Farmhouse Pale Ale - Oxbow Brewing Company

sk8man121

Maine

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

Happy to be the first to review this wonderful new brewery's wonderful first offering. On-tap at Novare Res in Portland, ME.

A: Pours a brilliant, hazy gold. Cloudy, but full of life. One of the creamiest 2-finger eggshell heads I've ever seen, with excellent retention. Perfect 5 on this one.

S: Grass, hops and Belgian yeast in the nose. Spicy and sweet at the same time, with complex herbal notes throughout.

T: An absolute explosion of hops, Belgian yeast and pilsener malt up front, followed be a sweet, herbal center. Finishes somewhat dry. Extremely quaffable.

M: Mouthfeel is nice, with just enough carbonation and body to make this a comfortable drinking beer. Not too thick, which is nice.

O: There might be some homer bias going on here, but this is one of the best examples of an "American Saison" that I've ever come across. Pretty amazing beer for a first offering, if you ask me.

Keep it up, Oxbow!

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2011 19:01:54 | More by sk8man121

jbeervt

Vermont

4/5  rDev -5%

05-19-2013 16:35:37 | More by jbeervt

Massbmx

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-19-2013 02:29:29 | More by Massbmx

Gatordaddy

Maryland

4/5  rDev -5%

05-15-2013 05:13:51 | More by Gatordaddy

Spoppy

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

04-26-2013 00:23:57 | More by Spoppy

trotnixon

Maine

3.75/5  rDev -10.9%

04-24-2013 10:53:51 | More by trotnixon

JasonSiedman

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +1%

04-20-2013 17:41:38 | More by JasonSiedman

stereosforgeeks

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +1%

04-18-2013 02:42:53 | More by stereosforgeeks

thewimperoo

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +1%

04-15-2013 04:28:19 | More by thewimperoo

projektyle

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +1%

04-12-2013 10:07:33 | More by projektyle

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Monk's, Philly, PA

Pale golden-yellow color, hazy, with a small but solid cap of white head; some retention and lacing. Fruity esters in the nose, spicy yeast. Good saison qualities in the taste, grassy, herbal, light funk, sweet stone fruits, and a light peppery yeastiness. Crisp, light-medium mouthfeel, soft carbonation, easily drinkable. All of the three beers I sampled from Oxbow were pretty similar, but they were all definitely good. I'd like to see them more often.

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2013 02:50:51 | More by Rifugium

Boone757

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -10.9%

04-07-2013 20:30:46 | More by Boone757

wdarcy77

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -5%

04-07-2013 14:00:16 | More by wdarcy77

BeardedBoffin

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

I enjoyed this brew on tap at Alewife in Baltimore. It arrived a dark golden tinged with brown. The white cap of foam was a nice touch. The aroma has a freshness about it: green apple, pear, citrus, and a touch of honey. The grain comes through as well. Light, clean, and nimble on the palate. More fresh fruit, some sweetness, as it finishes with a bit of bitterness. I would like to see a more acidic bite to this, and perhaps a little more funk. The hop presence make up for that to produce a clean crisp brew.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2013 00:10:25 | More by BeardedBoffin

MeneerBeerSnob

District of Columbia

4.3/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Growler poured into a tulip.

a-It pours a hazy dark straw color with one finger of white head.

s-A strong herbal hoppy smell dominates with a background of saison yeast and citrus fruits.

t-Very refreshing hoppy bitterness hits the palate followed by citrus and yeast then ending in a spicy herbal dry finish.

m-Smooth body with lively carbonation to accentuate the refreshing taste.

o-One of the best saison's I've ever had. I like that the hoppy bitter taste doesn't overwhelm the other lighter flavors and stays refreshing. I see myself drinking this as a farmer in the Low Countries after a long day of work.

Serving type: growler

03-23-2013 19:35:16 | More by MeneerBeerSnob

Jspriest

Maryland

4/5  rDev -5%

03-22-2013 01:11:34 | More by Jspriest

AdamP

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -5%

03-10-2013 03:04:46 | More by AdamP

AngusOg

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -10.9%

03-04-2013 18:27:02 | More by AngusOg

Brewsephus

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

03-04-2013 11:28:13 | More by Brewsephus

bmur112

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

02-19-2013 15:52:14 | More by bmur112

CypherEnigma

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -5%

02-19-2013 01:02:39 | More by CypherEnigma

cbutova

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Glad to see Oxbow ontap at Armsby Abbey.

A- Tulip pour from the tap with a golden body. Fluffy white head forms to about a finger in size. Cap retention is good but only spotty lace remains from a creamy ring.

S- As described, a good mix of American hops and Saison yeast. Citrus peel, some fruits, grass, herbal and yeast spice notes. Not the most strength for this style but still nice.

T- Shines here. For a flagship or year round, this really hits the nail. Hard to determine where everything comes from but its nice and balanced. Bitter orange peel, herbal things like thyme (mildly) almost, raisin, coriander, grassy and lemon zest notes are pleasant. Really good use of the yeast, encompasses a lot.

MF- Silky body with a bubbly feel which is very smooth. Herbal and zesty bitter finish.

Very good for what I think is their standard beer. Great balance with a melding of hops and awesome Saison yeast.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2013 22:39:24 | More by cbutova

mendvicdog

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -16.9%

02-10-2013 13:54:37 | More by mendvicdog

kangarooAdam59

Connecticut

4.4/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

On-tap at Buck's Naked BBQ, Freeport ME:

In a pint glass:

A: hazy golden yellow colored body with a film of a white head. Some spider web lacing trickled down the sides of the pint glass.

S: hops, spice, apple, pear, light honey and lemon at the very end.

T: balanced between sweet and spicy. It got sweeter as the beer warmed.

M: light, sessionable, acceptable harshness on the tongue, leaving a dry aftertaste

O: I really like this but am trying to figure out how its a saison, I thought it was more of an American Pale Ale.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2013 00:26:30 | More by kangarooAdam59

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.3/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

On tap at Of Love & Regret

The beer pours a hazy honey yellow with 1/2 an inch of sticky white head. The nose is lemony yeast, with a touch of white grape and subtle pez. In the taste there is definitely a touch of yeast and citrus with a balanced lavender/white grape-y bitter finish. The mouthfeel is of a classic saison's yeasty sweetness with a semi-dry bitter finish.This is definitely a delicious farmhouse with pale ale influences.

Serving type: on-tap

02-04-2013 03:04:56 | More by ThePorterSorter