The City Never Sleeps - Gigantic Brewing Company

scottfrie

California

3.15/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22oz bottle into Block 15 snifter. Thanks Ayn!

A: Pours a deep cola color with a couple fingers of dense, short lived, dark brown head that faded into a faint collar. Spotty lace.
S: Earthy and yeasty smelling with notes of Belgian yeast, straw, earth and peppery spices. I get a touch of spicy herbal hops and a hint of powdery chocolate. Definitely smells interesting.
T: More dark roasted flavors come through than the nose suggested. Flavors of chocolate, Belgian yeast, peppery spices and cola come through predominantly, with notes of alcohol, hops and bitter seltzer water in the finish. The aftertaste is bitter, minerally, with a little bit of dark chocolate.
M: Medium body, tingly carbonation with hints of alcohol, and a spritzy and slightly rough mouthfeel.
O: An interesting take on the style, but one that needs more polishing. Close to the mark, but not quite there yet.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 02:53:42 | More by scottfrie

PEBKAC

New York

3.23/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Sweaty bottle from LetsPour.com. Been spinning for a solid month now & haven't landed on a coupon. Throw me a bone LetsPour!

Ommegang Chalice. Weak half inch of fleeting tan head. A greasy, dark brown on black color.

Smells of burnt vanilla wafer cookies. Foliage. Coffee with a whole lot of brown sugar.

Tastes of charred marshmallows & toast. Gritty/earthy dark chocolate, bitter plant parts, & ugly yeasties. Small, scotch-like note. Somehow it all remains mellow.

Initial soft/silky texture turns dry & gritty once the prickly carbonation & crackery malt kick in. Medium light body. Lightly acidic.

Tastes like a dirty brown ale to me. /shrugs

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 09:16:04 | More by PEBKAC

Brad007

Vermont

3.35/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 2 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.75

Pours a dark brown with a thin brown head into my glass. It's supposed to be a dark saison but I can't rate the color high.

Spice, cocoa and a bit of cream are in the nose. Again, not quite what I was expecting. The label does say that it's mysterious in a sense.

Caramel, cocoa and a touch of cream represent this one. I'm not getting the saison part here. Not a bad thing. Just not to style.

Ditto on mouthfeel. It's comparable to a weak ABA with more emphasis on the malt part.

It's interesting for sure and meant to be a genre-bender. I wonder if re-categorizing it as an ABA would make more sense?

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 14:54:20 | More by Brad007

dirtylou

Washington

3.43/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

black is back, baby? The black IPA trend took off with some mixed results and now on its heels is the black saison. The style itself is the definition of an oxymoron.

on tap, bottleworks

appearance: served in an unbranded shaker pint - ebony body, light tan film. looks like your standard american stout

smell: light belgian yeast, bakers chocolate, roasty

taste: A fine tasting beer, but a style that just doesnt make sense to me. belgian yeast, light roastyness, bakers chocolate, smoke

mouthfeel: medium body, creamy with moderate carbonation

overall: meh - not a revisit for me

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2012 01:24:51 | More by dirtylou

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.45/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up at Bier Thirty..

Pours with an okay dark brown head.... the brew is surprisingly "black" for a dark saison..

A bit fruity... char and cocoa.. some background esters and sorta spicy phenols....

Flavor is much more subdued.... dark fruit.. and light char... estery... cocoa with warmth..

Saison... no chance.. Too much body, not enough carbonaton.. aromas and tastes are sorta square, but this is a "never gels" brew. I really hoped to enjoy it more than I did... but it never comes to the starting line for the style.

3.5/3.5/3.5/3/3.5

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 06:49:52 | More by JohnGalt1

mactrail

California

3.63/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark like a stout, even to the beige head. Pretty well opaque. Nicely foamy in the mouth. Fairly light body.

Just sweet enough without any cloying taste or mouthfeel. It's like a Dunkelweizen with some stray Belgian yeast. Well balanced with roasted flavors, some bitter yeastiness, but no hint of sour charcoal. Fruity with a little sharpness. A touch of hops. Hard to call this a Saison, but it's interesting just to sip and let it do its thing. Some dark plums and mango, not really raisins, a faint hint of licorice and chocolate.

Totally drinkable. From the big bottle. I'd like to try more beers from Gigantic, whoever they are. The label is outrageous, like a psychedelic Peewee's Playhouse.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2012 05:44:42 | More by mactrail

CookstLiquor

British Columbia (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 650ml bottle. Pours a rich black colour and forms a thin tan head. Kind of hard to process the nose on this as there are some aromas that don't normally go together—saison yeast and dark malts, primarily—vying for attention. The combo results in something vaguely vinous—a bit fruity, a bit smokey. On the palate there's a nice bit of sweetness to the dark malts and there's a hint of ripe dark fruits. Complex and interesting.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 23:58:44 | More by CookstLiquor

flagmantho

Washington

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 22oz bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: deep, dark, hazy brown hue with little light let through. Head pours a couple thick fingers of frothy tan foam and head retention is pretty darn good. Not bad at all.

Smell: medium chocolate character with a light spiciness and an interesting vegetal hop character. Not bad, but a bit of a muddled mess.

Taste: light chocolate character and a light fruitiness combine with a mildly funky saison character. There's a hint of tartness here as well, which could be acidity from the roasted malts. Subtle but enjoyable.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a good level of carbonation and a nice, smooth creaminess. I like it.

Overall: an interesting and nicely drinkable beer. I haven't had a lot of dark-colored saisons, but if this is indicative of what's out there then I look forward to trying more. The only drawback for me here is the vegetal character which is not well hidden in the mix.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 00:57:55 | More by flagmantho

superspak

Michigan

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating. Pours pitch black color with a 1 finger fairly dense tan head with good retention, that reduces t oa thin cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of big dark chocolate, roasted malt, toast, clove, pepper, coffee, caramel, raisin, light smoke, and earthy yeast esters. Damn nice aromas with nice balance, strength, and complexity of roasted malt and yeast notes; very roasted malt forward. Taste of dark chocolate, roasted malt, toast, pepper, coffee, caramel, clove, raisin, herbal, light smoke, and earthy yeast esters. Lingering notes of dark chocolate, roasted malt, toast, pepper, toffee, clove, raisin, herbal, light smoke, and earth on the finish for a good bit. Very nice flavor balance, robustness, and complexity; with zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a creamy and slightly crisp mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is and damn nice black saison. Very nice balance and complexity of roasted flavors and yeast esters; and very smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 05:10:22 | More by superspak

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.08/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a medium to dark brown with a fairly large medium brown head consisting of small and large bubbles. Good retention.

S - Subtle roasted malt with a hoppy background.

T - Light roasted chocolate and a subtle hoppy earthiness.

D - Good carbonation and a thin, light body.

O - Good chocolate and roasty saison. I like what I have seen from Gigantic so far.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 04:24:38 | More by HuskyinPDX

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance. Pours a deep dark brown, almost black with close to three fingers of creamy tan head with good retention.

Smell. Chocolate, light belgian yeast, some floral hops.

Taste. Sweet chocolate and roasty malts, some dark fruits and maybe some oranges.

Mouthfeel. Medium+ body with just below medium carbonation.

Overall. Nice new beer. Fairly big, but easy to drink and enough going on to keep you interested. Works well and for the overall score, the sum is greater than the parts.

Looking forward to something sour from that big ass barrel I read about, Gigantic!

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 01:35:08 | More by Rutager

cmadd

Ontario (Canada)

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

A: Tar black and just as opaque. One finger of head with fantastic retention and lacing.

S: Chocolate and saison yeast and roasted malt and the slightest coffee.

T: Light figs and plums and burnt sugar with a hint of bitter chocolate, finishing with a dry yeast astringency.

M: Round and creamy while light and refreshing – a fantastic accomplishment. Somehow balances the fullness of a stout with the dryness of a saison.

O: This beer approaches an uncommon style and executes it masterfully.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 05:04:55 | More by cmadd

seabass07

Washington

4.2/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very dark, stout like appearance.

Smells fruity. Some stone fruit, a bit of molasses, some fruity esters from the belgian yeast.

I taste a bit of molasses and just a little roast (despite the extremely dark color). A considerable amount of dark crystal malt giving a pronounced sweetness and stone fruit flavor. Hop flavors and bitterness are nearly non existent.

Mouthfeel is slightly thin (as it should be for the style). Highly attenuated with body coming from the crystal malts.

Overall a very good beer. As it warms up, the roasty sweetness become more pronounced. I'd consider this more of a borderline Belgian Dark Strong Ale with a bit of roast than an "imperial black saison". It is enjoyable. Will drink again while I can get my hands on it.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 06:54:48 | More by seabass07

Beerenauslese

California

4.23/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Body is dark brown. Ample tan head dissipates into a ring of pancake bubbles and a film. Minimal lacing.

Smells of dark malt, chocolate syrup, raisin fruit, and hops. A lot going on already.

Tastes delightful, with notes of cola, chocolate, roasted chestnuts, charred malt, raisins, and spice. Very rich and complex flavor. Nice long chocolate, bitter, dry finish. A very smooth beer with no harsh notes.

Body is light for a saison, but enough to coat the tongue with a pleasant light stickiness. Has a saison level of carbonation that persists.

I think this has more similarities to a brown ale than a saison, but in that respect, more substance than usual. This is a very smooth and well balanced beer with just the right level of sweetness matching the bitterness from charred malt and hops. I am delightfully surprised by this, and will certainly get more when I see it.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 02:53:45 | More by Beerenauslese

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours pitch black with a nice fine two finger light brown head with good retention. Looks nice. Aroma dominated by toasted malt with only a hint of saison yeast. Interesting flavor, dominated by roasted malt and coffee with a bit of chocolate; then a lighter saison, almost Belgian yeast flavor presents itself, finishing toasty and malty with a hint of smoke. Most resembles an export stout crossed with a Belgian pale or saison. The saison yeast is present, but overwhelmed by the dark malts. Different, but works quite nicely. I liked the flavor combination better than most export stouts. Nice medium body with creaminess. This ale pushes the envelope in a very successful way. I will try this again and this makes me want to try other Gigantic beers.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 03:48:55 | More by LiquidAmber

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.6/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: 3/4" light brown head with great retention over black liquid.

S: Sourness, barnyard funk, chocolate and caramel.

T: Sour, bitter chocolate, sweet caramel and nuts. Grassy and earthy hop flavours are also present in the finish.

M: Medium to thick viscosity and fine carbonation.

O: Nothing really to compare it to, but this strange brew is a beauty. Very complex and drinkable, the sourness and funk taste is just enough to compliment the malt flavours and not enough to pull the beer away in a completely different direction (such as a wet horse blanket in February kind of direction).

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 02:08:23 | More by DaftCaskBC

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.6/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Man I love that label. Maybe my favourite beer label of all time. I bought this bottle at The Beermongers in Portland, then brought it back to Sydney, Australia to drink with @tobeerornottobe and @LaitueGonflable.

Pours a surprisingly deep and rather opaque brown, with a filmy, but solidly fine head of mocha-brown foam. Speckled lacing form as it goes down. Body is quite fluid and light. Overall, looks pretty good.

Nose is roasted, but with a lightness or freshness to it—in this case it's almost certainly the Saison yeast, but I could believe a similar effect would come from a nice black lager. Here, we just get a touch more organics, a little coconut, and a touch of citrus. Not bad at all.

Taste is very, very smooth. In fact, I took a sip and thought it must have fallen out of my mouth. The roast flavour is there, but there's absolutely no bite or astringency to it at all. Instead, there's a creamy, slick, soft and supple sweetness and a faint caramelised nut character. Feel is beautifully matched with this. Holy crap: I have literally no idea how they achieved this with that aroma and that weight in the body. I'm fascinated.

Overall, mildness aside, this is a captivating brew. It's really mellow and light, but so coherent and integrated. I'm still a little bit wowed by it.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 04:33:15 | More by lacqueredmouse