Prairie Hop - Prairie Artisan Ales

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

New brewery showed up at the store, with Belgian style Farmhouse beers, which I love these days. And not too expensive, with decent reviews, so I had to get the two. I'll try the Hop first.

Wow, the really twisted the handle of the crown, it probably has about 15 twists and almost impossible to turn now. Then it got twisted on itself, so needle nose pliers made quick work of it.

Finally pours a pasty white bubbly fizzy almost 1 finger head that fades at a med pace, some decent lacing, semi clear a little hazy golden honey color.

Nose is quite nice, a blend of floral hops and farmhouse aromas. I'll start with the farmhouse saison aromas, wheat, grainy malts, hay, dried grass, lemon zest, light spices, a very light farmhouse funk, and a light fluffy Belgian golden malt. Then hops, floral, light leafy grassy, a bit of a citrus zest, slightly herbal. Some earthiness too between the funky saison yeast and grassy hops. Lemony citrus aromas eventually end up taking over mostly as it warms and swirls in my glass.

Taste starts with the saison funk, little funky yeast then quickly into the saison malts, grassy wheat, fresh cut grass, dried hay, floral lemon grass, etc. It also brings light golden Belgian malts, a little grainy malt base, a light sweetness and juicy feel. Saison also brings light spices, lemon zest and citrus spray, and a little yeasty farmhouse funk flavors. Then into hops, floral fresh hops, lighter but nice, light leafy grassy flavors, little earthy and touch spicy, as well as a bit of the citrus, lemon zest and touch of fresh orange flesh. The bitterness starts light but ramps a bit as it goes, as the hops progress they get slightly spicy and earthy, chewy even. The finish gets a bit drier but still slightly sticky, long fairly bitter hop, little earthy, some leafy and grassy, with light saison grainy malts, lemongrass, hay, and light saison funk and spices.

Mouth is med bodied, lots of fluffy carbonation, juicy feeling.

Overall pretty nice, a well done saison and nice fresh hops to go with it. The hops go well with teh saison as expected, nice grassy little leafy and floral, some lemony citrus zest, and just enough bitterness. the saison flavors are on nicely too, not too much funk which would have overpowered the subtle hops, drinkable and tasty, well done. I would drink quite a few of these no problem (not in a row of course).

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 00:54:08 | More by jlindros

beernads

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

05-18-2013 07:07:21 | More by beernads

orangesol

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-17-2013 18:54:08 | More by orangesol

brureview

Massachusetts

4.54/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

I haven't tried any of the beers from this Oklahoma brewery. A friend
recommended it to me.

Poured a beautiful light golden color with a 3 finger head in a tulip. Some lacing.

Aroma- light fruit, especially apricot and citrus. Some mango.
There is Simcoe and Citra hops in this beer, so I was expecting fruit in the aroma and taste.

The mouth feel is lighter than most Saisons I have tried: I like this. Often there is an overwhelming pungency in Saisons which imbalances the beer. However, the Prairie Hop mouth feel is relatively light.

Taste: loads of tropical fruit: mango, apricot and citrus. Some sweetness.
The fruit is not overwhelming and it enhances the overall balance of the beer.

There is a pronounced hop finish to the beer which balances with the taste, aroma, and mouth feel.

Overall: An excellent and different approach to a saison. Many of the Saisons I have tasted are too pungent, often bitter and imbalanced. Smoother than most, including Tank 7( one of my favorites) loads of tropical fruit which give this beer an easy drinking character.

Highly recommended if you can find it.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 01:28:30 | More by brureview

kylehay2004

Florida

4.21/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Hazy to clodu golden body with nice lacing and a single finger head without much retention. Aroma of breads, musty belgian yeast, saison funk, clove, tangerine and pineapple citrus. Flavors are very Belgian with yeast, funk, both tart and sweet generic citrus, caramel and breads. A little peppery. Hops are mild and likely provide more of the citrus and earthy flavors. Medium body and moderate carbonation with a semidry finish.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 01:20:30 | More by kylehay2004

nickfl

Florida

4.19/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours with a small head of white foams n top of very hazy, gold body. The head settles quickly and leaves decent lace.

S - Funky Brett aromas with lots of wheat and tart lemon.

T - Thick wheat and musty yeast character up front with some lightly fruity hops in the middle. Finishes with funk, pepper, and a touch of citrus.

M - Medium thick body, moderate carbonation, and a slightly sweet finish.

D - Very nice, the funky yeast character is excellent and while I might like a bit more hop character, I did enjoy what it added to the party.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 01:02:43 | More by nickfl

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.2/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottle opened on 4.29.13

A - Pours a clear reddish-orange with a one inch off-white soapy head.

S - Hoppy pine and pineapple, citrus.

T - Hoppy pine and a candy like flavor.

D - Good carbonation and a light body.

O - Hoppy, light and sweet citrus. A unique, but pleasant candy-like flavor.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 04:21:12 | More by HuskyinPDX

BayouBengal1537

Louisiana

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-14-2013 03:10:42 | More by BayouBengal1537

bump8628

Oklahoma

4.2/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A bottle from the most recent release, which just hit the market last week, so this should be really fresh. Bright gold-orange, airy head of white foam that builds to several fingers and lays down some nice lace. Vibrant citrus, tropical, herbal, minty, powdery hoppiness is front and center. A rustic graininess keeps it somewhat in line with the farmhouse theme in the face of the barrage of big American hops. Other complementary flavors include black pepper, woodiness, and a grungy earthiness, but really it's all about the bright hoppiness. Dryness accentuates the hoppiness further. One of my favorites from PAA, this needs to be available in more formats.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 22:55:36 | More by bump8628

kevinscott

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-13-2013 00:52:13 | More by kevinscott

nataku00

California

4.54/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into a tulip glass. Beer pours a dark hazy copper with two fingers of loose off white foamy head. Some light carbonation every now and then.

Nose is tropical fruit, mango, passion fruit, pineapple and peach, coriander and white pepper, light ester quality. Smells nice.

Taste is sweet tropical fruit hop flavors along with a light floral hop. Mellows to biscuit malt sweetness and fruit ester, spicy on the finish with some linger tropical fruit and fresh cut grass.

Light body with good carbonation. Very refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 20:55:11 | More by nataku00

Bosoxfan20

Oklahoma

4.61/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bomber bottle into a sniffer glass. Gorgeous unfiltered, cloudy dark copper. Creamy 2 finger off-white head with outstanding retention and soapy lacing.

S- Powerful citrus aroma from the Simcoe and Citra hops. I could smell it from a few feet away. Also has earthy barnyard funk and a touch of peppery spice.

T- Follows nose well. Wonderful fruity hops, peach, apricot, lemon, fresh cut grass, touch of earthy yeast, musky yet hints of sweetness. Warmth and spice finish with nice bitterness. It's all there. So much going on!

M- Mid body. Crisp carbonation rush. Nice feel of a saison with a totally dry finish.

O- Oh my! Loved it when I sampled it at a beer tasting in Tulsa and continue to be impressed still. Flat out awesome. Saison and hop lovers unite!

No bottled on date
$11 for a bomber bottle

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 16:31:19 | More by Bosoxfan20

SFACRKnight

Colorado

4.21/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 750 into a duvel tulip.

Pours a clean gold body with an inch of white head. Not overly carbed like some saisons and brett beers can be.
Smells like hops and saison esters. Pepper, lemon, hops. The dry hopping level is just perfect here.
Great tasting beer, the hops are spicy and earthy, they complimeent the pepper and slight citrus of the yeast. Well built, the flavors compliment eachother very well.
Nice amount of carbonation, and very dry as one would expect from a saison.
Overall, a well built saison. I especially enjoy the subtle use of hops in this beer. The base saison seems to be solid, but the earthy and spicy hop varieties really bring this all together.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 12:31:41 | More by SFACRKnight

ucsbmullet

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -18.4%

05-11-2013 04:31:16 | More by ucsbmullet

od_sf

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-11-2013 03:57:29 | More by od_sf

cvm4

Mississippi

4.19/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours a light amber with yellow straw hay hues and an eggshell head.

S - Citrus, malts, mild sweetness, hops and spices. Like an ipa and saison mix.

T - Lemon, white grape, malt sweetness, a bit of tartness... Not a big on hoppy, but that's alright as it's a saison here.

M - Light bodied, low carbonation.

O - Loving this flavor... Smells like an ipa but drinks like a tart saison. Lovely!

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 23:00:14 | More by cvm4

Compton25

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-10-2013 12:34:55 | More by Compton25

Proclarush

Rhode Island

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

05-08-2013 21:25:42 | More by Proclarush

jaminjohnson

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

05-08-2013 03:16:32 | More by jaminjohnson

mdillon86

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-07-2013 13:21:04 | More by mdillon86

kmoen

California

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

05-07-2013 04:26:16 | More by kmoen

BAsbill

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-07-2013 04:25:14 | More by BAsbill

sirsteve42

New York

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-05-2013 02:55:18 | More by sirsteve42

caguiar

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-04-2013 17:38:08 | More by caguiar

djtomain

Florida

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-03-2013 22:20:31 | More by djtomain