Ground Break - Ithaca Beer Company

BeerPhan86

New York

3.85/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

One of my favorite styles, I always have to try saison ales that I find.

A - Slightly hazy bright gold with a three finger huge white foamy head. Very soapy and lingering head with minimal lacing but good retention.

S - Slightly sweet aroma with lots of coriander, clove, and spice. I get some fruit, maybe nectarines or pineapple. Plenty of yeast esters are present, lending a banana aspect to the aroma.

T - Initially very sweet and fruity, followed by a spicer, dry finish. It also tastes to me very much like banana bread. Mild hop bitterness goes well with the peppery/spicy aspects. Finishes dry and boozy but makes me want another sip.

M - Thin mouthfeel with a high amount of carbonation.

D - The light mouthfeel saves the drinkability, but this one is just a bit too spicy and sweet for me to have more than a couple.

Overall, quite a good saison ale (though I haven't sampled as many representations of the style as I would like). Still, Ommegang Hennepin remains my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2010 01:15:49 | More by BeerPhan86

touchmeimsac

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-15-2013 14:14:47 | More by touchmeimsac

LI_PO12

Pennsylvania

3.86/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottle into Tulip

Appearance-Deep gold with orange hues, fairly hazy, 2 fingers of fluffy white head that hangs on for a while.

Aroma-Hay, citrus, pear, apple, some banana, light breadyness, farmhouse funk, slightly spicy

Taste-Crisp, belgian yeast though not as complex as the aroma was, breadyness and light malt, a little tart, finishes dry and crisp.

Mouthfeel-Medium full bodied with good carbination no real alcohol present.

Overall-I like this a lot and could easily see this as a great summer brew. Crisp and refreshing American version of the style, especially for the price.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 00:47:59 | More by LI_PO12

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-12-2013 21:09:11 | More by twenty5

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -23.3%

05-10-2013 22:12:06 | More by mikeburd1128

Dreamer

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-10-2013 17:39:31 | More by Dreamer

krisbee

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-10-2013 02:56:44 | More by krisbee

Segelstrom

Pennsylvania

2.25/5  rDev -42.5%

05-09-2013 14:49:30 | More by Segelstrom

Dodo2step

Pennsylvania

4.26/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

P- Wegmans

A- wheat gold color that has a fluffy 2 finger head that has some staying power. Gorgeous lacing on my pint as well.

S- banana, pepper and hints of clove come through. Very nice and well complemented.

F- banana and pepper come out in the mouth more dominant.

M- smooth and not as dry as you would think. almost like a juicy taste.

O- good beer. when you have to little about it, i believe it is a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 17:16:55 | More by Dodo2step

cbutova

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A- Straight from the 12oz bottle into my goblet with a fairly hazy golden-orange body. A head forms quickly to one finger in height. Creamy textured cap retains for a decent time period and falls to a thick pillow/ring around the top. Spotty lace in some places on the glass.

S- Reminds me a lot of a Witbier but I guess the two styles overlap in certain ways. Banana, clove, bubble gum, sweets, black pepper and Belgian malts are prominent here. Slight light-skinned fruit hints as well as some citrus zest.

T- A lot going on and almost all of it comes from the yeast it seems. A lot of fruit and spicy hints. Big orange peel, black pepper, clove, banana, grapes, apple and something floral. These flavors are all quite strong but get along nicely. Some biscuit malts, cracked grains and sweets in there as well.

MF- Fairly sweet overall feel for the style and I would say that is the biggest problem present here. Light overall with a pretty silky high end carbonation. Slight bitterness finishing it all off.

Honestly this is pretty good for an American made Saison for such a low price. It is kind of sweet and a bit too fruit forward but I enjoy the overall flavors presented.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 03:02:41 | More by cbutova

Horbar

Rhode Island

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

04-28-2013 18:19:50 | More by Horbar

DrunkinYogi

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

04-27-2013 12:49:46 | More by DrunkinYogi

randylangford

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

04-24-2013 02:50:57 | More by randylangford

merc7186

New York

3.9/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Gene McCarthys in Buffalo NY, poured into a mug,

A: Hazy Orangish/Golden Straw Hue, Passes Some Light, White Head, Decent Lacing

S: Hay, Oranges, Black Pepper

T: Black Pepper, Yeast, Mild Oranges, Mild Lemons

M: Decent Carbonation, Light to Medium Bodied, Mildly Spicy

Overall, a pretty sessionable saison with nice mild citrus and pepper profile.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2013 01:41:59 | More by merc7186

ToddT

Pennsylvania

3.91/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

L- Clear golden yellow with a thick off white head. The head is long lasted and leaves some nice lace on the glass.

S- Peppery spices, banana, clove, a hint of floral hops, and wheat.

T- Pepper and spice to start things off, a bit of banana and clove make an appearance at the middle. The finish is bone dry with a bit of funk. A classic Siason finish with a hint of spice in it.

M- Medium in body but feels light in the mouth, the carbonation is a bit more than medium and gives this a nice refreshing fizzy feeling.

O- Nice job Ithaca, classic Siason with enough twist to be interesting. The 6.2% ABV is a little dangerous I could drink several of these with out realizing it's this high.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 01:16:05 | More by ToddT

John_Schlaffer

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

04-21-2013 22:41:43 | More by John_Schlaffer

Rekrule

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -16.9%

04-20-2013 03:08:54 | More by Rekrule

brewsadedotcom

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.3%

04-20-2013 01:59:00 | More by brewsadedotcom

tylmorelli

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

04-19-2013 21:39:32 | More by tylmorelli

CoCambria

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

04-16-2013 13:17:27 | More by CoCambria

sdaly3

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

04-15-2013 11:28:16 | More by sdaly3

nstroup

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.3%

04-14-2013 05:27:35 | More by nstroup

jimair1

Illinois

2.5/5  rDev -36.1%

04-11-2013 23:56:22 | More by jimair1

fearfactory

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

04-10-2013 03:04:57 | More by fearfactory

DiscGolfRobot

Ohio

4/5  rDev +2.3%

04-09-2013 03:19:42 | More by DiscGolfRobot