Portsmouth Saison L'Hiver - Portsmouth Brewery

berley31

New Brunswick (Canada)

4/5  rDev -0.5%

01-04-2012 22:10:41 | More by berley31

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

04-23-2013 05:50:16 | More by Kelp

robwestcott

Indiana

4/5  rDev -0.5%

04-05-2013 23:13:28 | More by robwestcott

acurtis

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

01-06-2013 14:38:36 | More by acurtis

djrn2

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

01-06-2013 02:32:18 | More by djrn2

dtx00

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -12.9%

04-07-2012 21:52:55 | More by dtx00

projektyle

New Hampshire

5/5  rDev +24.4%

03-13-2012 18:42:30 | More by projektyle

fvernon

Indiana

4/5  rDev -0.5%

02-20-2012 01:43:50 | More by fvernon

ms11781

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Thanks to Gosox8787. 22oz bottle poured into a tulip glass.

Pours a murky light brown color. It looks a golden straw color and fairly clear when it's being poured into the glass but it settles in darker and a bit cloudy. There is minimal head and it disappears immediately. There is no lacing either. When the beer sits for a minute it looks as if it's completely still and flat.

The aroma is an interesting mix of fruit. There is some lighter fruit (apples, bananas) and a smaller amount of some dark fruit (sort of cherry-like). The Belgian yeast comes through prominently. There is a nice spice note that comes through as well, not the typical saison peppery spice, more along the lines of something found in a winter warmer.

The taste and the nose are similar, though not exactly close. The fruits show up, definitely apples, less banana, and a hint of some cherry. The spice character is a bit clearer, if not stronger than in the nose and is cinnamon-like. Overall the taste is considerably sweeter than the aroma led on. There what appears to be some caramel and an almost sugary aspect on the backend.

The carbonation was very low and, combined with the sweetness, it made the beer feel bigger than it probably is. I'm not sure it's supposed to be that way either because it doesn't really fit with the other aspects of the beer.

This was an interesting saison. The fruit flavors and aromas were nice and the mix between light and dark was unique. The only problem was the carbonation. The beer was near flat and it didn't seem like it was supposed to be that way. It definitely but a damper on an otherwise nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 04:50:27 | More by ms11781

tigg924

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tulip glass at the brewery.

Appearance: minimal head, golden in color, hazy, low carbonation,

Smell: apples, holiday spice, cherry, and hay

Taste: sweet caramel start followed by cinnamon, other holiday spices—clove maybe, with an apple finish

Mouthfeel: high carbonation, light bodied, sweet with a bit of funk

Overall: A nice intro saison that has witbier elements to it. Barely notice the higher ABV. My wife who is not a beer girl loved this stuff. Tastes like a tame saison with holiday spices. Very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2012 13:28:04 | More by tigg924

andylipp

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%

01-12-2012 22:27:15 | More by andylipp

seaweedsoup

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%

12-28-2011 20:27:23 | More by seaweedsoup

rab53

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -0.5%

12-02-2011 05:41:40 | More by rab53

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: 22 oz. bomber bottle picked up the other day at the brewery. Poured into my Portsmouth Brewery tulip and served slightly chilled.

Appearance: Medium brown with some nice orange highlights. Not much head or retention at all. No sediment in the glass either.

Aroma: Banannas and bubblegum notes stand out. A slight herbal / citrus backdrop there as well. The alcohol is pretty subdued.

Taste: The bananna note definitely takes hold as the main falvor here. Some slight toasted malt and caramel as well balanced by a herbal quality on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Medium to light bodied. Some nice carbonation to keep it lively.

Drinkability: The ABV is pretty formidable for the style, but the crisp feel and balance flavor keeps me wanting more.

Overall, a really nice offering for the Brewery. Something I would definitely want to give a try on tap.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2010 00:18:25 | More by Gosox8787

bcastine

New Hampshire

4.15/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: semi transparent orange hue, thin white dissipating head that leaves a bit of lace in my Portsmouth Brewery Tulip glass.

S: Get a nice bouquet of chardonnay like fruit aromas, belgian yeast phenols are in the background but the funk is rather restrained. Faint hint of cinnamon. Bit of alcohol also present.

T: taste much like the nose, lots of complexity. Again Chardonnay/oak like flavor. Hint of cinnamon, isoamyl acetate(bannana), toast like flavors from munich malt, not much hop flavor, typical belgian yeast phenols/esters but more restrained then that of a warmer fermented summer saison. Fresh and clean, very nice.

M: Bit sweet up front but fades to a dry on the back end. ligth/medium carbonated not quite enough to be effervescent.

D: Nice drinkability given the ABV. This beer would best be paired with food, fish, shellfish, pasta etc.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2010 21:26:30 | More by bcastine

lordofthewiens

Maine

3.98/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've had a few of these over the past week, and think it's a good addition to The Brewery's lineup. It is a hazy amber color with really no head to speak of. A fruity, spicy aroma. The taste is more on the fruity side, banana flavor, with a bit of cinnamon. The combination goes well, a satisfying beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2009 13:25:02 | More by lordofthewiens

Bierman9

New Hampshire

3.9/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had a couple of tulips of this new offering while savoring the good times with daughter Caitlin on Wednesday, 16DEC09, at the Portsmouth Imperial Pint Club Open House.

The liquid filling my glass was a cloudy, muted copper color. Head was thin and white, with some wispy trails of lace left behind. Aroma gave off some fruity notes along with intimations of spiciness. Body was medium all the way, with the bier having a nice feel as it traversed the tongue.

Light sweetness first hits the palate, followed by a good dose of fruitiness. This comes in the form of tropical stuff, like mango, and sits quite well with the tastebuds. There is some subtle peppery quality here, but the fruit really stands out and lasts. Goes down quite well, yes indeed, but watch out, as the ABV sneaks up on you quickly.

Prosit!!

3.9
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

1199

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2009 16:08:56 | More by Bierman9