Saison-Brett - Boulevard Brewing Co.

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Batch #: 2012-1
Best By Date: 02-2014

A: Beautiful hazy, bright golden-yellow with a seriously massive, bright white, foamy, sudsy, soapy, lumpy head that slowly fades into plenty of lace and retention. One of the best heads I've ever seen.

S: Huge aromas of yeast and Brett. Barny, grassy, almost vinegary. Earth, hay, fresh air. A faint hint of booze when it warms up.

T: Everything in the nose is in the flavor, albeit a bit more booze is detected. Seriously yeasty and Bretty beer here. A little too "hot" for me which is strange. Too much (still not a lot relatively speaking) alcohol is discernible to justify a high score here. Without that this beer is near perfect.

M: Very pleasant feel with the proper body and carbonation you'd expect from the style. Heavy Brett character adds a nice component to it. Not as cloying or chalky as most Saisons tend to be.

O: A phenomenal beer in itself but an even better Saison. This makes me realize that the excitement about Brett is warranted because it can make a beer very special. I'm glad I sat on this for a while because the yeast seemed to really enhance the flavor profile. Delicious stuff.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 19:09:24 | More by Gatch

BEERMILER12

Maine

4.49/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2013

A: Pours a golden yellow color with 3+ fingers of quickly effervescing head that quickly falls to a thin cap

S: Plenty of barnyard and funk going on up front. Get some light fruits and earthiness underneath. Wheaty malts also come through

T: Nice and funky to start off, with a good deal of barnyard and earthiness. Fruitiness is on the lighter side, along with the wheatiness. Finishes with a hint of alcohol and more tart barnyard

M: Medium bodied with moderate-high carbonation

O: An amazing Brett saison with just the right amount of funk to go with the barnyard nature of the style. Definitely Brett focused, and easy to drink. Get some

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 00:14:32 | More by BEERMILER12

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.26/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured from bottle into stemmed wine Mekong signature glass at Mekong in Richmond Virginia. Wow what a treat! Shared with Issac. Bottle 4100?
Nice golden color with big 2 inch head. Great hop and peppery saison aroma wth a hint of brett funk. Great amazing flavors of funky pils malt, hop, peppery yeast....really subtle but very flavorful and so well balanced. Perfectly dry and crisp.
Such a great brew!

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 15:34:56 | More by DrinkSlurm

Impfan

Washington

5/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Gorgeous, slightly hazy amber/peachy color, 2- 3 fingers of frothy, lacy head. Amazing, complex aroma and flavor of pear, white grape, peach, graham cracker, pineapple, guava, horseblanket, barnyard funk, clove and coriander, earthy hops, and even a touch of banana.

Creamy body (for the style) with lots of mouth-coating goodness in the very lengthy, dry finish.

This one is about as wonderful as a saison gets.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 19:52:58 | More by Impfan

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

4.59/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A: poured from a 750 mL bottle into a pint glass, golden colored with an enormous white head that lingers leaving good lacing, cloudy

S: tart and lively, tickles the nose, yeast, brett, grain

T: sour up front with fruity tones, pear, citrus, apple

M: medium with lively carbonation

O: the best Boulevard beer I've had, flavors are excellent

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2013 22:16:35 | More by M_C_Hampton

nawpnawp

Illinois

3.36/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 2012 bottle (aged approx 1 year) into a tulip.

A - Pours a very golden yellow with a lot of head that sticks around for awhile until you take your first sip. Then, it dissipates quickly.

S - Sadly, I'm not getting as much of the funkiness as I expected with a year on it, but it still smells quite earthy and zesty.

T - The initial taste is dry followed by a hint of sweetness. The farmhouse feel is still very present, but I wish I had aged this even longer.

M - This leaves a very dry feel in the mouth. Almost like a dry wine, but it makes the drink very clean with little residual feeling.

I really want to like this since my craft beer taste was developed through years of Boulevard, but it still doesn't hit home. I keep thinking that more aging will make it better, but I'm not so sure anymore. I've still got two bottles of this, so I'll see how it fares in the next 2 years.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2013 19:05:44 | More by nawpnawp

Bosoxfan20

Missouri

4.48/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Very excited to get my hands on a bottle this year. I had it on tap recently and loved it.

A- Moderate pour leads to a bright, magnificent looking light copper/deep golden color beer with a huge 3.5 finger fluffy white head. Licking my lips as I am ready to dig into this one.

S- Nose lets you know you have something good going on here as it fights through the massive head. Bretty-barnyard funk combines wonderfully with dry hopped aroma of earthy, citrus hops. Wet blanket. Lemongrass. Slight medicinal notes. Touch of spice and peppers in the finish.

T- Follows nose well. Funky. A nice herbal hop presence makes its way. Spice on the back end is perfectly placed. So crisp you can feel it prickling the palate. Got a little bite too it.

M- So refreshing. Creamy, yet perfectly high carbonated. Sits a little heavy for the style, but it not really much of a complaint as it helps to coat the palate. Dry finish.

O- All of the components to an intense, complex, refreshing, yet so seemingly effortless saison. Surprisingly, I don't care much for Tank 7 (supposed to be what this beer is based on), but I love this one. Wish they brewed more of it. One of the best of the style. Period.

Tulip
$11.99 for 750 ml bottle

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2013 03:07:38 | More by Bosoxfan20

darthhamby

Missouri

5/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

When it first opens a rush of floral notes hits you. The eggshell white head about 2.5" thick. Lots and lots of carbonationation. It was like looking at a champagne glass. Very light straw color like SRM 1. Citrus and floral notes followed earthy notes. Stronger than the Tank 7 and can pick up on the Brett yeast. Medium body followed with light lacing. So many flavors jump out like pineapple, lemon, grass and white peach. I am so glad I waited until the release of the 2013 to drink the 2012. Boulevard really out did themselves this time, may need to get a second bottle of the 2013 to age as well.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 03:52:43 | More by darthhamby

cooler4life

Quebec (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2012 Edition, aged for 1 year.

A: Pours an eggshell white head with huge bubbles of clumpy foam. Carbonation appears to be excellent. 3 inch head settles to a 1 finger uneven volumous cloud. Color a bright straw orange with lots of floaties. A volcanic vent of carbonation is streaming from my Duvel tulip. Beautiful.

S: Apricot and citrus dominate...almost like a peach pop tart. Sweet with just a touch of horse blanket and sour patch kids. Musty yet pure. Insanely complex, you get something different with each whiff.

T: Explosive flavor. Apples, pears and lemon with vinegar and black pepper filling in the cracks. Light yeastiness with an almost sourdough flavor. A wonderful balance of grassy hops and Brett funk.

M: Good but not great. It's a little brash, the best I can describe it is that the carbonation, while excellent, is of the "large bubble" type thus exposing your palate to an influx of beach volleyball. It gets more tender as the beer warms.

O: Boulevard does it again. My favorite Saison.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 23:40:39 | More by cooler4life

mokanmikey

Kansas

4.88/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Note this is the 2013 Batch that was just released, time will change this review

A - Hazy golden with small yeast floating, Nice 2-3 finger head leaving after 2 mins, bubble lacing remaining on sides of tulip glass.

S - Much like the Tank 7 from which it is derived but has more of the earthy tones with the "Brett " yeast

T - Grassy, fruity, lemon pineapple, earthy slight bitterness that lingers with the funk that lingers on the back of the throat.

M - Nice carbonation, light and musty lingering on

O - Super beer to sip and enjoy all the flavors that come through and one of the very best of the Farmhouse styles of beer you will every taste ( at least from what I have tasted and read on the style) Highly recommended if you are a fan of this style and a benchmark of American brewed interpretation of the Belgium Farmhouse style.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 03:31:49 | More by mokanmikey

MickeyD

Kansas

4.4/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a clean tulip glass.

Appearance: The beer was a cloudy golden color with moderate amount of bubles and 3 finger width of thick head.

Smell: perfumy and grassy hops,

Taste: light and notes of citrus with mild hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel: very light but carbonated, fairly smooth but with a good hop spice.

Overall: I think this is a very good saison. According to Boulevards website it is a take off of their tank 7 just hopped up and fermented with a certain type of yeast. I don’t particularly like farmhouse/saisons but this one is good. I think I will buy more and let it age.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 01:22:44 | More by MickeyD

IPA1978

Missouri

4.46/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

2013 release.

A. Hazy gold, massive head that sticks and laces to the end.

S. Pears and apples, musty fruit and grain, straw, citrus...with every sniff their is something new.

T. Spicy, earthy wheat, hops are hard to discern from the onslaught of fruity, spicy, funky flavors but light bitterness is present. Gets even more interesting as it warms, do not serve this to cold. Slight warming effect from the abv adds a finishing touch.

M. Medium body, super fine carbonation, velvety slick.

O. I love this beer more and more every year.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 01:20:23 | More by IPA1978

GonzoHomebrewer

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2011, consumed a few nights ago.

A- Looks great, golden with some haze, but that is to be expected with dry hopping, frothy white head with some nice lacing on the glass

S- Surprised but I can still pick out some hop aroma in here in addition to obvious brett notes of funk, which seems to blend with the hop aroma and is reminiscent of pineapple juice kept in a barn? Best I can come up with, crazy how the hops and brett are mingling though

T- More of the same, honestly did not expect to pick out much of the hops still, but they are definitely there. I have had an '09 that had 3 years on it and it was too much; no hops at all and brett was very one noted of just this farmhouse funk. This is much better, 2 years seems to be the limit to being able to still have some hop quality

M- prickly fresh carbonation, makes for a quick sipper

O- Great beer, if you have some '11 Saison-Brett laying around, open and consume. I've had this beer with more age on it and it does absolutely nothing for it. Looking forward to opening the '12 I have in the coming to days to see what I prefer.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 23:27:31 | More by GonzoHomebrewer

Siriusfisherman

Montana

4.6/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

2012 Vintage

L: Bright gold, fairly clear, with a huge soapy white head. Carbonation causes little particles to swirl around like yeast flocks in a glass fermenter. Incredible lacing.

A: Big, funky brett notes, very fresh and earthy, as well as some fruity alcohol and zesty citrus hop notes with spicy and herbal complexities. Subtle breadiness from malt and yeast.

T/M: Soft bitterness upfront that roles into a blend of earthy brettanomyces and zesty citrus, herbal, slightly spicy hop flavor. Fruity yeast notes and a dry, bready, pilsnery malt backbone round this one out, combining to give an apple like character. The mouthfeel is thin with a slick texture, and the finish is bone-dry. The high abv is incredibly well masked.

Overall, an amazing Saison. Not just a great showcase of what brettanomyces can do, but an incredible balance and blend of ingredients by the brewer. The complexity is incredible, and all the flavors perform perfectly. I can not recommend this one enough, about the best Saison most states have the honor of receiving.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 01:09:46 | More by Siriusfisherman

deltatauhobbit

Maine

4.11/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled 2012
Bottle #5650
Best by February 2014

Pours a golden color with a large bubbly white head, big bubbles, fades fast but actually takes awhile because of the amount of head, only the smallest bits of lacing on the glass.

Smell has a nice funky aroma, hop presence has been muted with the Brett character taking more of a leading role, touch of light fruit and candied sugar.

Taste starts out with a light citrus flavor and builds upon a layer of funk, neither of which is overpowering but nicely balanced, candied sugar adds a touch of sweetness, hop presence is non-existent, carbonation is very light, active and explode in the mouth much like a champagne, finishes slightly dry, alcohol is very well hidden, I would think this closer to a 5% beer except I'm starting to feel it on an empty stomach.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 21:01:00 | More by deltatauhobbit

theruckus33

Kansas

4.74/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Sudsy white billowy foam with a about half a two finger head. Bubbles stick to the glass in nice globs. The body is a dark straw, with a subtle a slight orange hue. Super billowy

S: Hints of oak, coriander, slight white wine - perhaps a bit of grapefruit or other citrus notes. A bit of medicinal "funk" almost like an antiseptic smell - not bad.

T: Funky, in all the right ways, subtle hop characteristic lends the bitter notes that play with the funk. Those wine notes are really starting to come to the forefront.

M: Light, beer lingers on the palate.

O: The dry hopping makes this beer, I really especially enjoyed how the piney hops mingled with the fruit tones from the brett. Must get!

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 00:56:51 | More by theruckus33

craft_shannie

Indiana

4.19/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

batch 2012-2. took a bit of time to pour an almost full glass - 4 finger plus off-white frothy & tight bubble head, with soap-like clumps of lacing. hazy straw color w. suspended yeast. smell is tart apple skin and white pepper. taste is a bit restrained - definitely has room for more funk. taste is smooth, crisp pepper spice, w. bit of a green apple/citrus, w. woody/earthy quality. finishes wicked dry.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 18:00:31 | More by craft_shannie

tectactoe

Michigan

4.35/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Huge thanks to Mike for splitting this with me to break up some of the monotony of a mini-BCS tasting (hah!). Been on the "wants" list for a while now. Pours a heavily cloudy, almost completely opaque golden-yellow color with little bits of sediment raging about. The head is enormous - foamy, thick, and chunky, leaving fat patches of lacing huddled around the entire circumference of the glass.

I may have been ever so slightly inebriated at the time, but the first line in my notes for the aroma simply says, "...goddamn ridiculous amounts of Brett, funk, and barnyard..." and there really is no surprise there, given the name. Lots of soft bubblegum aromas, hay, wet wood; probably one of the funkiest things I've smelled. However, one of the beautiful things about this beer is that the Brett is still contempt in all of its power, and balanced by a nice inclusion of some light lemon and citrus zest and well as an earthy and grassy hop blanket. Spicy and funky, out of this world.

Much like the aroma, the taste is funkadelic as well. Plenty of barnyard and "horseblanket" flavors about, including lots of damp cellar, cork, and wood notes. Yeast resides in every corner with lots of clove and kitchen spices to it. Earthy, grassy, and herbal hops ride in and out on a wave of lightly toasted, bready malts. The hops seem to also carry a mild, white pepper flavor to them. Splashes of citrus peel and mildly tart lemon zest work the palate a bit, keeping things fresh. Awesome combination of fruity sweetness, earthy harshness, yeasty funkness, and and saison spiciness. The finish is ultra dry, as expected - medium bodied with ample carbonation.

Wow, I was expecting good things from this one and it certainly delivered. A funk-lover's wet dream in beer form. Despite the unadulterated amounts of funk, it never seems too harsh or too out of balance thanks to the numerous other flavor contributors. All-in-all, a very nicely crafted and well put together beer. Bravo.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 20:15:16 | More by tectactoe

Maxwell

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

The beer pours with a very aggressive and massive head which has me thinking that the brett has been busy in this beer. The head is slightly off white and made up of a gradient of bubbles going from small to large and creating a creamy crown that stretches above the lip of the glass. The head also takes forever to calm down in the glass, which makes drinking the beer a bit difficult. The head leaves a lacing of large soapy bubbles on the sides of the glass, leaving a roadway of lacing moving across the glass. In color, the beer pours a pale golden yellow to straw yellow with a maelstrom of bubbles whirling around and feeding the massive head. The beer’s body actually looks stunningly clean and clear, with only the slightest hint of a yeast haze. On the nose, the beer smells of hay and sweet funk with bits of pineapple citrus and slight sweaty horse. This beer smells bretty and beautiful with nice grassy spice notes and hay-like character. On the tongue, the beer tastes of spicy funk and bitter, chalky grass with bites of acidic citrus. The flavors begin as spicy malt, moving quickly into grassy bitter notes with splashes of funky pineapple with touches of chalky bitter flavors and big hay-like hops. A slight sweet caramel malt sits beneath everything, and the finish alcoholic pineapple across the palate. The aftertaste rings with slight citrus funk and touches of hay. In the mouth the beer feels medium in body with some thickening of the palate. The carbonation is rich and creamy on the tongue and helps to keep the sweet funk in check. The mouth is left with acid-neutralizing spittle swimming on the tongue and a slight dryness from the grassy bitters. Overall, this is a lovely, funky, complex saison with some nice weird characters. The alcoholic finish is the only complaint I have with this beer. This is a superb saison.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 01:03:26 | More by Maxwell

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.34/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle opened on 4.11.13
Bottle 11351
Batch 2011-2
Best By 03-2013

A - Pours a hazy medium orange with a huge foamy-cream colored head with good retention and lots of lacing.

S - Bretty, funky, hoppy. Very welcoming.

T - Brett, hops, grass, citrus, all on some funk.

D - Tons of carbonation with a light body.

O - Hoppy and Brett on a great saison, Terrific beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 04:12:01 | More by HuskyinPDX

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

4.45/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Served from a 750ml bottle into an Allagash chalice. Vintage 2012. Bottle 9579.

Appearance- Clear gold with tons of carbonation. 3 finger fluffy white head with a fingers worth sticking out over the rim. The little bit of head that has gone, has left some insane lacing around the glass.

Smell- Intoxicating aromas of apple cider, tart apple skins with brett mustiness, funky Meyer lemon, and an indescribable wild ale element that reminds me of Resurgum.

Taste- Musty floral flavors and funky yeast with some intense grape notes. The mild tang of Brett mixed with the light booze and woody characteristics is a great combo.

Mouthfeel- Very carbonated and smooth. Finishes crisp and dry.

Overall- Incredible smell and look to this beer, but unfortunately I wanted a slightly more tartness to it and a bit more brett character to it. I will have no problem finishing this bottle though.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 16:46:42 | More by Seanniek91

cvm4

Mississippi

4.43/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

2012 release.

A - Pours golden straw in color, slightly hazy with a white 2 finger head.

S - Light melon, hay, Brett to the extreme & some floral notes.

T - Lemon, funky, belgian yeast and light spices.

M - Lighter body, high carbonation.

O - The best of the best when it comes to this style. Saison qualities with the Brett funkyness makes for a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 21:01:02 | More by cvm4

dasenebler

Maine

4.38/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Boulevard Saison-Brett
3/27/13
750mL, 2012 release.

Pretty clear straw-gold, though the second pour had some floaties. Big, eggshell-white head, great retention. (4)

Aroma is pleasant with plenty of hops, though not quite what I expected for a dry-hopped Saison. Granted, this was probably bottled about a year ago. Good amount of other complexities: slight funk, though mainly Belgian ester/phenol character. Rustic. (4)

Initially there's a honey-like sweetness and biscuity malt flavor, but this disappears quickly amid a brisk finish. Now I'm starting to get the Brett– hay, earth, sweat, wood and that tongue-stripping dryness. Alcohol is apparent, but man, this stuff is easy to drink. Fruity hop flavor complements the pear-like esters, while the spiciness of heavier hop oils works off of the spicy Belgo-phenols. Bitterness is spot-on. I'd like to reiterate the dryness of this beer: other US brewers of Belgian styles, take note! Wonderfully high carbonation level adds to the refreshment and makes the aroma and brighter flavors pop. (4.5, 4.5)

Nice Saison. Hoppier than most classics for the style, but still has many of the other components that put it right in the wheelhouse of the genre. Brett character is relatively restrained, which is nice. If I find this stuff again on the East Coast I'll be sure to drink it fresher to see what it's like. This year-old bottle treated me pretty damn well. (4.5)

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 23:59:26 | More by dasenebler

WunderLlama

Massachusetts

4.41/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bomber poured into a pilsener glass

Mazy, hazy opaque and golden with swirling carbonation. Thick, white clouds of frothy foam filled the glass. Looked beautiful.

Clean and crisp , smelled and tasted delicious.nice finish, light to medium mouthfeel.

Definitely worth repeating.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 00:10:21 | More by WunderLlama

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.06/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to foofaa aka Dan for sharing this with me, enjoyed chilled from a tulip out of a 750ml corked and caged bottle.

The beer nearly filled the glass with white foam but in minutes settles to a fluffy marshmallow top on the golden hazed liquied with tight bead and sticky lace. The smell is very nice with slight apple and tropical odors with some hop citrus accents and light sweet malt elements which bring out the brett qualities even more. I like the way the feel is highly carbonated if you hold it in your mouth but has a scrubbing effect also with nice tanginess and slight bitterness from the hops with dry, not too heavy on the finish.

This is a decent saision, it has many facets with some brett giving the tropcial fruit and subtle spice alongside some malt which is toasted but lightly sweet with some nice hop bitterness to keep it balanced and somehat spicy as the malt recedes and the carbonation settles you get a light yeast flavor in the dry finish. Overall this was a beer I have been wanting to try, Thanks Dan this was an unexpected treat. I like the drinkability I could have probably drank the whole bottle myself. If you are a fan of saison or brett I recommend this.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 11:30:18 | More by Slatetank