Willimantic Saison Noir - Willimantic Brewing Co.

Gushue3

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%

08-27-2012 01:06:02 | More by Gushue3

koopa

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

08-20-2012 01:57:00 | More by koopa

jfcaa193

Connecticut

3/5  rDev -22.3%

01-30-2012 01:49:07 | More by jfcaa193

semicharmedkind

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +3.6%

11-16-2011 03:55:10 | More by semicharmedkind

HopStoopid120

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +3.6%

11-15-2011 19:16:57 | More by HopStoopid120

Pahn

New York

4/5  rDev +3.6%

11-14-2011 07:15:08 | More by Pahn

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Growler thanks to Ben Roesch from Wormtown for sharing.

Pours a very dark almost black color with a little head.

Nose very light dry saison yeast, dark roasty malts, bitter spicy hops, hint of chocolate and dark crystal malts, much more of a dark IPA than saison.

Taste dark roast malts, light chocolate, bitter hops, spicy and earthy hops, the saison doesn't come out until like 5 sips in when the tongue becomes accustomed to everything else and a very light Belgian saison like flavor comes out but not really farmhouse, and it's even a bit creamy.

Mouth is med to a bit bigger bodied, decent carb but not enough for the style, and creamy.

Overall not impressed. I know there is a big thing to push the envelope of styles, but this just goes too far. There is pretty much no saison at all in there, it's just a black IPA with hints of weird yeast flavors. A saison should be nice and dry, farmhouse, malty, etc, even noir adds some dark malts but not tons of roast and chocolate, and even creamy with way to many hops. This is not anywhere near what the style should be.

Serving type: growler

09-15-2011 01:40:30 | More by jlindros

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed on-tap at the brewpub. Sounded interesting. Third of three saisons on tap.Black body with light brown head. Unfiltered dark, 8 malts, hopped by Sybilla, Crystal. Very shwartzbier-like, roasty,some chocolate, omplex. Unfortunatelythe roast comes on strong, coffee-grindish.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2010 19:36:14 | More by northyorksammy

medic25

Connecticut

4.33/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had a couple of these on tap during my first visit to WBC, and liked it so much I brought home a growler. Like no saison I've ever had; it really seemed to stretch the definition of the term. Color is a near-black, with very little head. Aroma is typical for a saison, yeasty. Taste is a fantastic combination of smoked malt like a porter with the funk/yeast flavor I'd expect from a typical saison. Extremely easy drinking; this is a beer I wish I didn't have to drive an hour to pick up!

Serving type: growler

08-21-2010 01:24:33 | More by medic25

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.38/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed on 8/21/09. On tap at the brewpub. This is not your typical saison; it is more of a porter. Pours black with a small tan head. Aroma of rich roasted malt, toffee, and caramel. Flavor is quite roasted with some sweet malt, alcohol, vanilla, and parmesean cheese. It's just ok for me, nothing about it really grabbed my attention.

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2009 23:05:53 | More by LilBeerDoctor

MaxBrews

Connecticut

4.2/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a dark opaque nearly black in color. Thin tan head hardly a fingers width, dissipates quickly into a ring of tan lacing.

Smell: Spicy Belgian Saison yeast. Citrus floral notes from the hops. Underlying that all is roasted coffee and chocolate from the malt.

Taste: A blend of Belgian spices and floral hops combining with the roasted chocolate and coffee taste of a porter.

Mouthfeel: near perfect, a little hop bitterness but not dry.

Drinkability: The description of this beer as a porter brewed with saison yeast fits it perfectly. This is a tasty, interesting and very session-able beer. Good work WBC

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2009 18:37:28 | More by MaxBrews

ghebb

Connecticut

4.28/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Main St. describes this brew as a porter fermented with saison yeast, and that pretty much nails it on the head.

Poured a very dark opaque brown (almost black) w/ no head. Aroma is dominated by the perfumy spicyness of the saison yeast, while complex malt aromas linger in the background.

When you take a swig, the malt flavors dominate, with coffee, chocolate, caramelly, and almost perceptable vanilla and clove like flavors (probably from the yeast). Very rich and complex indeed.

Mouthfeel is closer to that of a saison than a porter, as it finished dryer and more carbonated than a tpical porter.

Overall, a very enjoyable beer that went well w/ my half rack of ribs.

Serving type: on-tap

08-29-2009 12:51:36 | More by ghebb

sinstaineddemon

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - this creative saison is very dark, stout dark, with a typical stout smooth tan head, this head fades swiftly, no visible carbonation or sediment

S - roasted malts dominate the aroma, accompanied by the typical saison wheatiness, some background hops and distinct coffee notes

T - weird, a wheat soul with a deep roasted malt strength, the coffee notes persist to the flavor as well

M&D - quite smooth, a well done style mix, odd to get this flavor and color combination, however it was well done, the flavors and aromas were very complimentary, it was quenching and layered, and complex without being too much at once,well brewed

Serving type: on-tap

08-29-2009 02:54:14 | More by sinstaineddemon