Imperial Cherry Saison - Southern Tier Brewing Company

cratez

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Tried this at Chancey Smith's in London, ON. Poured out of a 650ml bottle into an over-sized flute glass.

Appearance: reddish and tawny amber body with no head or lacing.

Smell: alcohol, cherries, and yeast, all of which give the beer a medicinal aroma, with hints of dried oak.

Flavour: chewy caramel malt, oak barrel, and a light hop aftertaste. The cherries contribute a sweetness that is balanced by the wood, and both elements provide a welcomed twist on a saison. The 8% ABV is nicely hidden as well.

Mouthfeel: crisp and medium bodied with a smooth hop finish. Despite the mild bitterness, there is very little dryness. A complete and balanced mouthfeel, somewhat sweet.

Drinkability: for an 'imperial' saison, this is surprisingly drinkable. Don't let the cherries scare you away - they're barely detectable. A good quaff regardless of the season. Keep this one on the menu, Chancey's!

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2009 20:49:00 | More by cratez

t0rin0

California

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

02-09-2013 22:42:31 | More by t0rin0

DmanGTR

New York

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%

01-30-2013 16:12:04 | More by DmanGTR

stereosforgeeks

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

12-17-2012 17:46:37 | More by stereosforgeeks

Eriktheipaman

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

11-14-2012 01:51:52 | More by Eriktheipaman

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.4/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from 3/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a slightly cloudy yellow amber, one finger white head and lacing. Aroma of cherry, citrus and esters. Mild saison start, tart sour middle and sour and bitter finish. A bit too sour on the finish for me, although the body and start are OK.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 19:56:14 | More by LiquidAmber

atoulouk

Indiana

4/5  rDev +13.3%

04-27-2012 14:36:43 | More by atoulouk

GrindFatherBob

New York

1/5  rDev -71.7%

03-15-2012 20:08:23 | More by GrindFatherBob

imperialking

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

03-15-2012 19:41:35 | More by imperialking

Tyrawlings

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

02-19-2012 01:49:28 | More by Tyrawlings

jfcaa193

Connecticut

2/5  rDev -43.3%

02-02-2012 03:16:51 | More by jfcaa193

bonbini26

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

01-13-2012 18:44:26 | More by bonbini26

jennaski01

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +13.3%

01-03-2012 02:21:32 | More by jennaski01

VikeMan

Pennsylvania

2/5  rDev -43.3%

12-19-2011 18:40:23 | More by VikeMan

djrn2

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +13.3%

12-12-2011 20:15:15 | More by djrn2

rab53

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -15%

12-09-2011 04:00:48 | More by rab53

JohneHoodlum

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +13.3%

12-09-2011 00:21:49 | More by JohneHoodlum

THECPJ

Delaware

4/5  rDev +13.3%

12-05-2011 16:11:14 | More by THECPJ

barnzy78

Illinois

2/5  rDev -43.3%

12-01-2011 03:12:23 | More by barnzy78

JAHMUR

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +13.3%

11-27-2011 22:01:51 | More by JAHMUR

Exiled

Texas

4/5  rDev +13.3%

11-25-2011 20:06:04 | More by Exiled

nh2032

New York

3/5  rDev -15%

11-25-2011 13:13:13 | More by nh2032

EasyReader

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +13.3%

11-24-2011 05:00:53 | More by EasyReader

superspak

Michigan

3.35/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

22 ounce bottle into tulip, no bottling date. This could be pretty old since it is retired now. Pours extremely hazy orange amber color with a fairly dense 2 finger off white head with good retention; that reduces to a thin lacing cap that lasts. Fair amount of lacing clings to the glass as well. Aromas of big tart cherries, apple, lemon zest, grass, candi sugar, spices, bread, and a bit of funkiness as well. Surprisingly nice aromas with good strength and balance. I like my saisons funky. Taste of big bread, pepper, spices, banana, wood, candi sugar, cherry, and some tart graininess in the back. No bitterness; with lingering notes of tart cherry, pepper, bread, and spices on the finish for a bit. The wheat malt is definitely more noticeable on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a fairly creamy and slightly syrupy mouthfeel. Alcohol is well hidden with only a warming on the finish noticed. Fairly smooth drinking, but this is still quite a sipper. This is not cloying surprisingly, but i would have liked a better flavor balance. A little difficult to drink at times because of the flavor balance. Overall a fairly enjoyable saison, but it needed better flavor balance with a bit more cherry in the taste. Overall I say it was worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 04:51:53 | More by superspak

brandoman63

Illinois

4/5  rDev +13.3%

11-20-2011 03:53:21 | More by brandoman63