Saison-Brett - Boulevard Brewing Co.

hawks10

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml brown bottle - Corked & Caged - Batch 2009-2 - Bottle #07085/13400 - Poured into my Boulevard Brewing Co. chalice...

Pours a golden apple juice color with tons, actually an almost uncontrollable amount of frothy white head which takes forever to dissipate, leaving chunks of lacing behind...

Nice! Brett is very apparent in the nose, the first thing I notice. Much stronger presence than the bottle I had about 8 months ago, good sign! Earthy with hints of southern Wisconsin countryside in summer, sightly funky. Spicing is low (which is good) and there are some slight, sweet fruit aromas in the background. Complex and very nice, perfect Saison aroma in my eyes!

Herbal and dry to start. The brett is quite strong compared to the last time I tried this. A bit of spice and quite dry. Slight twist of fruit hits very quick on the lips at first but fades fast, leaving the earthy hops and brett to dry out, slightly spice and bitter the beer. Yeast and a bit of pepper all with an underlying funkiness. Loads of complexity but all ends up dry...

Medium bodied with a pretty high level of carbonation. Spicy and dry with a lingering bitterness, a bit of alcohol heat shows up after a while...

This beer has really improved since I first tried it almost a year ago...the Brett was understated when the beer was young, but now it comes out full force in aroma (excellent) and flavor (a bit too much)...would have liked a bit less bitterness and dryness in the finish, otherwise, fantastic beer!

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2010 03:09:18 | More by hawks10

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

cadaugherty

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +3.7%

05-07-2013 23:44:00 | More by cadaugherty

dalepryor

Kentucky

4.75/5  rDev +9.4%

05-07-2013 21:05:42 | More by dalepryor

tnewmark

Kansas

5/5  rDev +15.2%

05-07-2013 20:30:18 | More by tnewmark

deadliest

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -2.1%

05-07-2013 01:18:42 | More by deadliest

MrVonzipper

California

4/5  rDev -7.8%

05-06-2013 08:30:04 | More by MrVonzipper

mscudder

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev -2.1%

05-06-2013 03:03:28 | More by mscudder

theruckus33

Kansas

2.89/5  rDev -33.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.75

A: Sudsy white billowy foam with a about half a finger head. Bubbles stick to the glass in nice globs. The body is a dark straw, with a subtle a slight orange hue. Effervescent, super bubbly, with lots of globules floaters - a bit intimidating.

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 but not sure if that is what I am hoping for.

O: A bit underwhelming, perhaps my expectations were too high.

Serving type: bottle

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

Tee2Grn

Michigan

4/5  rDev -7.8%

05-05-2013 22:29:08 | More by Tee2Grn