Saison Farmhouse Ale - Bluegrass Brewing Co. - East St. Matthew's

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

2.55/5  rDev -15%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Hmmm. Where do people get the recipes for these Belgian style beers? Because so many of them taste the same, and so many of them taste flawed, to put it mildly. This is nowhere near a saison. It's just a Belgian styled ale. Breweries should just stick to styles of beer they are good at and leave things like this alone.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 03:44:49 | More by RblWthACoz

spmiller86

Kentucky

2.75/5  rDev -8.3%

06-09-2013 04:51:11 | More by spmiller86

ZombiesAteMyDog

Indiana

2.75/5  rDev -8.3%

04-14-2013 00:48:08 | More by ZombiesAteMyDog

TastyAdventure

Kentucky

2.99/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

A - Pours a big, two finger bubbly head. Murky, light orange color. Very nice. 4.0

S - Citrus fruit, almost smells like Blue Moon, slight yeast. Pretty great. 3.75

T - Wheat beer, slight citrus, soap? yeast, very dry finish. eghh 2.75

M - Soapy bubbles, a little too thin, watery. 2.5

Overall - teases you with looks and smell and terribly disappoints.

This is like a soapy cheap wheat beer, not a saison.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 02:41:42 | More by TastyAdventure

bzach

Indiana

3/5  rDev 0%

10-16-2012 05:16:28 | More by bzach

secondtooth

Indiana

3.08/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This pours a cloudy golden-amber, and packed with a walloping, overflowing head of carbonation. Pour with caution (as it seems true for all of BBC's recent 12oz. bottled brews)!

Nose is appropriately fruity, with a touch of spice. Not bad.

Taste is tart and fruity, again with a hint of spice. The excessive carbonation makes this one feel light on the palate, though, so points off for that.

Not a bad brew, but compared to other Belgian-style saisons, this one is quite light and watery.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 03:49:20 | More by secondtooth

ESquared

Tennessee

2/5  rDev -33.3%

09-01-2012 22:59:18 | More by ESquared

rangerred

Tennessee

3.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz bottle into a tulip.

Pours a hazy dark orange with some yeast particles. Humongous white head that takes forever to die down. Tons of carbonation in this.

Smell is quite fruity with lemon and orange. Maybe a tiny bit of funk but it is barely detectable.

Flavor is very citric and spicy with orange, lemon, coriander and clove, a very tiny bit of tartness. A moderate amount of sweetness before a chalky dryness swoops in and cleans everything up. Finish pretty crisp with some residual sweetness.

Overall, an ok saison but nowhere near its Belgian counterparts. Nice to see a US brewery try the style, though, and it is a decent attempt.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 22:16:40 | More by rangerred

The_1084

3.25/5  rDev +8.3%

08-13-2012 23:53:56 | More by The_1084

Nutwood

Kentucky

3.25/5  rDev +8.3%

07-28-2012 02:18:46 | More by Nutwood

gutbuster

Kentucky

2.5/5  rDev -16.7%

05-13-2012 02:57:34 | More by gutbuster

donunrue

Kentucky

2.75/5  rDev -8.3%

03-20-2012 05:22:10 | More by donunrue

lilnicky068

Kentucky

2.5/5  rDev -16.7%

01-28-2012 05:25:16 | More by lilnicky068

mrfrancis

Kentucky

2.7/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A: Pours a clear, dark gold with a creamy white head.

S: Aromas of apple skin, clove, allspice, and fruity ale yeast are present on the nose.

T: Notes of biscuits, chalk, rotten apples, and minerals wash across the palate. The finish is mercifully short and dry with apple and mineral notes.

M: Very light in body, dry, firm, and chalky. Carbonation is very weak for the style. This feels nothing like an authentic Belgian saison.

O: I'm not sure what BBC was trying to do here, because this is about as far from a real saison as one can get. It is almost as if the guys at BBC decided to brew a saison without ever having tried one. In the end, this beer is a mess. That's about all I can say.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 15:19:29 | More by mrfrancis

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A very perfumy start and a simplified flavor spread sets this Saison apart from more authentic ones from Belgium. But it's the full flavor and dry body that makes it classic for the style.

pouring an oddly copperish color, the beer's hue seems more akin to Pale Ales than that of pilsner malt dominant Saisons of Belgium. But the heavy streams of carbonation fuel the white creamy and intermitten head cap that retains quite well and laces equally.

Spicy and floral, the nose releases a mix of white pepper notes along with chamomile, honeysuckle, orange marmelade, clove, and allspice. A thin caramel and biscotti scent seems to pull together the scattered aromas but is a bit unusual for the style.

Flavors of caramel however, are not all that prevailant, instead relying on a dry and efferescent malt character to carry the spices and esters that define this saison. Fruity apple, pear, mangos, appricots, white grapes, currants, lemons, and kiwi all seem represented in the estery and hoppy combinations. Lemongrass herbal elements turn to a crisp hoppy bitterness in finish that ushers in a boquet of spice including chamomile, rose pedal, ginger, curacao, white pepper, and clove. Perhaps the spice notes throw the balance too far off, especially with the terse underpinning of rustic Belgian yeast-flavored charm.

Medium to start, the bubby body tampers a bit at mid palate and allows for the bone dry crispness and high attenuation to celebrate the finish. But a thin linger of sweetness (caramel) governs the peppery finish and aftertaste just a bit too far.

In all reality, this beer exhibits some spicy/fruity interplay that's expected in true Saisons. But the lack of depth severely limits the beer. Seemingly spice additions are utilized to substitute for the complex yeast character and detracts from the beer even further. The carmelized pilsner malts seem to give a Pale Ale character that's misplaced. It doesn't mean that this is a bad beer; it just means that it doesn't compare favorably with more authentic Saisons of Belgium.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 06:38:50 | More by BEERchitect

ajanesz

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +33.3%

01-04-2012 01:40:16 | More by ajanesz

merc7186

New York

2.75/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I got this beer as an extra from BOBHITS.

I has this beer poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

A: Reddish/Orangish hue, Off White Head, some Lacing

S: Orange, Lemon Zest, mild Funky Yeast

T: Malts, Funky Yeast

M: Decent Carbonation, Light to Medium Bodied, Funky Off Taste

Overall, a farmhouse ale with some very off flavors that doesnt really blend well together. A nice attempt but not a very good one.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2011 04:00:47 | More by merc7186

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.03/5  rDev +1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle, bottled in August 2011. Served in a tulip glass, the beer pours a mostly clear dark gold color with about an inch off-white head. Head retention is decent, and there's a decent amount of lacing left behind on the glass. The brew smells like light fruit (pears, peaches), Belgian yeast and wheat, but there's also a weird off-aroma that I can't identify but I know it doesn't smell good at all. Luckily there isn't anything off about the taste. It tastes like peppery spice, Belgian yeast, pears and a bit of bready malt. Mouthfeel/body is light/medium, and it's well carbonated. It's certainly not one of the better saisons (or BBC beers in general) I've tried and I wouldn't buy a sixer of this, but for $1.69 a bottle it's worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 02:18:00 | More by bluejacket74

Cresant

Kentucky

3.25/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Served this 12 oz. brown bottle in a Sam Adams glass. Bottled Aug. 2011. The body was a light golden honey color with a modest off white head. There was no lacing in the glass, I would expect a more robust head from this style.

The smell was of Belgian yeast, you know that musty basement character. However, it was mild. Fruity and earthy throughout.

The taste was crackery malt sweetness followed by a sour snap. Mild spiciness and light coriander with a semi-dry finish. Canned pears.

The mouthfeel was light to medium in body but it seemed a bit under-carbonated. There was a mild alcohol tickle in the mouth.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 13:47:35 | More by Cresant

bobhits

Kentucky

3.55/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Surprised at the lack of reviews, this has been in grocery stores here for months. I way to add to the buzz after the beer store guy told me CBS did come in today after he swore it didn't, but it was already gone :(

Pours a darker than expected color. Thank a darker pale or amber. This is a result of yeast as to the light it is a light yellow color. Good head but it doesn't hold.

Not over the top, but funky hops, sour notes, some farm like aromas, and not much malt. Mix in some lemon zest and maybe the slightest pinch of ginger or some spice.

Pale and funky, nothing over the top, nothing biting or jerking the pallet, but just a lot of off hops and lemon bitterness to shake things up.

Medium body but well carbonated ot make this drink well.

I have to say this is a darn good example of the style of a reasonable price. Completely worth checking out.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 04:04:32 | More by bobhits

mjw06

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +25%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Spacey head , a little darker for a saison and pretty translucent. the color favors more of an amber ale. Respectable head retention though it leaves nothing on the glass.

Clean crisp smell, sweet mandarin orange, a citrusy peel, a little wheat and a little clove.

Spicy on the initial sip, full bodied flavor, coriander, bit of clove and an astringent sweetness that is difficult to determine.

Slightly different interpretation from the saisons I've become accustomed to. While many saisons lean towards the look, taste and feel of a hefe, this is much closer to an ale. The taste is welcomed though the mouthfeel leaves much to be desired. I'd appreciate a sturdier body that is a bit softer on the palate. With the rapid emergence of saisons however, this is one that stands out and should be remembered.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2011 02:09:31 | More by mjw06

Mooch273

California

3.33/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured into a pint glass. Thin head of large, airy bubbles that dissipates quickly leaving no lacing. Body was a deep golden orange, a bit darker than I expected. Slightly opaque, and looks inviting. Small yeast present at the end of the pour.

S: Aroma contains honey, orange citrus and slight spice.

T: Orange, slight lemon zestiness, cloves and some yeasty bite that leaves a mild bitterness at the finish.

M: Quite carbonated but it doesn't last. Mouthfeel is quite watery with mildly dry finish.

D: Overall, a decent representation, but not one I would go out of my way to purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2011 03:45:31 | More by Mooch273

TheGordianKnot

Tennessee

2.25/5  rDev -25%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Bottled May 2011... Poured into Saison DuPont glass

A- WTF?! Where's the giant foamy head? Or the light crisp golden color??.. This is a dark copper orange with almost a 1cm head and falls to nothing in the blink of an eye. I feel like my sense of sight just got robbed by this "saison"...

S- Alright, there is a nice yeasty bite there. As well as a decent spice. Other than that there is an overall large malt presence. I would like this to be a bit more delicate and floral, but lets see where this takes us...

T/M- The flavor is overall pretty lacking; has a very watered down presence on the tongue. There is just a touch of perceived spice and even some tartness, but nothing to make this a noteable example of the style. The bitterness is smooth, but pertty mild. The carbonation isn't anywhere near where a saison should be; but it does have a light body- though its not dry by any definition.

O- This being one of my favorite styles overall and definitely my favorite summer style, but this is the first example of a saison that I am not a fan of. I don't think I would ever buy this again, and it is even a notch or two below SA Rustic Saison. Though the price point is nice, its just not doing it for me...

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2011 19:45:28 | More by TheGordianKnot

Reaper16

Alabama

2.17/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

12 oz. bottle served into a mason jar

Pours out an amber color. Amber. Yeah, that's not exactly style-appropriate. I'll allow for some leeway if the beer proves to be an interesting, experimental take on the style (ala the amber colored Fantome Hiver). Eggshell head of around a full finger in size.

My first thought when smelling this beer was "Hmm. Not as bad as I expected." It definitely has some spicy phenolic yeast character going on. A bit too clove-dominant, but at least its trying. There's some cracker-sweet malt underneath the spicy yeast. Very average.

The flavor is a major miss for me. It's like Bluegrass understood that Saisons have spicy phenolic yeast components, but failed to understand anything else about the style. This beer is biscuit malt, Hell, amber malt, and spicy & astringent yeast. Some apple esters peek out too. That's it. This is not complex, it's basically a maibock with spicy yeast.

The mouthfeel is the worst part of this beer. It finishes not dry, but wet. Juicy, practically. It's an astringent finish from the phenols, but it isn't dry. That's a major misstep. Overall, this is a poor example of a saison. It would score better as a biere de garde, but even then it would be a lackluster effort.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2011 05:21:46 | More by Reaper16

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.38/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz bottle thanks to Auroracrisis. The first thing I noticed about this beer is that it was amber when I was expecting it to be yellow since it is a saison. The smell was heavy clove and was just not what I'd expect for a saison. The taste was more in line with my expectations, dry and spicy, not bad. Overall I would not consider this a good example of the style butI compare every saisonto Dupont.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2011 21:55:45 | More by ArrogantB