Prairie Ale - Prairie Artisan Ales

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Big thank you to willandperry for sending me a bunch of stuff from these guys and many more great brews. Cheers!

Appearance. Pours a very nice lemon-straw colour with a ton of haze and almost 3 fingers of frothy white head that leaves some nice lace behind.

Smell. Lemons and funky herbal saison yeast, dry old wood from the ocean (slightly briny) and a little bit of apple and pear.

Taste, Earthy, herbal funky saison yeast and light brett, lemon rind, ocean driftwood again, some light exotic spice that I can't put my finger on, maybe a little lemongrass and lime. Nice stuff.

Mouthfeel. Medium body, prorbably on the low side. Medium-strong carbonation.

Overall. Fantastic stuff. Really well made beer here with a ton of flavour. Glad I have most of the lineup to try. Thanks again willandperry!

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 00:20:56 | More by Rutager

CommanderOfAwesome

California

4.26/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2013 bottle poured into a FSW tulip glass.

A: Pours a hazy yellow/slightly golden color with a 1.5 finger fluffy white head which quickly dissipates. Carbonation is evident.

S: Strong lemon verbena aroma with a citrus backbone. Some slight funk on the nose with a slight bready aroma.

T: Sweet lemon tartness, similar to a lemon meringue pie. Some biscuit flavors from the nose make an appearance, bright crisp. Perhaps a bit of green apple in there as well.

M: Medium bodied, carbonation dances on your tongue.

O: Bight, crisp, clean and very refreshing Saison. Has a nice sweetness to it, but finishes dry. Would definitely recommend on a warm summer day/night.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 22:31:32 | More by CommanderOfAwesome

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.13/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bottle opened on 5.12.13

A - Pours a hazy medium orange with a large active, off-white head that fades fairly fast.

S - Wood, Brett, Some floral tones hit the nose.

T - Big acidic wood tones are noticable first, the some dry Brett earhtiness, followed by lemon and a touch of a floral note. The same "prairie" sweetness.

D - Good carbonation with a light body.

O - Dry, tart and lots of Brett. Light and refreshing all-around.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 04:40:31 | More by HuskyinPDX

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

4.29/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Presentation: 750 mL corked and caged bottle. Open with a light pop. Chilled and served into my Hill Farmsted tulip.

Appearance: Bright, light yellow in color and clear. Pours a light, white creamy had that holds to the glass nicely. Leaves a light lacing.

Aroma: Bright lemon, clean barnyard funk, and some green apple. Really light biscuit sweetness as well. Really well balanced.

Taste: Fruity with lemon and green apple notes upfront. Really crisp and bright. Plenty of horse blanket and barnyard funk. Some light hop bitterness as well that offsets the fruit tones and lends some earthy character.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied and bright. Very refreshing. Does not fell like 7.0%.

Overall, a really fantastic, bright and refreshing saison. The flavor profile has a nice combination of lemon, funk, brightness and dryness. Really nice on a warm day.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 21:01:06 | More by Gosox8787

MighHighBrewer

Colorado

3.96/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasted on 5/18/13 in a tulip glass

A: Pours a light straw, golden color that almost reminds me of a lager. No hint of the orangish hues that you get with some saisons. The body of the beer is somewhat translucent - it's relatively hazy without being cloudy. A solid, one-inch think head is immediately evident on pouring and just stays there throughout the glass - very nice. The bubbles are also nice and small, giving the effect of a cloud resting upon the beer. Overall, the color is unimpressive but the head is one of the best I've ever seen on a commercial beer.

S: The primary nose consists of citrus fruit - especially orange and apricot - mixed with the funkiness of the Belgian yeast. There are also hints of lemon and tropical fruits. However, I dont get any of the spicy, peppery notes typical of a Saison. Overall, this Saison's nose is fruitier and less spicy than competing Saisons.

T&M: Wow - the taste is almost completely opposite of the nose on the saison continuum. While the smell indicates a more peppery saison, the taste is much spicier and on the funky side of things. Primary initial taste is of citrus fruits and a healthy dose of belgian yeast funkiness. Lingering in your mouth - and more prevalent towards the end - is peppery, somewhat floral notes. Overall, it's extremely well-balanced in terms of flavor: no one characteristics really overpowers this beer. Carbonation is good, although I like my saisons to have a bit more body than this one has. It's a little thin on the tongue.

O: In terms of balance, you can't really beat this saison. It's fruity yet spicy, funky yet clean. It's a great example of the style. However, it's not as complex as some of the best saisons on the market. I find myself wanting to like this beer more than I actually do. Ideally, I'd tone down the peppery notes and ramp up the body. A great example of the saison style, but not transcendent.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 02:28:02 | More by MighHighBrewer

UCLABrewN84

California

4.03/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle shared at GRG1313’s tasting.

Pours a murky orange with a foamy white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is sour and tart with floral, fruit, and Brett aromas. Taste is much the same with Brett and fruit flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of Brett bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 00:50:54 | More by UCLABrewN84

bennetj17

Arizona

4.03/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bright gold color with a medium haze. Foam is thick at first, very soapy looking, but it dissipates abruptly without even leaving a ring. Surprisingly, fast paced streams of carbonation continue to erupt from below. There is definitely a healthy nose of Brett yeast with touches of lemon and subtle funk. Intriguing.

The taste has a combo of dry, bready malt, and tart, sharp, Brett character. It tries to be balanced, but is still quite intense. Finishes with a grassy hop bitterness. Alcohol seems mild. The carbonation is very bubbly and almost piercing on the tongue. The effervescence is a bit much but does settle down about halfway through the glass. The beer itself is thin in body.

My second attempt at Prairie and this one is not amazing like my first, but this is still a nice Saison. I'd say it's a bit one dimensional and could use either more heavy-handed hopping, or perhaps a touch more sweetness to counteract the Bretty intensity. Or perhaps it just needs to be a bit more subtle overall. Worth a try, but I might explore other options in the future when considering a $13+ price tag.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 04:00:34 | More by bennetj17

nataku00

California

4.24/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottle poured into a tulip glass. Beer pours a hazy golden color with three fingers of bright white foamy head. Head sticks around for a bit before dissipating to a thin collar of foam. Plenty of tiny bubbles streaming up from the bottom of the glass.

Nose is very typical Belgian yeast, fruity esters that smell like peaches and pears, coriander, white pepper, combined with a floral hops and sweet biscuit malt.

Taste follows the nose, fruity esters, floral and grassy hops leaving a light tinge of bitterness, sweet bread and biscuit malts. Finish is medium, some residual sweetness and hop dryness.

Light body, effervescent, scrubs the tongue clean. Refreshing and delicious saison.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 21:14:00 | More by nataku00

impending

California

4.05/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 5

A-

750ml into a tulip. Pours a dull pale yellow, heavy haze, little pure white head with an encouraging pour, minimal lacing.

Aroma is floral, touch of citrus, sweet, yeasty and just a tad hay.

The well defined bitter finish of zinc sandstone and old grasses is countered by an initial sweet undefined fruitiness, pear at least, but in the end the dry wins out. The spicy earthy mineral extra dry bitter finish lingers and defines the sensations. Yet pairs well with food. Nearly medium bodied, the taste is more appropriate of a thin lively mouthfeel brew.
cheers
jd

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 05:26:44 | More by impending

lordofthewiens

Maine

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

In a pint glass this beer was a hazy yellow color, like straw. There was a small white head.

Sweet malt aroma. Citrus. Earthy hops.

Lemon taste. Biscuit. Late hops.

A wonderful saison. Eminently drinkable.

I didn't think there was much to talk about in Oklahoma, but Prairie Artisan Ales is a definite hit.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 22:19:57 | More by lordofthewiens

wethorseblanket

California

4.23/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Corked and caged 750ml bottle opens with a resounding pop.

A: Pours a clear straw yellow with copious bubbles forming a solid 1-finger thick white head with good retention and leaving splotchy lace. Last pour from bottle drained the yeast and turned the glass into a haze.

N: Biscuity yeast, lemon zest, earthy grass and hay, very herbal with floral esters and fruity.

T: Yeasty with barnyard funk, peppery spices, lemon zest, and wheaty minerality.

M: Medium body and semi-full carbonation. Dry and peppery finish.

O: Enjoyed very much. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 03:33:49 | More by wethorseblanket

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

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

750ml C&C bottle poured into a tulip.

Appearance
Hazy Straw with 1-2 fingers of loose, white head. Moderate carbonation and decent head retention.

Nose
Brett, pear, potpourri and peppercorn. Hints of golden apple.

Taste
Big Bretty barnyard character. Potpourri, pink peppercorn and dried hay. Pear, golden apple pulp, spent grains and hints of honeydew. Big kick of pepper in the finish along with dried lemongrass. Lemon juice persists to linger.

Mouthfeel
Medium bodied, silky, dry and uber-crisp.

Overall
This is as solid as a Saison can come. Drinks like a Table Saison despite the elevated abv. Very rustic with a really nice Brett character.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 12:28:50 | More by justintcoons

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a fluffy fizzy 1 finger bubbly head that fades at a med pace, crystal clear straw colored with lots of bubbles streaming up.

Nose brings plenty of farmhouse funk, I would almost swear there is lots of Brett in it, big earthy barnyard funk, saison spices floral and hint peppery, light grainy wheat and grassy hay, light citrus even.

Taste again brings Brett farmhouse funk, wild earthy barnyard house hair funk, I'm almost positive this is made with Brett! Light grainy doughy straw and wheat flavors too. Saison spices are there hint pepper and possibly a coriander like thing, as well as a little lemony citrus and light rind bitterness. Fairly floral and effervescent, and pretty dry. Finish is even more dry, lingering fluffy hay malts, bit more bitterness and grassy lemony hops, some saison spices lingering and hint of funk.

Mouth is med bodied, plenty of carb.

Overall quite an interesting beer, if there is not Brett in it they used a great farmhouse barnyard funky saison yeast and its quite tasty. I think I'll get another bottle or two to cellar. The overall profile was delicious, great barnyard funk with saison spices, little citrus, and some nice grainy hay like malts. Quite tasty, and I'm really liking this brewery, I wish we could get more of their beers here.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 13:42:36 | More by jlindros

Bendurgin

Maine

3.81/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a tulip. This one pours a golden yellow with a small cap of white head. A bit of sticky lace.

The aroma has a bit of lemon and some hints of grains. Apples are distinct in the background. The pallet has some nice grains and some hints of lemon zest. A touch of sweetness on the finish with some bitter hops.

The body is nice and light with good carbonation. Overall this one drinks nicely. Refreshing and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 23:45:28 | More by Bendurgin

andrewinski1

Maine

4.04/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip. The color is clear light golden. There is a large one inch fluffy head.

The aroma has green apple with some lemon zest.

The taste has a lot of grassy hops to go with the peppery yeast taste. There is just a slight amount of malt sweetness.

This has a nice light bodied and crisp mouthfeel.

Very tasty saison. I will probably get this again (for a special occasion).

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 23:38:21 | More by andrewinski1

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

4.3/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750ml bottle.

Pours murky and straw colored with an inch plus head of dense white froth. A partial skimcoat and stringy lacework for the duration.

Aromatics lead off with honey, spice, cut grass and funky brett. Pineapple skins, apples, cloves, pears, wet hay, coriander, and cracked pepper.

Light bodied with a lush, soft mouthfeel.

Honey-drizzeled biscuits, pear and pineapple skins, clove-studded apples, and bananas start the palate. Hints of cumin, coriander, and a wheaty twang follow through.

Finishes with funk-laden honey, earthy spice, and a hint of lemon zest.

Tasty beer, but on the sweeter side for a Saison. The brett is already quite present and I'd be curious to see how much more it developes. I could see this beer becoming quite the gusher over time.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 23:39:46 | More by brewandbbq

Dope

Massachusetts

4.19/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours a very cloudy, very pale orange. Enormous effervescent white head. Head fades very slowly with awesome, top-notch head retention. Only minor spotty lacing, however.

S: Lots of pears, apples and a little citrus. A little tart smelling. Some grass and graham cracker. Crisp and refreshing. Citrus gets quite tart as it warms.

T: Again, lots of pears, apples but the citrus is stronger here and has a tart lemon/lime character. Some nice graham cracker and bready malt following it. Grass in the finish with some more tartness/bitterness. Lingering, drying citrus and grass in the finish.

M: Medium bodied, crisp.

O: Interesting saison. It's not sour or funky but it's definitely got a little tart edge. Interestingly enough, no black pepper which I'm pretty sure this is one of only a few saisons I've had that didn't have that aspect. This one is focused more on the crisp, tart fruitiness than anything - making it quite refreshing and drinkable. I liked it a lot.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 03:59:01 | More by Dope

seand

California

4.23/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours a clear golden yellow with a fair amount of white head. Just a film on the surface and a ring around the edge of the glass retains, which leaves spots of lacing.

S: Sweet with a sharp tart note and a base of brett funk.

T: Sweet, grainy, and lightly tart. The blend is nice and has good complexity.

M: Medium body, medium carbonation.

Overall a good saison; nice flavors and complexity with a tartness that makes it lighter.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 01:10:12 | More by seand

mactrail

California

3.89/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Cloudy amber-tinged golden. A nice head and plenty of carbonation in the mouth. Pleasant aroma of yeast and that indefinable Belgian funk.

Brewer says this is made with Saaz hops, and Brettanomyces as well as ale yeast and wine yeast. A lot of sediment in this, and the last third of the bottle got less drinkable due to my careless pouring. Huge dose of yeast. On the drier side than many Saisons. Some pear flavors and green apple skins. More bitter finish than I would like. And probably more Brett than it really needs, but it's worth tasting for the educational aspects-- lots of hops and lots of Brett.

A well-made example of the Belgian-inspired style. Great flavors to start. Be careful about pouring. From the 750 ml bottle bought at Bine and Vine in San Diego.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 03:42:12 | More by mactrail

popery

California

4.3/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a cloudy banana yellow with a smallish white cap. The head is a bit small, but otherwise, it's a perfectly nice looking saison. The aroma is dried out fresh grain with fruity, barnyard-y saison yeast notes and a dash of funk. The fruitiness is a mix of light citrus and light stone fruits, lemons meet apricots. It has that dry yeasty smell of a well-fermented saison. Very farmhouse fresh. The brett still seems young, but it adds on a pleasant complexity. The taste starts surprisingly sweet and fruity before drying out and pushing into a lasting, almost acrid bitterness. The transition from fresh light grain and apricots to yeasty peppercorns and lemon peels is fast, nearly jarring, but it works for me. I particularly like that dry, bitter, spicy finish. The mouthfeel is light but full. Lots of flavor. No booze. Carbonation is somewhat high, though not abnormal for the style. This is a very well done beer. Great to see more quality saisons being produced by American brewers.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 07:27:21 | More by popery

oline73

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a tasting snifter.

Pours a cloudy golden color with a layer of white head that fades to a small ring around the pour. The smell is very crisp with some banana and an herbal note. Just a touch sweet with a hint of citrus. The flavor is also quite light with a lightly fruity note. This is a very herbal beer with a yeasty component. There is a hint of banana and citrus fruit. The carbonation level is very high and the finish is very dry.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 03:38:10 | More by oline73

EvanGundy

Oklahoma

3.71/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

While I have loved everything Prairie Artisan Ales has been doing, I thought Prairie Ale was a little off. I did enjoy it, but the sweetness I got from it seemed to go against the hop and bite I had as well. Still a great beer, but I like the standard and Hop more!

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 04:51:36 | More by EvanGundy

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

4.41/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

P: A murky organic apple cider body with a billowing mountain of off white creamy froth.

S: Musty wood, dirt, aged potpourri, lemon curd, clove, white pepper, coriander, timid vinegar funk and faint lime.

T/M: Taste follows the nose and delivers big spices with a nice subtle floral and citrus zest hop flavor. Bret funk forward but clean and complementing. Well balanced flavors deliver a smooth dry saison that is sure to please. Medium creamy body with kisses of carbonation and a soapy hop finish. Hints of rose petals in grain alcohol once warned.

O: A great saison from a great new brewery that is producing some fantastic stuff. I love that Oklahoma is growing in the craft beer realm. With this being the first beer brewed by Praire I am anxious to try the rest. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 22:14:49 | More by Hopswagger

merc7186

New York

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Bomber into tulip glass.

A: Hazy Golden Straw Hue, Passes Most Light, White Head, Some Lacing

S: Belgian Yeast, Brett, Hay, Grassy

T: Hay, Belgian Yeast, Mild Belgian Sugar, Mild Brett

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Semi Funky

Overall, a pretty solid belgian saison with nice barnyard funk and hay taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 23:50:56 | More by merc7186

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

4.29/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750ml bottle into a tall tulip

A: Pours a hazy golden color with about an inch of head with a moderately vigorous pour. This beer certainly looks less carbonated than pretty much any Saison I've ever had.

S: Starts off with moderate Brett funk balanced by a light, pineapple acidity. I get a nice amount of lemon in this as well, going very well with the tartness and slight sourness. A grassy note comes in afterwards to round out the flavors. Very, very nice.

T: Spicy yeast starts off with a musty brett flavor. Mango and pineapple fruitiness isn't far behind making this beer nice and juicy. There is a lot of yeast in the flavor, but the spicy/fruity combination go very well together. On the dry side for the style, but not really dry for a brett Saison.

M: Moderate thickness for the style with medium carbonation.

O: I will revisit this when the yeast settles. The aroma on this was amazing, though, and the flavor is just OK.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 00:04:29 | More by coreyfmcdonald