Saison-Brett - Boulevard Brewing Co.

Reaper16

Alabama

4.7/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

a 2008-batch 1 bottle aged since October 2008, served into a Boulevard saison tulip/flute/whatever glass

Pours a gorgeous pale yellow with a just-right mix of clarity and cloudiness. The head, as usual for Smokestack Series beers, was utterly billowing. Huge heap of foam that, when dying, leaves behind large clumps of lace.

The Bret has been developing in this bottle for nearly a year now, and the initial blast of funk reminds you of that. Juicy pear and something astringent like acne cleaner are caressed by the barnyard aromas from the bret. The aroma has subtleties that are hard to pin down; they are fleeting, shifting in character from sniff to sniff. Spice and apple and hay. Complexity is the word that comes to mind.

Oh, wow. This isn't the first bottle of Saison-Brett that I've had, but I had never had a bottle as developed in bret character as this. The payoff is apparent on the palate. Light citrus and a decent sense of earthiness come from the generous-for-the-style dry hopping. Light, biscuit malt balances the hops. The phenols and esters are, again, tough to characterize as tasting like any one thing. Fruitiness meets bandaid sterility meets traces of vegetal characteristics. The musty flavors from the bret aren't overpowering. Just the perfect amount of funk and sourness to compliment anything else. I feel that I'm failing at this review because I'm not being specific enough... but this beer is nearly indescribable.

The feel is nice and on the lighter end of medium-bodied. Drinkability, for something as complex as this beer is, is very good. Its approachable at all times, and it never becomes too taxing or overstimulating to drink.

I'm so glad that I let this bottle develop. I can't imagine a better time than now to crack open a bottle of the original batch if you have one lying around. I don't think that its possible for the beer to get better than it is right now. A revelation.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2009 07:26:29 | More by Reaper16

MarkIntihar

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -13.6%

05-22-2013 13:36:09 | More by MarkIntihar

Jayschool

Kansas

5/5  rDev +15.2%

05-22-2013 03:44:25 | More by Jayschool

bkonk10

Indiana

5/5  rDev +15.2%

05-22-2013 01:59:19 | More by bkonk10

Busker

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +15.2%

05-21-2013 18:03:52 | More by Busker

CosmoHopHead

Kansas

4.5/5  rDev +3.7%

05-21-2013 04:46:37 | More by CosmoHopHead

johntfox

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +3.7%

05-21-2013 01:01:53 | More by johntfox

PHKrames

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +3.7%

05-20-2013 16:44:00 | More by PHKrames

SightinColor

Missouri

4/5  rDev -7.8%

05-18-2013 23:27:19 | More by SightinColor

jono0101

Missouri

4.75/5  rDev +9.4%

05-18-2013 22:16:21 | More by jono0101

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

cnbrown313

Illinois

4/5  rDev -7.8%

05-17-2013 13:38:18 | More by cnbrown313

Blashawright

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +3.7%

05-16-2013 22:33:57 | More by Blashawright

justforrazors

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +3.7%

05-16-2013 13:17:39 | More by justforrazors

acc88

Illinois

4/5  rDev -7.8%

05-16-2013 07:12:44 | More by acc88

Lledd

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -2.1%

05-16-2013 03:57:34 | More by Lledd

THEOPTIMATOR88

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +9.4%

05-16-2013 02:46:22 | More by THEOPTIMATOR88

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

Roger85

Illinois

4/5  rDev -7.8%

05-14-2013 00:54:17 | More by Roger85

TheRuss9585

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +3.7%

05-14-2013 00:46:43 | More by TheRuss9585

barflybastard

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +9.4%

05-12-2013 23:34:38 | More by barflybastard

SFACRKnight

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -13.6%

05-12-2013 12:38:16 | More by SFACRKnight

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -7.8%

05-10-2013 15:28:56 | More by twenty5

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

caguiar

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -7.8%

05-08-2013 20:15:27 | More by caguiar