Saison-Brett - Boulevard Brewing Co.

Scotchboy

Idaho

4.08/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap @ Bittercreek, Boise ID. Served in a large teku-style snifter.

A: Gold color with yeasty haze, bright white head with good retention and excellent lace.

S: Musty characters and lighter funk, pale malt and grains, hay, faint lemon, hints of juicy fruit , lemongrass.

T: There is a sweetness to the backbone of this beer, not sure if thats malt character or part of the Brett funk. Moderate lemongrass character, musty dust, pale malt, very little bitterness, hints of apple cider, dry finish with notes of spices and pepper.

MF: Good mouthfeel, light and creamy and fluffy (bottle-conditioned), dry finish, smooth.

O: A well-crafted offering, I believe that a year or two would change this beer considerably. On-tap, the Brett is a nice component.

Serving type: on-tap

09-06-2012 19:32:36 | More by Scotchboy

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750mL bottle poured into tulip - 2011 vintage

Pours a hazy golden yellow with a billowing, voluminous white head which threatens to grow right out of the glass. Retains into a layering of creamy film with walls of lacing strewn about the glass.

Super funky and bright scents with plenty of brett invading the senses. Horse blanket and grass with some lemon and orange peel. Light sweetness, biscuit malt. Touches of tartness lurking underneath.

Snap of tartness and bretty funk right up front. Lemon and orange peel with some juicy citrus and a dash of hops, followed by a wave of yeasty funk. Grassy and spicy throughout. Soft malt backbone with crackers and biscuits. Faint sweetness and hops towards the finish.

Fuller medium body, higher carbonation, lively and dry on the tongue. I've had this beer a number of times and seem to enjoy it more each time - if this was available here I'd buy this regularly.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 13:39:54 | More by xnicknj

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've been waiting for this one for a while, it just never crossed my path, until now.

Saison Brett pours out very bright golden in color with a shine to itself up upon light. A nice off white head reaches half an inch and sticks around. Some sediment seen floating around, but still clean looking beer. Smell is overrun with brett, a very nice effervescent scent coming from it with some pale malt backing and biscuits. Some faint fruit shows up to with some barnyard characteristics with warming. Taste is very good, meaning I really liked it. I've had a lot of saison/brett beers recently, a lot running middle of the pack. Boulevards got it going on while this bottle has 2 years on it. Bright brett notes, funkiness, damp blanket, hay, earth, orange, lemon, citrus. Some pale malt backing rinses everything out at the end while the brett stings the tounge a bit, which Im all for, spicy. Feel is at about medium with sparkling carbonation and a spicy aftertaste. I could do a half bottle of this, but a whole one would be a bit much, sharing is caring.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 17:26:15 | More by onix1agr

HattedClassic

Virginia

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

Appearance:
Pours a clear golden straw color with very white and vigorous head. Leaves a significant amount of lacing.

Smell:
A slight frutiness masked by what smells like moldy wood or at least the sort of smell of a fresh barn. I also get some lemon smells along with a tartness and some sort of yeast.

Taste:
A strong tart taste masks some fruity traces. I think the fruity flavor strongly resembles apricot and lemon. The hops are bitter but with a slightly musky taste that blends well

Mouthfeel:
Light bodied feel and semi-dry. There is also plenty of biting carbonation.

Overall:
A pretty good beer and good interpretation of the style. I tink the extreme tartiness might turn some people off though but letting the beer air out a little might let the fruit tones come out more.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 02:10:52 | More by HattedClassic

LeeryLeprechaun

Colorado

3.3/5  rDev -24%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Beer pours an nice yellow straw color with quite a bit of haze and a white head.

The aroma is of lemon grass and barnyard. Not a bad balance.

The beer tastes very earthy and goat is ever present.

Medium mouthfeel.

The brett in this beer is very forward. I have never licked a goat but if I did this is how I imagine it would taste. It is just too overwhelming in this beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 00:42:48 | More by LeeryLeprechaun

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.48/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

this is one of the best saisons ive ever had, really really really. it pours a dusty blonde color with a splendid white head that floats like a cloud. the nose is pretty farmy, yeasty, properly sour from the brett, and herbal. flavor is quite similar to the nose, but it comes in waves. theres a great malted wheat flavor underneath it all that you taste right at first, then comes the funky yeasts and the sour is in the finish. also a decidedly czech malt doughy flavor that carries on throughout. there is everything from black pepper to pickled lemons on my palate, and i cant get enough of this. the feel is also near perfect, smooth and thick, expansive in the mouth, but not at all filling or heavy. i could drink this everyday if i could afford it. it went magically with an aged goats gouda from holland, and i am dying to drink another bottle of this. its that good.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 23:56:04 | More by StonedTrippin

LambicPentameter

Kansas

4.66/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Updated to full review on 5/27/2013.

Poured out of a brown 750 mL bottle into a Boulevard tulip glass. This is a fresh bottle of the 2013 batch, and the bottle reads "4100 cases produced".

Appearance - Body is the color of golden straw with orange highlights; a thin stream of carbonation bubbles rising up from the bottom of the glass. Looks like liquid gold. The head is a buttery color with small and large bubbles that expand as they evaporate, leaving rocky head that fades after about a minute. The final lacing is spotty.

Smell - I love the complexity that the brett brings to the Tank 7 recipe. Funk, orange citrus, some flowery notes--maybe lavender--and earthy peat as well. Phenolic character peeks through.

Taste - Again the presence of the brett makes for a yeast-dominated base, but it also makes this particular saison a little less drinkable, but not in a bad way. Some amazing beers aren't highly drinkable. There is some herbal bitterness and hoppy notes, even some essence of grapefruit.

Mouthfeel - Medium-to-light bodied, with ample carbonation, but there is a lingering bitterness to the aftertaste that is a little too strong.

Overall, a stellar beer, but I think I prefer the versatility to the base Tank 7 recipe a little better. However, you can't change and evolve Tank 7 the same way you can Saison-Brett, so I'm looking forward to watching this one grow and re-reviewing.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 05:08:58 | More by LambicPentameter

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

4.73/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 bottle #11766

P:  A glistening golden apricot body with floods of zesty effervescence and a bountiful frothy crown of pure white head. Hazy and multitudes of floaters swimming around.  Retention is fantastic leaving a thick creamy top and life clinging lacing. Looks almost too good to drink...but not that good. 

S:  The nose presents a cornucopia of complex ingredients including basement funk, fresh citrus, moldy wood, medicinal aroma, licorice, a hint of dill pickles, fresh herbs and spices. The aroma has a timid funk that reminds me of a petting zoo and feeding the animals the pellet feed.  The aroma is outstanding and I can't get enough.

T/M:  First sip produces spicy yeast eaters, apple peels, honey, lemon, orange zest, and a peppery alcohol bite.  The earthy grain, citrus and herbal hops create a great dryness with a slight powdery film.  Fluffy and aggressively carbonated mouthfeel that lingehong teen tea, honey and lemongrass.

O:   Well what can I say other than "WOW!".  Super complex and completely harmonious. I enjoy the difference between glasses it gets fuller, funkier and spicier with each one. This is hands down my favorite saison. Well done Boulevard.  

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 03:17:09 | More by Hopswagger

MoreThanWine

Massachusetts

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

My my. Poured only an 8th inch head but lasted well and stayed laced throughout. Body is a pretty clear gold with even a hint of green gold unless this bar's light is messing with me. Smells richly of malt with a little dried fruit and some tropical unamable funk. Taste is great, echoing the smell and also having hints of cola, pencil shavings, and melon rind. Lasts long on the palette. Nice job Boulevard, you did KC proud.

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2012 20:44:10 | More by MoreThanWine

tut2528

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: pour is a golden yellow, that creates a massive amount of head (2-3 fingers worth).. Extremely carbonated and the lacing is absolutely massive.

S: the funkiness reminds me of an old shed. high citrus lemon notes, a massive amount of funkiness, some sour notes, light yeast, and spices all are intermingled very nicely.

T: this one is very peppery and funky. Yeast, lemon zest, bready notes, are all present as well and and there is a slight bitterness of hops. I also pick up on some slight banana and a touch of cloves.

M: this one is light to medium bodied, goes down rather quickly, leaves a slight bitterness on the tonuge.

O: haven’t had a saison in quite some time, but decided to give this style another shot. This one is actually quite nice and I find it light enough to thoroughly enjoy on this hot day. The complexity in the nose isn’t all that big in my opinion, but I find a massive amount of complexity in the taste. I find this one extremely well balanced and think that the drinkability is actually quite high.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 01:13:48 | More by tut2528

Beericjb

Connecticut

4.98/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2012 bottle.

A: nice light golden color. Couple of fingers head with little retention. The amount of yeast makes up for the lack of head retention/lacing. Soooo much yeast, it is beautiful.
S: Super funky smell. Smells kind of like a dank basement in a good way.
T: taste is everthing I could hope for. Nice citusy taste with lots of musky funkiness. A bit of bitterness too.
M: nice and crisp like as a saison will be. A bit dry with some creaminess from the yeast
O: Pretty much what I was ecpecting. Just funky saison heaven.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 02:29:42 | More by Beericjb

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

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

Ontap at McNellies Tulsa. 8.5oz served in a Boulevard Tulip.

A - Cloudy golden yellow with 2 fingers of white creamy foam. Draped lacing throughout the glass.

A - Brett fills the glass with musky cheese and dusty basement aroma. Bruised orchard peaches, pears, apricots, lemons, and faint spice.

T - Crisp lemon zest and various citrus flavors, very bright, apricots, peaches, pilsner malt, chalky yeast, musty basement yeast, mushrooms, fermented bananas, white pepper, mildly sweet, grassy hops lightly blanket over everything adding a nice layer of bitterness. Finishes extremely dry with some funky lemon in the background.

M - Creamy and crisp at different levels, moderate but soft carbonation.

So glad I found this on tap. Very earthy and funky with an incredible balance of crisp citrus and hops. Complex fruit and subtle malt in the middle. I love this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2012 20:30:36 | More by StaveHooks

ncfranklin

Alabama

4.43/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml corked & caged bottle into a Corsendonk tulip. The first bottle of beer over 16oz I've legally purchased in the state of Alabama. Free the Hops!

A: Hazy lemon yellow in color, with huge white soapy head. Sticks around to a thin finger top, with very nice lacing down the glass. Beautiful beer with all the carbonation bubbles rolling up.

S: Funky all over. Lemon, pepper, yeasty, odd spices, a light bready sweetness. Not overly potent, but definitely complex.

T: Super spicey. Pepper, lemony zest, tangy orange peel, and a big burst of brett on the finish. Even some light fruitier notes throughout. Complexity here is deep, but it doesn't get sweet with honey like some efforts at the style.

M: Carbonated. Really refreshing and dry on the palette. The pepperiness of it really hits you in the gums and on the top of the mouth throughout.

D: It's a fantastic Saison above all else. This bottle is fresh, so the Brett isn't overpowering but more of a strong accent note on the finish. Really impressive. Boulevard's smokestack series is one of the most underrated and continuously impressive groups of brews in the country.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 00:51:47 | More by ncfranklin

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 vintage. Bottled February 2012.

Beer is a slightly hazy golden colour. Medium sized white head. Moderate retention.

Smell is floral and fruity. Tart brett scents mix in very well with the expected saison scents. A little funky, but not as much as I had expected. Very nice.

Brett is right upfront in the taste, a little bit tart, with some funk and barnyard flavour. White pepper, some other spice flavours. Lemon. Fruity. Some bitterness from the hops, a bit grassy. Quite dry. Funky aftertaste. Complex indeed.

Medium bodied, pretty low carbonation level, particularly for the style. The result makes it feel a bit heavier than it is. Alcohol pretty well hidden.

Overall, a really good beer. I am interested to have a bottle sit for a year and see how the flavour develops.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 17:46:43 | More by jrenihan

cmoody91

Illinois

4.58/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Corked/Caged 2012 Bottle poured into Tulip, got two more in the cellar but wanted to taste this fresh.

Pours a thick head with lots of distinct bubbles, lacing died off as the beer warms and gets near the end of the glass.

First off is all the brett funk on the nose, army blanket, burlap, grains, but underneath and as it cools is tons of fresh lemon, pepper, some vague warm spices, and some Noble hops earthiness. Complex to say the least and extremely enjoyable and captivating to see the different layers.

Taste is all sweet lemon sorbet and spices once it warms and you get used to the funk. First sips are all brett again though, same grains, burlap etc, but it's very in balance with everything else. Very nicely balanced for a saison, just enough sweetness to keep you drinking with just a touch of dryness.

Carbonation is light to medium, for such a high ABV beer it feels surprisingly light in the mouth but certainly not thin. For a saison it's just where I want it to be for easy summer drinking.

Excited to see this beer develop over the next couple months/year, had a 2011 Saison Brett a couple weeks ago and it was much more funky/brett forward.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 00:35:12 | More by cmoody91

hagbergl

Massachusetts

4.48/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had Boulevard's Saison-Brett on tap at Lord Hobo in Cambridge, MA this past weekend. It being a pretty rare beer to see around in bottles, never mind on tap, I had to give it a try. I'm really getting into Saisons...almost as much as IPAs. Saison-Brett was served in a tulip glass.

Appearance (4/5): Saison-Brett pours a hazy, bright yellow color and is topped with a one-finger white, bubbly head of foam that recedes quickly, forming a ring of white. Saison-Brett is the picture of a typical Saison; it looks nice, but there isn't anything incredibly special about its appearance...it's aroma and taste, on the other hand...

Smell (4.5/5): Saison-Brett smells...well, VERY Brett-y. Funky, peppery, notes from the Brettanoymyces yeast stand out, overshadowing the standard Saison aromas of lemon, grass, wheat, and herbal hops. They aren't completely overshadowed, though, meaning this beer has a strong and complex nose to it. Very interesting. Makes me want to drink it big time!

Taste (4.5/5): I am immediately struck by this beer's similarity to both Green Flash's Rayon Vert and Orval. The Brettanomyces character is just so bold, and in a great way. Brett funk flavor gives way, as in the nose, to herbal, earthy hops (this Saison is dry-hopped), notes of lemon, wheat, and some biscuity malt. Though this is quite a big beer at 8.5% abv, you cannot taste a trace of alcohol flavor. Instead, the tongue is bathed in a soft funkiness that really never becomes sour and evolves as the beer warms. What an ode to strangely balanced yet weird flavor of Brettanomyces!

Mouthfeel (4.5/5): I love the mouthfeel on this beer. The secret, as with all things with this beer, is the Brett. The Brett lends a light prickliness to the feel of this medium bodied beer that is just excellent. The medium carbonation is a good match for this beer and allows it to achieve a smooth and creamy feel. The drinkability is relatively high; this beer goes down easy and never feels 'hot'.

Overall (4.5/5): Saison-Brett is an excellent beer. It has all the elements of a very good big (high abv.) Saison, but the addition of Brett as an integral ingredient puts it over the top and makes it one of the most memorable examples of the style that I have had. If you're curious what a beer with Brett in it tastes like and you're adventurous, you can't go wrong purchasing a glass or bottle of this next time you see it.

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2012 02:11:31 | More by hagbergl

WankelEngine

Illinois

4.65/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750ml corked and caged bottle into a Duvel tulip

A: Pours a hazy golden-straw color. There is a vibrant white head of 1.5 fingers which bubbles away fairly quickly.

S: The aroma is potent; I can smell it as I pour. Tart funk springs out of the glass, followed by some farmhouse flavors and a touch of lemon/sour apple and vinegar. Mild notes of pepper and pear. Wheat and wet hay round out the aroma.

T: Nearly no tartness, just funk. The farmhouse/saison flavor is enhanced by a strong, earthy undertone. Bready malt follows and leads into some spicy notes. Belgian yeast contributes its signature flavors: banana, cloves and some esters. The Brett funk increases both as the beer warms and as I savor my sips. Strong wet hay, wool, and horse blanket complement the earthy character nicely. Sour apple is present but subdued.

M: Moderate-high level of some sharp carbonation, but it works perfectly for the style. Medium bodied with a little bit of estery alcohol.

O: Fantastic. Not the sourest beer ever, so I'm glad I have another in the cellar. Everything comes together perfectly. Sour complements saison.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2012 01:42:57 | More by WankelEngine

mattsander

Alberta (Canada)

4.48/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Cloudy golden with a bone white frothy head. Nice torrent of carbonation rises from the center of the glass, pretty.

S: Brett brett brett all over this thing, way more than I expected. Soft damp wool, lemon rind, leaves & earth, slightly medicinal but never unappealing. Delicious, highly complex, beautiful.

T: The beer evolves over my palate for a good 15 seconds after every sip. A layer of crisp spicy phenolics, a sort of cucumber fruitiness in the middle, a wallop of soft living brett character in the finish with some herbal qualities. Absolutely delicious beer.

M: The carbonation is perfect for a beer of this magnitude. I was expecting a DuPont-esque volcanic carbonation but this is creamier and smoother. Awesome sipper but highly refreshing when you want it to be.

This beer exceeded my expections, would buy many again.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2012 01:32:05 | More by mattsander

denver10

Colorado

4/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a golden yellow with a big white, foamy head. Vubbles continue to rise to the surface and nice lacing. A nice sweet and funky aroma; banana,candied sugar, cloves, and hay. Flavor offers some funkiness alongside some lemon, cloves, a little breadiness and a touch of some hops in the finish. A crisp, active mouthfeel. Overall, an enjoyable brew. Well put together and smooth.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 22:15:38 | More by denver10

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

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

Poured into a tulip glass from the tap at the Royale, St. Louis, MO
Vintage: 2012

Pours a nice solid golden color with slightly hazy body. Nice orange hues on the edges and a white 0.5 inch head forms that is quite dense yet recedes fairly quickly to a nice mat.

Aroma is of spice and funk. Nice and barnyard with nice fruity esters. Chalky yeast aromas and sweetness permeate the beer and mix in with some nice bready grain notes and some slight pear juice notes as well. The funk notes play nice with a slight herbal and grassy hop note. Spices, cloves and peppercorn are present in the nose.

Taste starts off with some good malty background. Grain and bread notes mixed in with some fruity esters. The beer is dry but delicious. Nice funk and barnyard notes mixe in with the fruity esters and compliment the clove and spices very well. Nice coriander notes punctuate a grassy and slightly citrusy hop backed finish. Dry, crisp and clean. Best saison out there.

I love Blvd. yearly offering of this saison. Great brett notes mixed in with a refreshing and juicy saison.

Serving type: on-tap

07-22-2012 15:14:33 | More by JoEBoBpr

Chirpie

Kansas

4.83/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 Bottle - Bought at Brown Bag in Olathe, KS - Bottle #9312

I had 4 bottles of the 2011 version and my memory was painting some rather lofty memories of it. More than a few said they'd nailed the 2012 and drinking it fresh instead of aging it was a perfectly reasonable thing to do.

So I cracked one open after having the willpower to leave the bottles I bought alone for a couple months.

The biggest difference out of the whole experience that I noted vs the 2011 version was the aroma. 2012 has an even more pronounced bready/funky smell. Had to be one of the better smelling beers I can recall. (If you like funk) I had just come off a disappointment with Love Child No 2 so this was a return to form in my mind.

The head dissipates quickly with medium sized bubbles. It doesn't hang around as long or lace as much as the Tank 7 it's loosly based on. The appearance is perfect pale yellow. The bubbles will come up from dead center at the bottom for an infinite period of time. Mouthfeel is baby bottom smooth.

The taste? Oh man! ^_^ Thank goodness Tank 7 is year round as a stand in, but this is just a great funky rendition that I still hate having only 3 more bottles to look forward to until next year. Very strong funky medicinal notes. Prickly near the end. Finishes smooth. No burn whatsoever.

If you like a good farmhouse ale, and want to know what a Brett(funked up) version will taste like, you can't beat this mana in a glass.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 20:41:39 | More by Chirpie

zac16125

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750mL bottle poured into a tulip
2012 bottle number 20779

A big thanks to alxndr33 for sending a couple of these over in a trade!

A: Pours a light straw colored with a huge billowing 3 plus fingers width of sea foam white head, which takes minutes to dissipate down to a drinkable level.   Leaves small amounts of spotty lacing.

S: Initially very tart, with sour apple and lemon notes.  Then some wheat aromas, a little bit of wet hay funk, some pepper spice, hint of pear.  The nose gets way funkier as it warms.  If the nose is any indication this one is going to be something special!

T:  A lot of wheat flavors upfront, initially not the tartness or the funk i was anticipating, and I kept waiting for those characters to come out, but they never did.  I do get some belgium yeast banana, significant hop bitterness, some spice, and a rather unique sweet character that lingers in the aftertaste (honestly its similar to the sweet maple syrup notes that occasionaly hit when drinking a CBS)  .  This is really unique, and I dont get many saison notes or brett notes, instead I get wheat followed by hop bitterness, and finished with malpe syrup sweetness.  The flavors as a whole are rather subdued though, milder than what I anticipated. Not really sure what to think about the palate profile, but definitely bonus points for originality.

M/D: Rather smooth and creamy, an interesting mouthfeel combination for the style, yet it still has a noticable carbonation. Fairly drying on the finish. ABV is well masked, drinkablitity is very good.  

O: Overall, this was a pretty interesting and unique offering. It smelled fantastic, but I wasnt blown away by the taste.  I would have liked more tartness or funk, preferably tartness.  Certainly above average, but for me there is no comparison to really any of the Fantome's I have tried. And to be Fantome and their various saison offerings are definitely still my gold standard for the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 00:56:28 | More by zac16125

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

thanks to egrace84 for sharing this beer! Thanks elliot!

poured into tulip.

reviewed from notes taken 7/17/12.

Appearance: Straw yellow bodied beer with a slighy haze to it, but you can still see through the beer. 2 fingers of white head.

Smell: Big wheat and hay notes. Mild funk. Yeasty and slightly fruity.

Taste: Mild brett funk and lemon tartness. Yeasty, bready, grainy, and fruity with bananas having the most infleunce. Little hint of pepper. Got alot of really nice flavors going on in this beer.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer with moderate carbonation. Agressive carbonation thats just right. Nice dry finish, but the beer has a delicate element to it as far as the mouthfeel goes maybe some creaminess?

Overall: This is the #2 Saison for a reason! Great beer by Boulevard! It honestly my second favorite next to BBQ. Love those smokestack series beers!

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 23:16:43 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

gtermi

Texas

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

A: This beer pours a very cloudy golden body with a thick white head. As the head fades, it leaves a lot of lace on the glass and the head never fully goes away.

S: The smell is very nice. It has a good amount of funk, strong yeast scents and a bit of fruit.

T: Just like the smell, I get a strong amount of funky flavors, a nice amount of fruit and then a fruity yeast. As the beer lingers, I start to get a nice malt flavor.

M: This is a very smooth beer. It has a nice creamy mouthfeel and has a slight amount of crispness on the back of the throat and on the tip of the tongue.

O: This is just an amazing beer. It hits its mark on ever possible aspect of this style. I wish I could find this beer all the time because its one of the best I have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 04:29:08 | More by gtermi

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle acquired at Princeton Liquors in Maple Grove, MN. Poured fridge cold into a wine glass. 2011 bottle number 01262.

Pours a very hazy yellow with a decent white head that laces lightly. Nose is more to the saison side than the Brett in this bottle. Pepper, light brett notes that are more indistinguishable than merely "barnyard". Body is quite similar. Wheat, bread, pepper, a light buttery nature, barnyard. Finishes quite dry. Initially quite disappointed compared to some of the hype, though as time passed it grew on me to liking it. Sampled back to back with Elder Brett by Epic, and theirs was by far my favourite.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 18:45:25 | More by kjyost