Golden Cap - New Holland Brewing Company

tectactoe

Michigan

3.78/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

I heard this one was going out of commission and being replaced by New Holland's new saison, "Monkey King". I had to try this before it was completely washed away, so thanks to Kevin for the bottle. It pours a murky, bright straw, through and through. It's capped by a foamy, stark-white head that has pretty nice retention and leaves heaps of wet, almost chunky lacing on the glass.

This beer's pretty yeasty up front - clove stings the nostrils right away along with lots and lots of lemon zest. It's got a borderline "Lemon Pledge" aroma to it, without smelling to much like cleanser or alcohol. It's actually nice and refreshing. As it warms, it starts getting sweeter. I begin to notice a bit of Candi sugar - this beer is starting to smell more like a Belgian-style tripel than a saison. It's a delicate mix of sweet and spicy that leans just slightly more towards the sweet side, especially in the end.

Just as it popped in the aroma, the lemon comes out huge in the taste. Big-time lemon zest; very fresh and refreshing. It's got a slight tartness to it, but is far from being sour. It actually errs a bit more on the sweet-side as far as fruits go. Again, I get a nice dose of the Candi sugar, a la Belgian dubbels and tripels. I finally pick up on some hops, something I wasn't getting much of (if any) in the aroma; musky, dry, and kind of "warn out", although they inject a faint tinge of bitterness for balance. The aftertaste is pretty dry with a light, yeasty funk, although the funkiness of this beer doesn't stand up to the funkiness of many Belgian saisons or farmhouse ales. Lots of bread in the finish, too. Thin-medium bodied with lots of carbonation and a slick, crispy, dry mouth feel.

I actually enjoyed this one a bit more than Monkey King, so it'll be sad to see it go. It's got a "saison-tripel" hybrid thing going on here, with some musky hop, faint funk, and dryness from the saison side with nice spices and Candi sugar sweetness from the tripel side. Easy drinking and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 06:45:54 | More by tectactoe

JMS1512

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -12.9%

05-14-2013 15:51:31 | More by JMS1512

olivermonster

Michigan

4/5  rDev +7.2%

05-11-2013 10:31:54 | More by olivermonster

Slay40

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

05-10-2013 21:35:52 | More by Slay40

Cyrano41

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

05-03-2013 15:48:59 | More by Cyrano41

KYGunner

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Bright golden coloring, almost pear like, it supported a bright white and fizzy head.

Apple, pear, honey and clove accent a sweet and bready scent.

Pear and Apple are dominant in a sweet flowery taste. Hints of clove and malt end as this farmhouse ale finishes a bit blah. Overall it has a nice taste and feel but is slightly unsatisfying.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 00:29:00 | More by KYGunner

Morey

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

05-01-2013 00:03:56 | More by Morey

ahbithwabm

Illinois

2.5/5  rDev -33%

04-28-2013 20:29:08 | More by ahbithwabm

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.78/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle from 2011, poured into a Duvel tulip.

A: A slow pour fills the tulip half with frothy white head, half with clear, pale orange ale. Great retention, and tons of sticky lace. Gorgeous.

S: Fruity, spicy, and slightly sour. Citrus, apricot, peach, and green apple. The apple becomes more prominent as it warms; quite cidery. Good, not great.

T: Opens with spice, then a bit of maltiness leads into profound fruitiness. Apple is still huge, with citrus and stone fruit fainter. Clean, dry, slightly earthy finish. A bit too cidery overall, but tasty.

M: Highly carbonated, with ultrafine effervescence exploding from every sip. A bit much, but not bad for the style - and it helps cut through the potentially overwhelming apple flavor.

O: This has aged quite well, far better than I expected for a saison. The Brett has turned into a pure apple character, and while it's not the most appetizing thing it's still pretty tasty.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 23:14:52 | More by woosterbill

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

04-09-2013 22:10:37 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

TastyAdventure

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

04-02-2013 23:43:41 | More by TastyAdventure

SpongeRuiner

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

04-01-2013 13:11:10 | More by SpongeRuiner

Chimneyman

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

03-24-2013 01:51:20 | More by Chimneyman

spycow

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

03-11-2013 04:46:34 | More by spycow

Dkizzle79

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

03-07-2013 04:09:43 | More by Dkizzle79

Seaba

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -19.6%

02-28-2013 14:17:06 | More by Seaba

BManBottleMan

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%

02-12-2013 15:03:19 | More by BManBottleMan

AlMarzo

Michigan

2.5/5  rDev -33%

02-09-2013 11:36:19 | More by AlMarzo

ssimpson89

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

02-09-2013 03:28:20 | More by ssimpson89

mfnmbvp

Illinois

3.33/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle, no apparent bottled on date, besides a code C302 stamped on the side. Poured into a Firestone Walker pint glass.

A - Pours a cloudy golden lemon like color with two fingers of fizzing white head, and some bubbles rushing to the top. Scattered lacing.

S - Smells of pale malts, faint citrus, and earthy dry grass. Some floral coriander notes in there also. Definitely a nice smell, but I somehow feel it is missing something.

T - Can definitely taste the unique earthy, grassy qualities coming from the spelt rather than using plain simple wheat. Very malty. Lots of bubblegum. Extremely earthy, with almost a smoked wood type of taste coming out.

M - Very dry feel, invoking another taste. Sweet, fruity type aftertaste in there vaguely reminiscent of some pear flavor. Slightly over-carbonated.

Overall, not a bad beer. Fruity, spicy, and sessionable with a solid 6.25% abv. Although, I would probably seek out some of New Holland's more complex endeavors, this simple saison isn't bad sippin especially when you get it on sale for $4.99 a six pack like I did.

New Holland Golden Cap Saison Ale ---3.5/5

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 01:58:32 | More by mfnmbvp

mfavoino

Washington

3.74/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass on 2/2/13.

A: Pours a hazy light straw/yellow color with a generous head that settles. Lots of carbonation bubbles.

S: Wheat, lemon, yeast, bready malt, coriander. Nice refreshing scent.

T: Bready backbone comes through, along with wheat, a light tartness, and some grassy flavor. Bit of pepper. Flavors are generally subtle and left an aftertaste I didn't care for.

M: Lots of carbonation and a light body.

O: Aroma was very good, but the taste left much to be desired. Not very fruity. Still, not a bad saison.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 18:28:11 | More by mfavoino

sm0key

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

01-28-2013 02:31:33 | More by sm0key

TastyIsBeer

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

01-26-2013 04:29:50 | More by TastyIsBeer

psmith161

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

01-25-2013 23:54:42 | More by psmith161

tmcarter23

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

01-25-2013 17:14:36 | More by tmcarter23