Ground Break - Ithaca Beer Company

Jason

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz brown bottle with a freshness date on the bottle.

Dirty cloudy yellow color, looks better than it sounds. LOL. Crowning of lace is impressive. Candied fruit, hint of ginger, nutty yeast and bready malt make for an exciting aroma. Deep smoothness, decent sized body ... not too dry. Mild tartness, grassy and lemony with a faint raw honey note in the back. Brett throws down some medicinal herb that comes off a bit bitter, good for balance here. Yeasty earthy bittersweet finish.

Super tasty, very drinkable ... sadly just a seasonal as I could see drinking this all of the time.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2010 02:34:03 | More by Jason

nyyfanatic213

New York

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

06-18-2013 21:34:42 | More by nyyfanatic213

Dank26

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.3%

06-16-2013 22:13:49 | More by Dank26

Mike099

New York

4/5  rDev +2.3%

06-16-2013 07:05:40 | More by Mike099

MarkJBurch

New York

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

06-15-2013 03:17:03 | More by MarkJBurch

DCH

New York

4/5  rDev +2.3%

06-13-2013 02:10:01 | More by DCH

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

I pulled this out of the cooler (wrong answer!) during my recent visit to The Knickerbocker Hotel in Altoona, PA and have been holding it for the appropriate moment. Apparently, that would be right now.

From the bottle: "The Spirit of the Finger Lakes"; "American-Style Saison Ale".

My initial pour created a finger (lakes)-and-a-half of foamy, eggshell-white head with limited retention. The humidity seems to be rising in advance of another storm anticipated for today. Color was a hazy golden-yellow. Nose was pungent with a lemon zest/black pepper scent along with a yeasty mustiness. I am kind of like Dos Equis' "Most Interesting Man in the World" in instances like this in that I do not always drink Saisons, but when I do, I like them to smell just like this. Yum! Mouthfeel was kind of thin and watery, but the taste was where it was at. It was much like the nose, zesty with lemon and spicy like black pepper and musty from the yeast. This would really be great with some grilled fish sprinkled with lemon pepper! Man, I am really jonesin' for fish at this point. Finish was really quite dry, probably thanks to the yeast having done such a spectacular job. Good stuff!

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 15:59:13 | More by woodychandler

JayKay412

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

06-09-2013 20:21:55 | More by JayKay412

Corpsehoagie

Pennsylvania

1/5  rDev -74.4%

06-09-2013 03:33:29 | More by Corpsehoagie

KTCamm

New Jersey

3.56/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Mix a sixer. Poured from bottle into pint glass.

Pours light hazy golden with 1/2 inch white foam. Fluffy at that. Strong Belgian yeast. Sweet candi sugar background. Bitter gritty taste, but smooth. Light citrus, well buried. Pretty good saison, not the best I';ve had, but still sound.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2013 20:35:51 | More by KTCamm

Jonesyc13

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%

06-07-2013 16:40:44 | More by Jonesyc13

wembly13

West Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

06-03-2013 17:38:47 | More by wembly13

Swanson

New York

4/5  rDev +2.3%

06-03-2013 16:49:00 | More by Swanson

pburland23

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.3%

06-03-2013 01:13:11 | More by pburland23

dwoolley1

New York

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-29-2013 20:30:45 | More by dwoolley1

Happyhopper

New York

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-27-2013 22:06:30 | More by Happyhopper

travishardy929

New York

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-26-2013 17:41:45 | More by travishardy929

Burkbom23

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-22-2013 00:57:48 | More by Burkbom23

pianoman511

New York

5/5  rDev +27.9%

05-21-2013 01:20:55 | More by pianoman511

Dweedlebug

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-21-2013 00:34:09 | More by Dweedlebug

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-20-2013 18:36:25 | More by Slatetank

PeteRiz

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-18-2013 13:07:54 | More by PeteRiz

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