Blue Moon Short Straw Farmhouse Red Ale - Coors Brewing Company

vcoggins

Texas

3.05/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

12 oz bottle
Served in a pint glass

A - Pours a reddish brown with a 1 finger white head that dissipates quickly.

S - Bready yeast, grassy smells with hints of pepper.

T - Slightly tart taste I did not pick up on the nose. Mildly sweet. Almost no hops to speak of. Not a complex beer.

M - Smooth light thin mouth feel. Medium to high carbonation.

O - Overall this is an average beer. Very unique/different combination of flavors. Good beer for a hot summers day. Glad I tried it but not something I would seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 12:59:26 | More by vcoggins

archyquaffer

Montana

3.26/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Served from a 12 ounce twisty cap bottle into a Shaker pint glass. The colorful label juxtaposes the historic with the modern, combining a sturdy peasant house in the foreground with modern machinery harvesting an expansive, yellow field of grain in the background. The beer is described as a blend of a farmhouse ale and Flanders Red brewed with hibiscus, coriander and white pepper. The ABV is listed as 5.8 percent. A moderate pour produces about 1/4 inch of head, which dissipates quickly, leaving a thin lace that doesn't stick to the sides of the glass. The color is an orangy-amber.

The aroma-flavor is quite strong with a flowery scent provided by the hibiscus, spices, and, perhaps, hops, along with a fairly complex fruitiness reminiscent of raspberries and apple. A rich biscuity flavor is apparent in the background, with a pleasantly tart aftertaste. The apparent sweetness is perhaps more a product of the hibiscus and yeast than any residual sugars. The hops are barely noticeable in the aftertaste, in competition with the lingering tartness. The beer is moderately light-bodied and easy to drink.

I drank one or two of these over two nights before this review, as I find that I have to condition my palate to this type of brew. I was put off at first by some of the fruity, flowery flavors furnished no doubt by the hibiscus, but after downing a couple I could see drinking this on a hot summer afternoon after some dry, dusty work in the fields.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 05:53:04 | More by archyquaffer

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

A - A ruby amber color much darker than I would expect for the style. Average lacing.
S - Smell is mild sour dough, lemon peel, a bit of wheat, and lemongrass.
T - Much more metallic even for Blue Moon standards it does have some funky bread, sour lemon and peel, with some wheat and lemongrass. Much more muted and unbalanced than it sounds.
M - Medium and kind of hard to drink despite the session able ABV.

Overall for $1.50 it was a hard single to pass over but I would never consider getting it again considering I have had better rep's of the style. Just because BMC can afford to do crafted styles doesn't mean it is worth it.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 02:22:24 | More by DrDemento456

jwc215

New Jersey

3.09/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Best by September 03, 2013:

Pours reddish-amber - towards mahogany - with a thin head that eventually dissipates. A little lacing sticks.

The smell is of toasted caramel - slightly burnt - with banana.

The taste is of toasted caramel with bananas, some grain. There is a tart finish.

It is light-to-medium bodied with medium carbonation.

It's a different saison. The style varies greatly, but this hardly fits, though it does have an acidic touch. Odd, but drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 19:06:59 | More by jwc215

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.01/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Alright, screw the haters, I thoroughly appreciate this attempt by Blue Moon. It pours a mostly clear auburn topped by a relatively short-lived finger of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises perfume-y wheat and flowers, sharp (and general) sweetness, and a touch of what I can only describe as peach blossom. The taste holds notes of cracked wheat, coriander, very mild vinegar, sweet caramel, and a vague assumption of Belgian yeast. Overall, this was a relatively ambitious brew from the BM folks, but it just didn't work for me. It's too muddled and schizoid for my tastes, but I still see some value from it.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 04:45:33 | More by TMoney2591

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

2.86/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

LOOK: Clear peach colored brew, pours with a fizzy short lived head that is gone in 60 seconds.

SMELL: Living up to the name, straw is the biggest component in the nose. A little bit fruity, and somewhat sweet. Commendable for the faint fruity note that was nice, and it did really smell hay like.

TASTE: Though the bottle claims this has elements of a Flanders red ale, there is little, if any evidence of that in the taste. Tastes like a grainy macro brew, with rice, malts, corn and wheat. There is a very light tang in the finish, but the flavor is more or less wheat driven.

FEEL: Light bodied, well carbonated, but watery. No finish.

OVERALL: Not a terrible beer, but not what it says it is. It's just another shade of the same general product, as usual. Aptly named indeed, they drew the short straw on this one. Coors is trying hard to be craft here, but fell way short.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 01:53:40 | More by Stinkypuss

lighthabit

Oregon

2.98/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

clear dark red, head dies down quickly, no lacing to speak of. mild malt smell, a bit of nondescript fruit, maybe strawberry or raspberry, but not much to go on. a bit of fruit in the flavor, but really not much there to work with. there is a bit of tartness in the middle that i like. a bit thin, though for the style i suppose it's close. seems to have an odd hint of oiliness on the back end. would be a nice brew to bring to a neighborhood bbq. tame, safe, not great, but not bad, either.

update: drink chilled. does not do well as it warms.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 06:13:24 | More by lighthabit

Zorro

California

2.35/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Clear red colored ale with a medium sized tan colored head.

Smell is malty with some burnt sugar aroma. Toasted bread and a faint plum aroma.

Starts out mildly sweet with no particular after taste. Slight sourness in the after taste. Not much to taste here.

Mouthfeel is OK.

Overall, worst beer in the Blue Moon Spring variety pack.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 02:22:55 | More by Zorro

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.46/5  rDev +12%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Poured from bottle into a pint glass

Appearance – Pours a deeper amber color with a one finger white head. The head fades fast leaving only a trace level of lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma is rather light overall but has notes of a bready smell mixed with some hay like and grassy aromas as well as the more traditional Blue Moon aromas of citrus, coriander and a bit of yeast.

Taste – The flavor starts out with a sweeter flavor being of orange, cherry, and apple greeting the tongue. These flavors initially present and sweet upfront, gain more sourness as the taste advances. As the beer sours more so too comes some light spice flavors as well as a bit of a grassy hop taste. In the end a higher proportion of the flavor shifts to the sour apple taste, leaving a tart fruited flavor to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel- The body of the beer is on the average to slightly chewier side for the style with a carbonation level that is on the averages side. The average to slightly above average body is nice for accentuating the lighter sour and tart flavors of the brew, while the carbonation does nicely to keep them from becoming too overpowering on the tongue.

Overall – A easy drinking farmhouse ale but a little lacking of some of the desired characteristics of funk that I am looking for in a brew such as this. It is tasty, but if looking for a big saison, then this is likely not for you.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 03:10:56 | More by Darkmagus82

bullwinkle88

Isle of Man

4.78/5  rDev +54.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is the STAR of the variety pack for sure. I haven't tried many saisons, so let that speak to how true to style it is. Semantics aside, what we have here is a delicious beer. Pours a beautiful ruby color with a mild head. Smells like fruit, spice. Not really carbonated but bubbles on the tongue like crazy, tastes of orange and PEPPER! Like pepper spice. So incredible. I could literally drink enough of these to kill a large steer. Delicious. A+. Please sell in a standalone 6er!

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 03:01:46 | More by bullwinkle88

BucannonXC5

California

3.44/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Type: 12-oz. bottle
Glass: Firestone pint glass
From: Target in Mission Valley (San Diego), Calif.
Price: $15.99 for the Brewmaster’s Seasonal Sampler variety 12-pack
Purchased: April 17, 2013
Consumed: April 20, 2013
Misc.: N/A

Poured a dark copper color with two fingers of khaki gray head. Foggy, wet, average lacing on the sides. Good retention on the way down.

Similar to the Blue Moon Blackberry Tart, I had to work for the smell. But once I did I got Sweet Tarts, sour cherry and some other bitter spices. A little more flavorful than the BMBT.

Tasted similar to the nose in that it wasn’t quite as potent as I would have hoped. Definitely a lot of tartness there, which lingered pleasantly on the tongue after. Got sour cherry and red and pink Smarties, Still some spices that I couldn’t put my finger on.

Medium-to-light body. Oily texture. Average carbonation. Astringent, crisp finish.

Very good Belgian Pale Ale. I’ve been pleasantly surprised with this Blue Moon variety 12-pack. I’d have this again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 06:21:17 | More by BucannonXC5

CaptJackHarkness

New York

4.41/5  rDev +42.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Twelve ounce bottle dated August 19 2013.

Sweet, malty floral aroma. Poured deep copper/brown with full beige head. Head lasts a few minutes, spotty lacing. Taste is crisp slightly bity and sweet, like a Lemonhead sour candy! Tangy tart mouth feel, nice finish. Enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 00:43:00 | More by CaptJackHarkness

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

2.95/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz.

Pours a clear reddish brown with a white film for a head, dissipates to nothing.

Smells of light bready malts, mild citrus, and hints of peppery spice.

Mild citrus tart taste with a peppery spice and a mild caramel malt base.

Medium body with a light sting of carbonation and pepper on the tongue.

An interested and slightly bland ale, not even remotely farmhouse-like at all. This is just an average American ale. Do they really think people will think this is a farmhouse? That aside, it isn't terrible, pretty easy to drink, worth trying anyway. You can't just call a beer whatever style you want, though, it has to exhibit actual characteristics of that style.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 21:13:58 | More by Cylinsier

kojevergas

California

2.76/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Best before August 19th, 2013. Expectations are below average given the brewery - which I highly highly doubt can pull off a saison. 5.8% ABV confirmed. 12 fl oz brown glass bottle with twist-off pressure cap acquired as part of a seasonal Blue Moon variety box earlier tonight at my local Von's grocery store and served into a Mitchells of Lancaster flared stem-tulip in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. I think the 12 pack cost something like $14.99. Expressionist Collection.

Served cold, straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor; overcarbonation is anticipated.

A: Pours a one finger white colour head - disappointingly thin - with no cream at all and of bad (~45 second) retention. Body colour is a clear translucent dark amber-copper. No yeast particles are visible. Poor lacing. No bubble show. Really misses the mark for a saison. Not sure what this is, but it looks poor for the style. Still, it's not awful in a general sense; if I weren't judging it as a saison I'd see little wrong with it. It's not unique or special; we'll call it an average appearance. There are no overt flaws (outside style conventions).

Sm: Strawberry fruit syrup extract. Off-putting medicinal sweetness. Sugary. Some tart artificial fruit - a highlight here. Berries. A mild to moderate strength aroma. Any hop character is minimal so as not to be noticeable; likely generic floral character. No yeast character or alcohol is detectable. Not a great aroma. I'm curious about the fruit notes; they could be either good or bad...

T: Mediocre, actually. Some mild sweetness. A slight hint of tartness when you really look for it. Berries. Minimal hop character. Generic malts form the body. Not as syrupy as the aroma suggested. Nor as medicinal. It's actually just plain boring and bland. Dreadfully simple. The little flavour that's there isn't bad, and it's balanced in its bland simplicity. But it lacks boldness and/or inspiration. I'm far from impressed. Not at all what a saison should be, even if it's purportedly mixed with a Flanders Red. This comes off as a middling fruit beer; no more, no less.

Mf: Smooth. Wet. Slightly overcarbonated. Weak and somewhat thin. Disappointing lack of body. Shoddily constructed.

Dr: Drinkable but forgettable. I'll happily down the few bottles I have, but this is rather mediocre. It's terrible if you judge it as a saison, but in a general sense it's just a pedestrian fruit beer. I wouldn't get it again. I'm glad I tried it though. Another mundane brew from Blue Moon/Coors.

Low C

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 04:31:42 | More by kojevergas

Murrhey

Montana

3.26/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a tulip glass in high elevation Libby, Mont. Reviewed live. Don't see a best-by date.

A- One-finger off-white head. 45 second retention. Leaves a nice ring around the edge. Sticky white lacing. Dark amber body.

S- Strawberry, Belgian yeasts. Light and summery, but kind of grassy.

T- Semi-sweet flavor. Straw, yeasts. I'm getting a definite farmhouse feel. Nicely developed for a macro-micro.

M- Utterly quaffable. Wet and refreshing.

O- Above average. Quite a nice beverage.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 00:37:22 | More by Murrhey

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3.25

I found this at Mari's Six Pac 'n' Mor in Reading, PA last Saturday and I agree with BeerGoot's assessment that Blue Moon has changed the label and the marketing of this beer. This is the Update Request that I just sent: "It is now sold as "Short Straw Farmhouse Red Ale" in their "Expressionist Collection" series. Hopefully, this will clear the miasma of fog and confusion that currently surrounds this beer.

From the bottle: "An intriguing interpretation of a Farmhouse Ake blended with a Flanders red, with hints of white pepper and a tart finish."; "Farmhouse Ales were brewed for the diligent farmhands that drew the short straw and had to work the arduous harvest. Our brewmaster's expression blends the spiciness of a Farmhouse Ale with the tartness of a Flanders Red for a remarkably refreshing finish."

I am astounded that Coors is branching out like this! I have long known that they were capable of doing so, but to actually see it is amazing. I will be up front and say that, along with Hefeweizens, Saisons are my least favorite style. Hey, more for everybody else, I suppose, but I just ain't feelin' it.

My pour generated a finger of dense, rocky, tawny head with remarkable retention. Color was a deep coppery-red with NE-quality clarity. This represented a change of pace for me as I am used to Saisons as being on the low end of the SRM spectrum. Cool! Nose had that characteristic earthiness to it that comes from Saison yeast, but accompanied by a slight funkiness. Did Coors really make this?!? Mouthfeel was thin-to-medium and the taste was kind of muted for the style. I was getting a mushroom-y earthy flavor on the tongue and it was not unpleasant, but decidedly different. Finish was very dry and continued to evince an earthiness which was not bad, but not something that left me clamoring for more.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 16:26:40 | More by woodychandler

constantine_272

Oregon

3.19/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

A: Reddish brown with low medium carbonation.

S: Red fruit, mostly strawberry. A sweet caramel and neugut.

T: I get an initial wild yeast flavor that fades quickly under the wheat. Finishes sweet and fruity with passion fruit and strawberry notes.

M: Too much sugar leads to too much of a sticky mouth coating aftertaste. Surprisingly heavy considering the lighter flavors involved.

O: The description on the back of the bottle compares this to a Flanders red. I know Jack Kennedy and you sir are no Jack Kennedy. Too sweet. It's an immature tasting beer and doesn't really have the fully developed that they wanted here.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 04:48:19 | More by constantine_272

beergoot

Colorado

3.81/5  rDev +23.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Review based on the assumption that “Short Straw Farmhouse Red Ale” is the same beer as “Farmhouse Red Ale”; same beer different packaging and change of name? ABV is listed as 5.8% on the label, and no "born on" or "best by" date. It's also listed as part of their "Expressionist Collection".

Dark copper body topped with a thick, creamy, lasting head. Vibrant, spice and fruit aroma. Malty, slightly tart and spicy flavors. Light and soft mouthfeel with a relatively dry finish.

This was an interesting surprise as once I saw it was Blue Moon as the brewer, I wasn't expecting much. The taste was especially noticeable, combining green apple, cinnamon, and chili flavors underpinned with a nice malt and bread-like (yeast?) backbone. Smooth and favorable with a multitude of subtle flavors to discover and savor.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 00:15:21 | More by beergoot

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle, best before December 10, 2012 stamped on bottle. Served in a Unibroue tulip, the beer pours a clear amber/orange color with about an inch off-white head. Head retention is decent, and there's a good amount of lacing. Aroma is light tart berries, flowers (I guess that's from the hibiscus), and a little bit of spice. I think the taste is just like the aroma, but it's stronger in comparison. It's a bit tart, spicy and flowery. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit creamy and slick with moderate carbonation. This was better than I thought it was going to be. I wouldn't make a point to find it, but if you can find a single of it like I did it's certainly worth trying. $1.79 a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 23:31:13 | More by bluejacket74

BeerDocT

Georgia

1.2/5  rDev -61.2%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

I have had Blue Moon beers before and never been impressed, but a friend gave me this beer and told me to try it. Here goes.

Served in a chilled pint glass.

-Appearance 3.0: Kind of a generic translucent amber in color. Small CO2 bubbles abound. Half inch head quickly disappeared.

-Smell 1.5: Not much here. I smell a slightly spicy aroma of some indiscernible spice. That's it.

-Taste 1.0: Front is slightly sweet and has a light tanginess. Middle is non-existent. Nothing there. Finish is where the nightmare starts. Light sugary sweetness with this horrible artificial orange-rind taste that is reminiscent of a cheap brand of floor polish. To top that off, the aftertaste leaves a slight burning in the mouth, like what one receives from eating a hot pepper, but much milder. What the heck is in this swill???

-Mouthfeel 1.0: Cheapo CO2 carbonation actually make this horrible beer worse. It's true.

-Overall 1.0: Utter garbage. Let me use some onomatopoeia here: "Bleargh." What is the "brewmaster" at Blue Moon smoking? I have had saisons before and this abomination is not a saison. This is one farmhouse that should be burned to the ground and salt sown into the soil along with its ashes. Again, I say, "Bleargh."

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 04:40:09 | More by BeerDocT

bolus14

New York

2.48/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Tried on a whim while traveling in Atlanta, GA. Couldn't find a good store selling micro/crafts, so this was it for a couple nights in the hotel.

A- Almost marzen/Oktoberfest like, clear orangish color. The head didn't stick around at all, unusual for a Belgian, at least from the ones I've had. Typically Belgians have to be poured slowly or the head just over flows the glass. Not the case here.

S- Has a slight amount of funk that I've gotten from other Saisons, but that goes away quickly and I pick up an American adjunct type smell, but sweeter.

T - Not like other Saisons I've had. There's a small amount of Belgian yeast funk that I've tasted more in others of the style. Like one of the other reviews, it's somewhat sour, kind of blood-orange like at the same time.

M - I was expected something smoother. This wasn't anywhere near something like an IPA, just not that nice, smooth feel that others have.

While my ratings aren't great I would go back to this depending on what's available. It's no where near Horseheads Christmas Ale, Ithaca's Ground Break or Ommegang's Hennepin. The taste isn't cohesive, the smell is lacking and has something in it I can't place that I didn't like.

Would be a good beer to bring that macro drinkers into the Belgian styles of beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 00:45:20 | More by bolus14

disastermouse

Texas

3.48/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I don't like macros much, but I have to commend 'Coo-was' for taking a first step in getting us beyond the 'bitter wars'. That this will be displayed next to mainstream beers in some otherwise unreachable venues will go a long way toward reaching people who might otherwise not try the style.

A- Pours clear orange/amber with a moderate head that dissipates quickly.

S- It's more sour and less 'straw' smelling than most other saisons that I've tried. It smells a bit like Newcastle without the richer tones of chocolate.

T - Thin, sour. I want to say it has a sour-apple taste, but it's less sweet than that. The malty taste is hard to find - it's mostly in the aftertaste. It's a brash bang of sour that's thin and metallic. It's not a premium taste, but it's peculiar enough to not be annoying.

MF - Prickly and wet. It's not a very dry MF at all, and it conflicts with the taste, as the sourness has one expecting a much drier mouthfeel.

This is the sour beer of the people. It's middling, but it's not aggressively bad. It's very drinkable even though it lacks the complexity one expects from the craft-beer versions of this style that have been its dominant expression.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2012 02:35:40 | More by disastermouse

Humulus85

Minnesota

2.2/5  rDev -28.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Don't know what to expect with this one; picked it up as part of a pick-a-six. Apparently it's a test release in eight cities. From a 12oz twist-off into my Darkness snifter.

Pours a pretty, crystal clear deep ruby/crimson. An aggressive pour produced a dismal half-finger head with zero retention or lacing.

Weird spice, some tartness. I really don't know how to describe this outside of funky (but not in that good Belgian wild ale way).

This is one of the strangest tasting beers. Wheat, some spice characters I can't place. Toffee malt up the middle transitions into some, frankly unpleasant, tartness. Clean in the finish with minimal aftertaste.

Medium in body, slightly creamy, good carbonation. Balanced in sweetness and tartness. Really the only redeeming part of this brew.

Overall, this is a confusing and seemingly confused beer. I don't know what this was trying to be. Tastes like a regular Blue Moon, with some caramel malt and a misplaced tartness. I love me funky/sour ales and this one just failed in that regard. The flavor profile is all over the place and just straight-up not tasty. Try it and review it so Coors learns its lesson. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 02:00:05 | More by Humulus85