grapes, fruits, spices, citrus, delicious.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 03:33:12 | More by russwbeck

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.13/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer appears a hazy, golden orange color with over an inch of dense, white head. The aroma offers fruit, yeast, malt, floral notes. The flavor is interesting. Floral hops come through more in the flavor than the aroma. A bit thin in the body. Slightly sweet, with additional notes of rose hips. A pretty tasty saison.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 02:17:03 | More by Huhzubendah