Brooklyn Sorachi Ace - Brooklyn Brewery

greenmonstah

New Hampshire

4.08/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into Allagash tulip/chalice glass

A - Seriously effervescent. Duvel territory or beyond. Massive head with a huge stream of bubbles coming from the base of the etched glass. Three to four fingers of a tan head rest atop a lightly orange, chill-hazy golden ale.

S - Fresh and clean, with peppery spicy yeast, lightly bitter and lemony hops, and some grain.

T - A bit spicy, a bit bitter, the beer does a good job of more closely incorporating the hop into the commonly less-hoppy saison. It is light and refreshing but also biting with pepper notes and hoppy bitterness. Lemony too!

M - Light body with a ton of carbonation that goes great with the flavor, plus a drying finish.

O - Very good beer and unlike any other saison I have had. The Sorachi Ace hop seems to be bittering and lemony in my experience here, need to seek out other beers that feature it.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 21:10:29 | More by greenmonstah

KajII

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

[Suggested Glassware: Tulip Glass]

The pour was a cloudy golden yellow with a large (2-3 finger) white fluffy head that reduced down to a medium cap and had excellent sheets of lacing.

The aroma was of a light grain malt, floral and grassy hops and a funky Belgian yeast with notes of citrus (lemon), green apple, and a bit of spice.

The taste was lightly sweet and rather creamy with a hint of citrus, and a mild fruity ester from the onset, progressing into a mild bitter yeasty taste with a light spicy finish. The flavor stuck around for a little while with the spicy fruity taste left lying on the taste buds.

Mouthfeel was light in body with a creamy and slightly dry texture and a mild carbonation.

Overall a nice crisp tasting brew with all components working harmoniously together, which did a great job of concealing the high somewhat ABV making this one very enjoyable drinking experience...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 21:05:54 | More by KajII

jwc215

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml cage-corked bottle:

Pours clouded pale gold with a bubbly white head that slowly descends. Not much lacing.

The smell is of lemongrass, somewhat musty, with tinny/metallic notes.

The taste is musty lemongrass with slight honey with a champagne-like character. Yeast, malt and hops converge to bring about a musty sweet and sour character that is pleasant. Finishes dry.

The feel is spritzy, towards champagne-like. Holds up a nicely refreshing body.

It certainly fits the broad style. Nice and refreshing, especially on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 20:04:38 | More by jwc215

cosmicevan

New York

4.78/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

when on saw this available for growler fills I simply could not pass this up. enjoyed several pours in my brooklyn snifter on 7/9 while I was "on Hiatus."

a - just like the bottled version, it poured a golden yellow with champagne-like carbonation and a thick 3 finger frothy head with super sticky lacing.

s - candy and bubblegum. perfect for the summer weather. crisp and vibrant with some peppery fruit.

t - saison maximus. one if the better ones out there. great soft white pepper fruitiness. candy and bubblegum.

m - Silky and smooth with an undeniable zest.

d - Fantastic. One of my fav saisons. glad they made it year round and delighted to get this in growler. a true masterpiece and a must try for any fan of beer.

Serving type: growler

Serving type: growler

08-01-2012 01:39:14 | More by cosmicevan

vickersspitfire

Texas

3.98/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours out a light, hazy gold with a copious head. Great retention; good lacing.
Biscuity malts, a bit of funk, and a very faint citrusy and lemony hop character, but not much else.
Now, the strong points of this beer. Thee’s a brilliant mouthfeel: awesomely soft and fluffy. The carbonation is high, but very refined and pleasant. The alleged star of this Saison--the Sorachi Ace hop varietal from Japan-- is present, though seems to be more than balanced by the malt. The hop flavor is nice: lightly lemony and herbal. Bitter, but not totally dry.And the not-so-strong? I must admit, I was expecting more from this brew. There is a big, biscuity malt presence that I wouldn't say is par for the Saison style. But the main flaw I see in this beer is an annoyingly buttery flavor-- dare I say, diacetyl aftertaste. This doesn't fit into my definition of "crackingly dry", as the bottle proclaims. Clean this butteriness up, Brooklyn, sub in a bit more Saison funk, and you'd have an awesome beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 02:59:29 | More by vickersspitfire

AaronHomoya

Indiana

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Paired with a simple fish at Black Market dinner with Garrett Oliver.

I think this is the perfect use of this hop. The lemon with the spiciness of the saison was great. Mostly lemon in smell, with some dill flavor as well. Medium bodied with good carbonation. Overall a nice twist to a standard saison. Very balanced and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 14:44:00 | More by AaronHomoya

Nutwood

Kentucky

5/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Saw this on the new drafts board at my main spot. Inquired about the style and was informed is was a Saison on tap.

Draft, 10 oz. pour into a goblet at ideal temperature.

A: Rich, slightly hazed golden color; half-finger of lingering head, a nice slightly yellowish off-white that lingered and laced pleasantly.

S: Country air aroma of hay, light fresh earth, spice, a touch of pine and lemongrass, an impression of tropical and floral without being sweet or perfumey. Nice notes of yeast hinting at the flavor to follow.

T: Follows nose and adds delicately balanced malt and hops. Taste is assertive but not aggressive; complex but very cohesive. Any bitter components present in the Sorachi hops are subdued and integrated into the overall complexity. There is a mellow spice hops flavor balancing the malt on the front, and the finish returns to the floral and lemongrass. There is a bit of elusive fruit here, the closest I can come is pear. After-taste is lip smacking fresh and clean and makes you want to savor and reflect before sipping again.

M: Medium body with carbonation present but in proportion to the flavor; the bubbles have presence but do not interfere with the taste.

O: This beer for me was inspiring; after a day of very high IBUs this was a refreshing eye-opener. It showed up big-time and reminded me there is more to beer than booze, bitterness and in-your-face attempts at "boldness". This is personal and is probably just an individual reaction, but the second and third sips of this gave me a bit of goose-flesh. This is a beer I will return to soon and often.

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2012 16:14:58 | More by Nutwood

danieelol

Australia

4.48/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Platinum Liquor

Had this following Ginger Chops. Lemon and ginger is a classic combination after all.

Pours a cloudy bronzed yellow. Good head/lacing.

Smell is herbal hops and garden smells, followed by lemon and lemon sherbet, which I have heard described before in reference to Sorachi Ace but never experienced. Nice soft citrus/lemon cake. Some funky body odour notes. Great combination of leaves and lemon.

Taste is more subtle, well rounded lemon. Texturally great too, confident but restrained carbonation is tempered by a soft feel on the tongue. Do get the more conventional tea-like hops coming through also, evoking lemon iced tea.

Overall, what more to say? Fantastic beer. Brooklyn found a great application for Sorachi Ace, and executed it par excellence.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 12:44:27 | More by danieelol

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap at Cork City Pub in Hoboken, NJ

A: Pours a hazy dark golden yellow to golden orange in color. The beer has a three finger tall off-white head that slowly reduces to a thick film over the entire surface of the beer with some small thicker patches and a thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of saison yeast spiciness with hay + earthiness. There is just a hint of lemon citrus.

T: Light to moderate amounts of lemon citrus sourness along with some earthy/hay hop bitterness. There is an underlying sweetness with some spicy yeast flavors.

M: Just heavier than light bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth. Light amounts of dryness in the finish.

O: Very enjoyable and easy to drink - definitely one to have another time. Well balanced and the alcohol is well hidden.

Serving type: on-tap

07-12-2012 01:27:51 | More by dbrauneis

imasloth

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Hazy, brownish orange with foamy white head and thick lacing.

S- Definite saison yeast character, peppery underbelly with bubblegum on surface.

T- Peppery, lemon, still some bubble gum when first taken into mouth. Spiciness and hop character come out, then dryness and bitterness.

M- Thin, evident carbonation, dry finish (even powdery so, as though you'd had powder in your mouth) ...

What I like so much is the distinct components in each reviewing component. The color in the appearance, the peppery and bubble gum scent, the spiciness and hop character of the taste, and the feel of the finish.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 15:14:48 | More by imasloth

kylehay2004

Florida

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: three finger head with excellent retention and scattered lacing on a cloudy pale golden body.

S: a little musty, belgian yeast, slightly sweet tropical fruit

T: very floral and herbal with clove, pepper and funky belgian yeast. pear and lemon citrus fruit notes.

M: light to medium body and moderate to high carbonation.

Overall: a nice saison. a little dull in the flavor but the yeast character is excellent. A must try.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 01:39:05 | More by kylehay2004

TheStove

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into goblet from a bomber that I aged for nearly two years.

Pours a slightly hazy dull golden yellow with lingering head. Smells deeply of citrus in a number of dimensions, both hops and lemon/lemon candy. Even subtle hints of vanilla and honey come through.

Has a robust almost slightly creamy first sip exploding with flavors of citrus, yeast and honey. A champagne like snap occurs on the tongue and it starts to mellow and give way to a slight bitterness and eventually dryness.

The champagne yeast is an interesting take on this one. It "brightens" up your traditional saison in a sense without getting into anything too fruity. Definitely tastes like summer in a glass or in some sense maybe even late summer since the bitter cold is usually around the corner.

I'm probably too ebullient in my review but Brooklyn seriously nails it on their large format bottles.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 05:44:53 | More by TheStove

fmccormi

New York

4.35/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Straight pour from 750ml C&C bottle to an oversized wineglass (HF stemware). Bottling date of January 24, 2012 printed in black ink in a little square above and to the left of the barcode on the back label (“0242”).

Appearance (4.5): Pretty aggressive head on this beer, rising to 3-4 fingers of bone-white foam composed of very fine bubbles, and fading eventually to a haze on the surface of the body and a wide, sticky ring around the glass at the edges. The body is a perfectly hazy honey-gold, not murky but definitely not clear—perfect body appearance! I’d just like some more lacing, but that’s all I can complain about.

Smell (4.0): Classic saison yeast in the nose: some earthy, hay-like characteristics, a little musty but not in a “funky” way—just lightly earthy and spicy, with the scent of straw. This is pretty aromatic, actually, and there is just a subtle hint of snappy lemon in the nose, like lemonade very light on the sugar.

Taste (4.5): And then there’s the lemon. Bright, snappy, bitter in a citrus-sour kind of way, and slightly grassy—but the distinctly fruity side of lemon comes through here, fruity in the way lemon-flavored icing can be. But there’s a definite citrus pith bitterness to this, too, helping to cut through the (mild) sweetness of the hops and the earthy, slightly spicy malt body. Speaking of which, the malts are downplayed, and rightfully so: biscuity but very light, like fresh white bread, but it’s easily lost in the back-and-forth between the lemony hops and the slightly spicy, earthy yeast note. A bit of coriander and clove, just a bit of white pepper, but mainly subtle and earthy. No alcohol detectable.

Mouthfeel (4.0): Surprisingly understated here, it’s lush and well-carbonated but not prickly at any point—just smooth, foamy, and slightly numbing. Light-bodied but not watery, but the dry finish makes this feel very quenching . . . damn.

Overall (4.5): The more I think about it, the more I realize how well-rounded this beer is. My only personal complaints are that I could always go for more lacing and I’m a fan of moderate, musty funk—this is pretty traditional, in terms of the yeast character. Though, it’s clear they picked a pretty refined strain for this, given the surprisingly nuanced mouthfeel and unique but not overpowering yeast note on the palate. And then the hops. This is a very unique, VERY successful pairing of hops and beer style, and to be honest I’m amazed at how long they’ve held on. Great job, Brooklyn! Now if I could just get this and Local 1 in a slightly smaller package . . . :-)

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 01:28:28 | More by fmccormi

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

No freshness date. Caged and corked.

Pours a hazy golden yellow-orange color with a coarse head boasting half-decent retention. Looks elegant.

Lovely dashed spicing. Peppery and coriander aromas with some lemony hops and papery yeast. Well-balanced aroma. Tidbits of orange peel detectable, as well.

Lemony and funky with dusty yeast residuals. Offering many characteristics from Bretty BPAs, it's this with a magnitude of yeast cake and spice rack array. Zesty and semi-hoppy with a bubbly dry bitterness. Sparkling white wine and sea salt. Flaked wheat, white pepper, and coriander.

Very spritzy--high carbonation. Pushes and rolls over all of the spice notes that never become too intense. The body is pretty simple; a zippy dry medium-light.

All about balance (not intensity) on this one. A delicate beer from Garrett Oliver and Brooklyn Brewery. I had waited much too long to finally give this one a go. Possibly my first time around with Sorachi Ace hops. A delicious drink and very much recommended.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 03:10:44 | More by thecheapies

JayQue

Virginia

3.53/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pretty good beer, but hardly an exceptional Saison. Looks the part. Big delicately bubbling white head. Good retention and lacing.

Pleasant aroma, but did not stand up to the marinaded chicken and steak that came off the grill. Most of the good Sasions I have enjoyed were paired with dinner. The flavor and aroma usually stood out.

The aroma and taste featured some lemon zest and mild hoppiness. The earthy, funky flavor I usually associate with Saisons was not there.

Mouthfeel was good. Rich and crisp. A very pleasant drinking experience but not a great Saison.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 01:11:32 | More by JayQue

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.13/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle opened on 6.4.12.

A - Pours a hazy, dark yellow with a large fluffy off-white head. Good retention.

S - Hoppy grass, citrus, subtle spices. All are pretty mild.

T - Sharp lemon at first, then some hoppy citrus and Belgian yeast and spice.

D - Good carbonation and a very light body.

O - A hoppy saison, but not as hoppy as I was expecting.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 21:29:12 | More by HuskyinPDX

spicelab

Australia

4.08/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle thanks to Adam@Platinum Liquor.

Orange-straw, just barely hazed. Two finger pillowy white head that falls relatively quickly, sans lace, to a raised ring and film. Rather rapid bead.

The signature pulped banana and lemon custard Sorachi notes are there, but surprisingly don't dominate. The spicy, doughy Saison yeast character shines through nicely with marmalade, bitter citrus pith and mild funk. Solid nose.

Sorachi leads the flavours a little more, but quickly coalesces with the now sour/bitter citric notes, bay leaf and continental parsley into a satisfyingly crisp profile.

Lightish body, but aggressive carbonation makes it very busy for the palate. Moderately tart on the mid and rear.

Great concept and execution. I ordinarily find Sorachi too domineering in Pale Ales / IPAs, however the more aggressive Saison yeast tames it nicely.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 11:23:22 | More by spicelab

claspada

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy pale yellow color with a tight, frothy head that extends up over the edge of the pint glass. Nevertheless, a fine looking beverage with drippy lace all the way down the glass.

Aromas begin with slight floral but much more solid lemongrass hops over a solid pilsner slightly sweeet malt base. Increased juicy, zesty citrus and fresh herbs at it warms a bit.

The tastes begin with sweet, juicy lemon and a certain soft, creamy, almost honey-like flavor, coupled with the pilsner maltiness. Beglian yeast adds flavors of biscuit dough, fresh herbs, clove and pear. Overall phenolics are light.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation; slightly less than I expected for the style but given the higher than normal ABV for the style it is acceptable. Finish is minorly bitter and dry.

Overall this is a very good Saison and I was pleasantly surprised because I am normally not a fan of the style. Usually they are too yeasty and herbal forward for my tastes but the Sorachi Ace lemony hops make this a winner for me. Worth a go on draft or in the bottle. I think this is year round now but try to find a fresh bottle if possible the get the freshest hop characteristics.

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2012 15:21:31 | More by claspada

jtierney89

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Not sure of the age on this bottle but it's def got some age on it, got it as a gift from the father of one of the assistant brewers. Hazy and faded orange marmalade color. Massive bright white head which dies kind of quickly. Sweet citric lemon grass nose. Otherwise pretty subtle nose.

Pretty nice tasting beer. Sweet belgian candy up front. Slight medicinal flavors, all well blended. Touches of banana and clove with lemon grass and citrus as the dominant flavors. Semi-spicy yeast bite on the finish. Touches of meaty fruit such as apples and pears. Delicious yet palate cleansing. Lots of brisk carbonation.

Just needs a bit more tartness.

I usually am not the biggest fan of brooklyn but this is pretty damn good.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 04:05:17 | More by jtierney89

DAllspaw

Indiana

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a golden yellow with 2 " brilliant white head. High carbonation you expect from a Saigon.

Smell is heavy on citrus and less barnyard than accustomed to for the style. Certainly a lighter crisper taste as well which my ignorance will attribute to the sorachi hops.

If you are looking for more earthy Saison this probably isn't for you but a very nice beer in many respects.

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2012 20:31:33 | More by DAllspaw

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-golden yellow color with a large white head and good lacing

S-lemon zest, spices, doughy bread aromas

T-bready malt flavor with lemon, cloves, and hints of sweetness with a nice dry finish

F-light to medium body with lots of tiny bubbles in the carbonation, a crisp feel

O-a delicious Saison with nice flavor, good summer brew with a variety of foods

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 19:28:36 | More by MDDMD

mattbk

New York

3.98/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Initially very clear, although topped off with a bit of the bottled yeast. Golden color, very carbonated, looks refreshing, although wasn't expecting so much carbonation.
S- Belgian aroma, spicy clove, and yes, some lemon citrus. Nothing very special here, but nothing bad either.
T- The lemongrass from the sorachi comes though first, tangy. The yeast flavor doesn't come out very much against the hops. Sweet, long finish. Refreshing. Very good. Not as interesting as I was expecting
M- Light, crisp, very bubbly. Like a champagne I'd say.
O- A refreshing summer beer, an interesting aroma and flavor, nothing amazing, but definitely solid.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 01:00:38 | More by mattbk

chanokokoro

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into 15 oz. gold-rimmed Brooklyn Brewery-branded stemware.

Pours an attractive hazy gold with a huge pillowy three finger clean white head that has almost supernatural retention. Leaves behind considerable lacing. Pleasant smells of bread and slight citrus dominate. Mild grassy and citrus flavors combine with an exceptionally creamy mouthfeel that finishes dry with just the right hint of spice. The refreshing flavors make this beer a joy to the tastebuds and the quinntesential warm weather saison.

Truly a world class beer and one of the most original and highest quality saisons brewed by a American craft brewery. A must try.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 12:14:10 | More by chanokokoro

TheHopHeadGirl

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

It's a single hop saison, germanpilsner malts, with spices, golden farmhouse ale. Has a 7.6% etoh. Reminds me of honey basil from berkley & saison du buff from dogfish. It would be great with food. My 1st time having it is @ pig & fish in rehoboth for $i a 16oz glass.

Serving type: on-tap

05-24-2012 22:30:31 | More by TheHopHeadGirl

wedge

North Carolina

4.23/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

@ The Federal

Slightly hazy pale yellow color with a tight, frothy head that extends up over the edge of the pint glass. Had this been served in a larger tulip glass or something similar, I think the overall appearance would have been more impressive. Nevertheless, a fine looking beverage with drippy lace all the way down the glass. Perfumy floral and lemongrass aromas over a solid pilsner malt base. Increased juicy, zesty citrus and fresh herbs at it warms a bit. Sweet, juicy lemon and a certain soft, creamy, almost honey-like character in the mouth with, again, a nice pale malt presence. Dough, fresh herbs, clove, pear, and cedar. Overall phenolics are light. Very flavorful, yet soft and smooth. Medium bodied and fairly well carbonated. Properly bitter and dry. I've had this before, but don't remember being this impressed. Well done.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2012 15:04:48 | More by wedge