St. Feuillien Saison - Brasserie St. Feuillien

UCLABrewN84

California

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

On tap at Slater's 50/50 in Pasadena, CA.

Pours a murky honey orange with a foamy white head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, spices, and citrusy aromas. Taste is much the same with yeast and fruity flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer but I think it tastes better than it smells.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2013 02:36:08 | More by UCLABrewN84

Reaper16

Alabama

2.5/5  rDev -35.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

served on-tap @ Local Option, Chicago, IL, into a tulip glass

Pours a nice golden color. Mostly clear in terms of the body; not very much yeast or hop haze. Eggshell colored head leaves decent lacing.

There's something unconventionally sweet about this Saison. It reminds me of a lot of American takes on the style, and I don't mean that affectionately. Not every Saison has to worship at the alter of Dupont, but this beer demonstrates why Dupont worship is probably the best way to go about brewing Saison. This is very floral, but dominantly honeysuckle. This, coupled with the heavy, sweet malt flavors, makes for a Saison that's, well, heavy and sweet. Like sucking on too much honeysuckle. I wanted some bracing phenolic character to balance things out, but it never came. Just sweet, fragrant botanicals and dessert-like malt flavors.

So this beer is obviously not as dry as I would like a Saison to be. It has a much fuller body than I like too. This is not a refreshing beer by any means. Overall this just misses the mark for me of what is great about the style.

Serving type: on-tap

11-24-2012 02:19:14 | More by Reaper16

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served from tap into a St. Feuillien oversized wine glass (proper!). Poured a hazy yellow-orange with a two finger white head that subsided to one finger very slowly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, grain, spice, banana, fruit, and earth. The flavor was of sweet malt, fruit, banana, spice, earth, and grain. It had a light feel on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was a pretty decent brew. Everything that people enjoy in a good saison was definitely present in this brew. However, the aroma wasn't as well balanced as I would have hoped as the earthy note kind of dominated it. The flavor did a much better job of balancing out and keeping your palate happy. The banana touch was quite nice which added a much needed amount of sweetness. Worth trying if you have not done so already as it is a pretty good saison, just not in the upper-tier.

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2012 16:27:26 | More by thagr81us

Glibber

Idaho

3.78/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I had this beer on tap at the Front Door in Boise Idaho. It was a nice yellow to amber color with the white head you would expect from a Belgian beer. I could smell the belgian yeast and a nice sweetness to the beer. It was a nice mellow beer to savor- no alcohol presence- very refreshing. I was very refreshing and I could have had a few more.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2012 22:21:08 | More by Glibber

champ103

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Hey Merchant in Houston, TX.

A: Pours a cloudy/hazy yellow color. A tow finger white head forms with good retention. Rings of lace are left behind.
S: A musky barnyard funk in the nose. Dusty, cellar like. I love it. Some hops in the mix. Spicy yeast that has some phenols. Bread and biscuit. Lots of layers that are great.
T: Follows the nose with a nice basement like funk. Some lemony fruits and slick hops in the background. Finishes with some bread and biscuit malts. Very nice.
M/D: A medium body and carbonation. Fairly crisp and refreshing. Very easy to drink. One I can quaff all day, every day.

An excellent traditional Saison. Very enjoyable and spot on for a traditional version of the style. Something I would highly recommend.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2012 02:29:47 | More by champ103

MattSweatshirt

Texas

2.95/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Big bright white head. The body is a hazy gold.

It smells of orange and straw.

I get a grassiness and a honey sweetness. Those good flavors don't hold up long due to a bitter and slight metallic flavor going on in the background that just throws this whole flavor train off the tracks.

It has a light body, medium carbonation, with a watery mouthfeel, and overall refreshing.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2012 08:39:45 | More by MattSweatshirt

metter98

New York

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is slightly hazy pale yellow in color and has a slight amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high white head that died down but consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: There are aromas of floral hops in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has some earthy flavors. Not much maltiness is present.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation with some dryness in the finish.
O: The beer isn’t quite as refreshing compared to other beers in the style but it is rather easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2011 13:07:43 | More by metter98

drtth

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a stemmed tulip glass. Glass of cold water on the side to sip from periodically.

Appearance: As served the beer is a slightly hazed apricot/peach color with a ¾” creamy off-white head that recedes to leave a layer over the liquid and lots of foam and lacing clinging to the sides of the glass. Sipping leaves some modest lacing for much of the beer, even after the head has receded to just a ring around the glass.

Smell: The aromas include notes of citrus and white pepper with some grassy, earthy touches along with a bit of apricot and peach.

Taste: As expected from the nose, the flavors include a bit of white pepper and citrus (lemon and tangerine), some apricot and peach along with a touch of grassy bitterness which blend quite nicely with some sweetness from the bready malt.

Mouthfeel: The mouth feel is medium bodied and slightly creamy and prickly from the active carbonation. The finish is medium long, mostly fruity and sweet with a nice dry bitter ending.

Drinkability and Overall Impression: I found this one nicely drinkable with its combination of fruity and spicy character. My overall impression is that this is a well-made beer worth having again. It also seems a bit different that most of the saisons I’ve tried but I like what I’ve found in this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2011 18:53:49 | More by drtth

KickInTheChalice

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served on tap at Fountainhead in a branded St. Feuillien oversized snifter.

Appearance: This pours an amber tangerine color, hazy with a creamy foam cap on tap that fades to a pangea of foam over time, leaving a web of lace on the glass. This is a little bit darker than I would normally expect out of the style.

Smell: The aroma is full of fresh cut grass, white pepper, lemon, and some minerals.

Taste: Up front a dry, crackery malt takes hold, with some lemon zest providing a lightly tart kick. The mineral content is noticeable throughout each sip. Toward the end some citrus and grassy hoppiness add some additional flavor without making it overly bitter. The finish is somewhat clean.

Mouthfeel: This is a little bit grainy, with light to medium body, and medium creamy carbonation.

Overall: This was nice overall, I think the mineral presence just added a bit of a grainy character that I could do without.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2011 17:08:48 | More by KickInTheChalice

rhoadsrage

Illinois

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

(Served in a chalice)

A- This beer pours hazy orange body with a think creamy head of beige that last for a good bit. There is a gentle carbonation of bubbles gliding to the surface.

S- The clean dry nose has notes of hops in the finish. As the beer opens up notes of pear and spun sugar come through softly reminding me of a triple.

T- The spicy pepper and abbey yeast note give way to a soft Munich malt note. The finish has a soft pear eastery note and a green herbal pungent bite in the finish.

M- The medium-full mouthfeel has a soft fizz in the finish.

O- This beer has lots of triple qualities and the St. Feuillien yeast character with a crisp dry finish and has more of a full quality than most saisons but very nice to drink. Just a little too filling for a session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2011 22:00:56 | More by rhoadsrage

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From notes taken at the Armsby Abbey on 5/9/11.

A - Massive three finger fluffy white head that clings nicely to the side of the tulip. A light carmel/orange pour.

S - Some nice carmel/sweet malts and some average funk notes. Really good belgian yeast spices too.

T - Some nice carmely funk with that belgian yeast intermixing nicely throughout the flavor range. Tastes good.

M - Low carbonation, semi thin feeling. Its a nice mouthfeel, quite drinkable, but nothing out of the ordinary.

O - Overall, its a nice saison. Good flavour, really solid appearance. Its a nice saison, one of the better ones of the night.

Serving type: on-tap

05-10-2011 16:11:09 | More by rudzud

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A formitable dry and spicy saison, but with a softer side. The floral, perfumy notes that are more similar to Belgian blonde ales and witbiers come through in a most seductive way.

St. Feuillien's saison pours with glowing haze of light golden color. Airy and froathy, the head character forms with a weightlessness and cottony texture that retains the session while leaving sticky patterns of lace behind. This is the quentessential saison stature.

Heightened floral character errupt from the rim, challenging whether this is actally a saison and not a blonde (think Brugse Zot) with a burst of perfume laiden confectioner's sugar scent, light tropical and citrusy fruits; while soft spice of corriander and white pepper tickle the nose. Most estery aromas to usher in the spring season.

Flavors begin to leave the floral character behind and start ushering in the classic lemony esters and peppery-dry phenolics. In exquisite balance the light bready-sweet malt provided a soft foundation for the counter of lemon grass hop flavor and bitterness and with the light peppery taste for added measure. A mild honey-like taste gives memory to the flowery nose in finish and aftertaste.

Creamy initial textures soon go to expansive, and seemingly whisp away at mid palate for a powdery-dry finish. Only a faint oil film, similar to that of chamomile or flower pedals linger and seem to hand on to the honeysuckle notion heading into the next sip.

Where the flowery character of St. Feuilliens saison is not a signature characteristic of the style, it's very welcomed to me. But for those who oppose the floral character of Belgian blondes or witbiers may not agree.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2011 15:59:14 | More by BEERchitect

CanuckRover

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Cloudy, orange-yellow. Nice white head. Well marked lacings to the finish.

Big hit of yeast on the nose, dusty melon, with a touch of grassy hops.

Yikes, this is a full-flavoured saison. Yeast permeates throughout. Standout flavour is honeydew melon, big and bold. Pretty big spicing too, I get lots of pepper.

Nice mouthfeel with just about perfect carbonation.

Not a shy saison, some big flavours here. Not sure how much I enjoy it personally, but respect is due.

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2011 15:28:29 | More by CanuckRover

StJamesGate

New York

3.88/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at De Beiaard, Amsterdam.

Pours with a cloudy honey gold with a clumpy head that leaves cathedral lace. Wax, wildflowers and lemon zest on the nose. Sour apple and kumquat with bock-like honey-malt sweetness followed by light herb and spice hops. Tingly finish, long dry astringent leave. Dry, light, crisp but still a bit cloying.

Superior saison, though a bit too sweet as it warms which hits drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2011 17:26:20 | More by StJamesGate

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.2/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap at Monk's yesterday.

Light straw yellow with a dense, white head with excellent retention and lacing, this looks great. The nose is decent. Quite fruity with honey, some melon and a moderate sweetness along with the ripe light fruits. Moderate sugar-like sweetness is present as well. The palate opens with a moderate grainy sweetness along with some honey, ripe fruit and a light floral character. Hops are rather light here, I don't get much apart from maybe a little grassy flavor. The sweetness is a bit much, especially when consumed alongside a gueuze. Honey and ripe fruit are present on the moderately drying finish, this beer is medium-light with high carbonation. While pleasant on the palate, there are far better versions of the style out there

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2010 16:14:41 | More by DefenCorps

jrallen34

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap into a tulip at Jake Melnicks...A darker gold, hints of copper, light tope head...The aroma and taste are both super super sweet, all caramel and bread. There is almost a total lack of hops, not bitter our floral nor sourness. It has an ok mouthfeel, the drinkability is ok.

This is a too sweet saison to make it any good, just really boring for a saison.

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2010 18:53:03 | More by jrallen34

clayrock81

Virginia

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

Pours a cloudy goldish head with a good hop smeel and some has some sweetness but sourness and spices are barely evident. A medium, chewy body that contains a good sweetness like caramel and honey along with some bitter hops that are crisp and give off citric and orange flavors with a hint of grape and sour apple. A simple, easy to drink that is palatable for most people but very enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2010 10:14:38 | More by clayrock81

beertunes

Washington

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in 12oz tulip. Poured a cloudy yellow, with a tall white head that had OK retention and decent lacing.

The aroma was mostly yeast and spice, with some grain in the background. The flavor featured more of the grain then the yeast and spice played supporting roles.

The body was good, a little fuller than light, but not heavy. Drinkability was very good, I'd happily have a couple of these, either with a meal or on their own. Overall, a very nice example of the style, worth some effort to find.

Serving type: on-tap

07-01-2010 22:21:19 | More by beertunes

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap, served in a Chimay goblet

Pours a somewhat clear golden yellow with a fluffy one finger cap that fell pretty quickly. A small collar of foam remains throughout.

The aroma is of white bread, floral hops, clove, green apple skins, and sweet malts. Pretty straightforward.

On the palate its more of the same. Doughy yeast, green apple and flowery hops up front with a dry, crisp, spicy finish. A little bland, nothing really pops.

Light body with good carbonation. Smooth and creamy with a crisp, dry finish.

Very easy to drink, no off flavors and a low abv. A decent example of the style, nothing that blew me away, but I definitely wouldn't turn it down if offered in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2010 01:53:16 | More by ColForbinBC

benclimbs

California

3.7/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

pours tan with a nice head and a bit of lacing

nose isway too bready for a saison, lacks the spice and fruit character most good ones have in bunches

taste does have some very pleasant sour notes in there, yeasty and spicey toward the end as well, an improvement over the smell.

a good beer, but not a very good example of a classic saison, not enough character.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2010 21:18:31 | More by benclimbs

jgasparine

Maryland

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

A- Hazy golden-orange color with some persistent bubble trains observed from the sides of the glass. The head was thin, white in color, and slowly receded to a haze layer and a collar.

S- Crackerlike malt aroma, Belgian yeast aromatics and some non-descript spiciness comprise the majority of the nose. There are some lesser notes of honey and straw present as well.

T- A fine replicate of the nose with a mild bitterness in the finish from (presumably) stale hops. Quite nice.

M- A medium body... adequately attenuated... and a fine spritzy carbonation. Nice for the style.

D- All around good, and quaffable with the relatively low ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2010 00:39:58 | More by jgasparine

BarrelO

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Brasserie Beck. Served in a St. Feuillien glass.

Light body with a big head. Smell is bready and phenolic. Taste follows the nose. Not nearly as tart as I would like or expect in a saison. Mouthfeel is light and bubbly. Nothing earth-shattering overall, but a good enough quencher.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2009 23:23:29 | More by BarrelO

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thoroughly hazed, amber-hued, light yellow at base of glass, with a large, proud, and creamy white head holding court on top.

Aromatics: a little sour, then a little sweet, some fruit, citrus, apricot, peach, then creamy and smooth. Again...beautiful fruit, mild, mellow, lovely.

Taste: zesty blast on the tongue, fresh flash of fruit, funk, and sour, ...then, again, all is well and cool. Juuust right. Firm, not meek or watery, and solid. Solid, spritz-y, some peppery spice, mixed always with citus-y feeling. Damn good, this is. You can drink it, and it rewards you for the effort. Pleases the tastebuds, as it trickles down the throat.
Nice stuff, if I can say it prosaically once more.

Serving type: on-tap

09-06-2009 10:16:25 | More by feloniousmonk

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap in a tulip glass at the Tap & Table's Saison fest.

A: A golden orange beauty, this ale is curiously lacking a head. The full color has rendered the ale opaque.

S: The nose is very much like a Belgian IPA, yeasty sweet with a significant hop profile that isn't afraid to scream out for attention. I'd never guess that this is a saison.

T: The first sip is a yeasty blast, quickly followed by the hops. The yeast is sweet, accentuating the pale malts with a honey and pepper and citrus element. The hops are more than ready for the task, adding a full bitterness that is earthy, clearing European varietals. Hops leave a a full grassy flavor that isn't over-the-top bitter.

M: A saison laiden with American hops, the description does the ale justice. The ale could easily pass for a Belgian IPA with its focus on spices and hops.

D: I really enjoyed this one, even if it seems a little outside of the range of a saison. A hoppy saison in the same category of Jack D'Or.

Serving type: on-tap

08-29-2009 01:45:33 | More by akorsak

glid02

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Brick Store.

Pours a fairly clear lemon-yellow color with a one-finger white head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of sweet malts, cooked green apples, and bready yeast.

Tastes good. Sweet malt flavors up front with hints of yeast segue into mild fruit flavors with herbal hops lurking in the background. Near the end of the sip a very light tartness comes into play before a crisp ending. All of the flavors are there, however none of them really pop.

Mouthfeel is good. It has a solid thickness with mdoerate carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I didn't have a problem finishing my glass and could have another.

Overall this is a solid saison but it doesn't really have an identity. Regardless I enjoyed my glass - worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2009 02:05:18 | More by glid02