All Souls Ale - Big Sky Brewing Company

caryt

Oregon

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the back 30 at the Green Dragon (Portland, OR) in a Russian River tulip

A: Nice head about the size of my bigger thumb. Opaque caramel color, picturesque for a saision.

S: Strong scents of yeast, booze and the fruits. Overall it doesn't smell as good as it tastes.

T: Tastes of yummy fermented fruit; pears and apricots. The Belgian yeast is no where near overpowering, very tasty. Downturn on the aftertaste, boozy but not too boozy. Drinkable.

M: Not overly carbonated just about perfect until it goes down the throat.

O: I'm pleased I had this brew and I'm pleasantly surprised by this offering from Big Sky. Different than their norm. Saisons aren't generally my favorite but I consider this one well done.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2012 05:04:41 | More by caryt

EyePeeAyBryan

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +16.3%

01-23-2013 17:56:35 | More by EyePeeAyBryan

DeekNayvuz

Montana

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%

01-21-2013 02:56:01 | More by DeekNayvuz

Jameswoody

Montana

3.25/5  rDev -16%

12-24-2012 22:22:16 | More by Jameswoody

Stevie_Janowski

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.4%

07-21-2012 01:57:21 | More by Stevie_Janowski

RWNewhouse

Montana

4/5  rDev +3.4%

03-30-2012 15:08:34 | More by RWNewhouse

EricCioe

Montana

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

02-14-2012 01:56:07 | More by EricCioe

n2185

North Carolina

3.23/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: pours a hazy yellow-gold with two fingers of white head that fades into a thin ring with no lacing.

S: lots of sweet bubblegum, candy sugar, and spices at first. Sweet yeasty aromas and some slight orange citrus also come through.

T: lots of sweet candy sugar, bread flavors, spices, and some sweet citrus flavors. Very sweet and with a light alcohol burn.

M: mid-light body with high carbonation, this beer would be nice and crisp if it weren't so sweet.

O: an interesting saison, and a decent beer, but too sweet for me. The sweetness prevents some of the complexity from shining through.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 00:17:49 | More by n2185

evilkorova

Washington

4/5  rDev +3.4%

12-27-2011 05:08:38 | More by evilkorova

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev +3.4%

11-17-2011 01:29:23 | More by Photekut

boatshoes

Colorado

4/5  rDev +3.4%

11-15-2011 03:33:32 | More by boatshoes

Adamostella

Washington

4/5  rDev +3.4%

11-14-2011 23:43:46 | More by Adamostella

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Lake Bryant Bowl.

The beer pours a solid gold color with fairly good head retention and lacing. The nose is just terrific in this beer, consisting of honey, light clove and a surprising abundance of sour funk. The combination of aromas is interesting and very attractive. Much to my surprise, I wasn't nearly as impressed with the way this beer tasted. It was still good with plenty of flavor, but this beer was quite sweet, and that seemed to drown out everything else. The sour funk I got in the nose wasn't nearly prominent enough to balance out all that sweetness, though the beer was otherwise still pretty tasty (lots of canned and tropical fruit flavor in this one). Mouthfeel was medium bodied to full, with a long, sweet finish. On the bright side, the 11% abv. is pretty well disguised for such a sweet beer, and I was surprised to see it so high when I checked this beer on BA.

An interesting beer, but not sure one I'd want to order again given the sweetness level and high alcohol.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2011 13:28:51 | More by johnmichaelsen

TheDudeRules

Minnesota

4.7/5  rDev +21.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Generously hooked up from the man Bjorn.

Poured into my Darkness snifter.

Nice golden color with a haze to it. Several fingers of off white head. Crisp green apple on the nose. Slight tinge of booze. Feels bubbly on my nostrils. Like pop rocks even. This is completely out of my wheelhouse. Taste is of green skinned fruit. Green apple and pear. Accompanied by some slight booze. I LOVED IT. Being as beefy as it is ABV wise I found it to be incredibly drinkable. Dangerously so. The gentleman in the group were knife fighting over the last few drops. Good thing I've been working out, because I win. Safe to say I will need to trade for more.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2011 03:41:00 | More by TheDudeRules

coldmeat23

Oklahoma

3.93/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

GLASS: Tulip
TEMP: Cellared at approx 50 degrees, then Fridge chilled to approx 40 degrees
BOTTLE NUMBER: 1068 of 1200 by B.O.B.
Big thanks to zhanson88 for this one!

This pours a lightly opaque shade of light-amber tinted golden yellow. It produces a two-finger head of foam, which recedes to an almost 1/4 inch thick surface cover of creamy, dense, white foam. The lacing is in very thick strands, almost curtain-like, which are quite sticky.

The smell is somewhat muted. Determination reveals hints of green apples and ripe pears. Hints of belgian yeast notes. Light traces of caramleized bananas. Mild white pepper notes. Floral hops.

Pears and apples show up, as well as a healthy dose of bananas. A light touch of lemon. Bready, belgian yeast notes. Mild hints of spicyness. Booziness comes across as honey sweetness.

This is full-bodied and has a medium level of natural carbonation. The tiny little bubbles give it a good, healthy dose of creaminess which serves it very well.

This is a very good beer. I don't know that I have any other 'imperial saisons' to compare it to, but it seems to have hit it's intended mark....to me at least. It's a bit too heavy and cloying to drink all of the time, but as an 'every now and then' kind of beer, it is very good. (Plus....all of the profits go to charity!)

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2011 03:03:15 | More by coldmeat23

EgadBananas

Louisiana

2.95/5  rDev -23.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

IBottle 970 of 1200. Cheers to injuredreserve for the share!

Nice golden hazy color with a nice white bubbly head, decent lacing

Mostly yeasty funk and a bit of hops and booooze.

Taste was yeasty funk, slight tart and booze. Theres a good saison in there...

crisp, slick and creamy. Nice carbonation.

Too much booooze, kinda ruins the saison experience. I know that was the intent, but it didn't work to me.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2011 01:13:48 | More by EgadBananas

zhanson88

Montana

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Saw this new limited release at the beer store and just had to grab it. Bottle 1069 of 1200. Oh and another thing, kudos to Big Sky for donating all proceeds to charity. Good to see.

Appearance: All Souls Ale pours a cloudy, hazy golden color with a couple fingers of pure white head. Retention is very nice, and lacing is good as well. It certainly looks very appealing.

Smell: I get a bunch of green apple scents in this beer, and beneath that some pear and very slight citrus. As the beer warms some nice esters start forming on the nose as well. Not bad, but it does take a while to coax the scents out.

Taste: Green apples and pears are very strong up front. A nice dose of estery alcohol follows, and the finish is tart green apples. Pretty nice, I like it.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability: This beer is between light and medium bodied with a bunch of fine carbonation, making it pretty smooth going down. This beer is 11% ABV and I definitely could tell after a while. Still, it's pretty drinkable for what it is.

This doesn't really fit the Saison category very well. It is more of a BSPA or something similar to that. Regardless, I do want to pick up a couple more of these, I would like to see what some time in the cellar does for it. Nice offering by Big Sky.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2011 05:51:01 | More by zhanson88

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4.1/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is a brew Big Sky made for charity. Only 1,200 bottles. Beautiful label... Fantastic for a charity brew... just beautiful. The label is a "stained glass look" with a red-robed shepherd raising a mug in front of a stained glass sun... maybe the best label I've ever seen.

This is what the bottle says:

"For centuries, shepherds have been hoisting a pint during the chilly Christmas season to warm their bones and wish for "Peace on Earth, good will toward men!" Not just for a select few, but everyone. All Souls. This beer is our salute to that sentiment. Its syle is Saison - a golden fruity "seasonal" for the working man. Its strength is imperial - an 11% wonder, fit for a King! And all profits go to Imagine Missoula. A grassroots nonprofit meeting real needs here in Missoula. Lean how you can get involved at ImagineMissoula.org."

Buckeyeboy scored this one. 62/1200. Huge thanks Jeremy, it is completely "new to me". The bottle says "saison", and I will honor that request, but I think personally, it is much more a BSPA... or maybe a Belgian Golden.

Pours a dark golden with a lite cloudiness ... big fluffy white head.. tons of lacing and great retention.

Aroma has bunches of fall fruit... ripe pears and green apples... some minor yeasty phenols show as white pepper... a bit of floral hops really push the nose over the top.

Flavor is Duvel"esque" .. great pale malt meshes with fruity esters.. pear and apple... even some orange.. some spicy hoppiness.. yummy.. with warmth, an out of place honey element shows.. oh well.

Nice carbonation.. and the body is a light/medium.. but I swear I don't see "saison".

Thanks again Jeremy.

I want some more of these badly... very very well made and is only going to get better with some time in the bottle... and honestly, after reading about the charity.... money well spent.

4/4/4/4/4.5

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2011 08:40:37 | More by JohnGalt1