Whole Hog Raspberry Saison - Stevens Point Brewery

marvin213

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +32.8%

07-29-2012 18:26:29 | More by marvin213

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.53/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

12 oz twist-off bottle poured into a Bruery tulip.
7.2% ABV, 13925F on the neck.

A - A shallow haze forms over the goldenrod beer which is briefly topped with an effervescent white head. Fingers of lace reach up the glass but curl back to the ring of roam that's left on the top of the beer.

S - Stevens Point Whole Hog Raspberry Saison opens with a nice nose of bright yeast esters; spice abounds with layers of clay, white pepper, lemongrass, and bitter orange peel. Malt sweetness is aplenty, though vaguely reminiscent of malt extract, with sweet pilsner, caramel, and pale graininess creating a backbone. It's odd that through the rest of the nose, raspberry seems subdued, almost forgotten about with light tart fruit notes blowing a kiss on the finish.

T - Abundant sweetness washes over the tongue casting aside much of the aroma's nuances for a simple, up front malt character. Pilsner malt and caramel mix with what seems like plenty of Belgian blonde candi sugar. Light spice follows with, again, a kiss of sweet raspberry flavor on the back end.

M - Medium-full bodied, this saison has light carbonation for the style which doesn't help the fact it's already a beefy-feeling beer. Sweetness is big but not quite cloying and mildly balanced by dry spice and tart fruit notes for a moderately drinkable saison for the heft it hides.

O - The aroma of Stevens Point Whole Hog Raspberry Saison offers a nice look into the depth of character a saison can have but missed the mark regarding the aroma's transition to flavor which is heavily malty and sweet. To even things out, this beer could use a little more fresh raspberry and hop balance though lowering the malt bill to allow more yeast to shine through might be the acceptable approach. Flavorful nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 22:43:37 | More by BeerFMAndy

swimfire

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +17.2%

05-11-2013 18:32:47 | More by swimfire

atone315

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev +17.2%

05-09-2013 23:06:16 | More by atone315

avalon07

South Carolina

3.01/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a brown-yellow color and a dirty, cloudy consistency. There was a small amount of foamy head that quickly dissipated. Not much lacing.

S: The raspberry is evident in the aroma, but not much else. A little bit of the saison funk, but not much.

T: Tasted of malt, the advertised raspberries, some yeast, and a little but of the aforementioned saison funk. There's simply not that much going on here. It's a thin brew that lets the fruit dominate its flavor.

M: A decent amount of carbonation with a dry finish. Medium-bodied.

O: Kind of a weak effort here. It seems more like a failed experiment than anything else.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 20:22:46 | More by avalon07

BrownAleMale

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev +9.4%

04-15-2013 04:11:10 | More by BrownAleMale

dvmin98

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +17.2%

03-31-2013 23:08:15 | More by dvmin98

zeledonia

Minnesota

3.25/5  rDev +1.6%

03-16-2013 16:10:46 | More by zeledonia

Chokobo

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev +17.2%

03-09-2013 04:24:30 | More by Chokobo

ssimpson89

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev +1.6%

03-02-2013 20:10:26 | More by ssimpson89

Holland

Pennsylvania

2.23/5  rDev -30.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A: golden, slightly cloudy, with no head at all

S: vomit mixed with spice and a hint of raspberry...okay, not much vomit, but it's not a great smell. Alcohol and acid and spice sum it up.

T: tastes like an average saison with raspberry flavoring. A bit salty, plus the tastes don't mix too well. Too much alcohol flavor.

M: plenty of carbonation but the body is too thick for a saison, so the carbonation can't shine

O: why would I ever get this? It doesn't even sound good. Just glad I only bought a single 12 ounce.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 00:01:39 | More by Holland

Hillbilly

Tennessee

2.5/5  rDev -21.9%

11-03-2012 21:38:40 | More by Hillbilly

rocklibster

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev +17.2%

08-15-2012 22:41:26 | More by rocklibster

CWhite

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +40.6%

08-14-2012 03:02:57 | More by CWhite

schoolboy

Ohio

3.83/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I like this more as a fruit beer than a saison. I am just a luke warm fan of Stevens Point, but this one is pretty OK.

It has the usual saison grassy flavor with a bit more regular hops and all of it tempered by a nice fruit flavor. The aroma is a nice fresh blend of things including the fruit.

The aftertaste has a solid booze going on, but again, with fruit under it. I won't go looking for this, but it was an interesting taste.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 18:45:55 | More by schoolboy

Ranz

Texas

3.25/5  rDev +1.6%

07-13-2012 00:38:25 | More by Ranz

FosterJM

California

2.63/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

1376th Review on BA
Bottle to Ithaca Tulip
12oz

No bottle date
Purchased from Total Wine, Las Vegas for 1.79

App- When this pours out its like a mix of honey and apple juice. Its a weird looking orange and yellows. A small 1/4" head forms thats was off white with no cling.

Smell- You get a bunch of the raspberry but smells too artificial. Has a small amount of the saison notes of wheat and spice but just off to me.

Taste- Its a saison with artificial raspberry. Wasnt the best, wasnt the worst. Had some nice flavors, a little thick and sweet but okay.

Mouth- A medium body with a thicker medium carbonation. Sweet raspberry artificial flavors.

Drink- It was less than 2. Just wont have it again.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 00:31:32 | More by FosterJM

TimRasmussen

Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +56.3%

05-18-2012 17:43:52 | More by TimRasmussen

swgwilt

Tennessee

3/5  rDev -6.3%

05-13-2012 02:56:09 | More by swgwilt

RoamingGnome

Wisconsin

3.05/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

From tasting notes... Poured from 12 oz bottle into CBS snifter.

A) Light amber, fairly bright. There was not much head, and what was there settled to a collar. No lacing.

S) The malt sweetness was like butterscotch. There was a little spice, and of course some raspberry aroma. There was not much hop presence in the aroma.

T) A bit of yeast, malt sweetness. Raspberry and light spices. A little alcohol, but I found it to be fairly well hidden. Okay balance of flavors.

M) A medium/light bodied brew, that to me, really lacked an enjoyable mouthfeel. This felt flat, which was unexpected. Not sure of the bottling date. It went down alright.

O) This was a pretty average beer. I didn't find it near repulsive, but I can't imagine a scenario where I'll be drinking it again.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 19:56:03 | More by RoamingGnome

rjschroed

Ohio

2.5/5  rDev -21.9%

01-30-2012 04:28:27 | More by rjschroed

Grebdioz

Texas

3/5  rDev -6.3%

12-28-2011 02:09:19 | More by Grebdioz

mynie

Indiana

2.65/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Tepid pour. Maybe I shouldn't have tried to put it in a pint glass, but I don't think it'd look any better in a chalice. Dull orange yellow, no head.

Smells like a decent saison, though maybe unbalanced and a little weak. White pepper, weeds, and a tiny bit of alcohol burn.

Tastes not *bad*, really, but it's a mess. Like a medium strength saison up front, with big nodes of pepper with a tiny bit of medicinal offness. This is followed up by astringent alcohol and a little hint of raspberries. Meh.

I'm thinking this is aged, and age ain't treated it all that well. The folks at Point are usually pretty competent, though, so I'll try this again if I ever see it fresh.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 02:51:20 | More by mynie

ATLbeerDog

Georgia

2.78/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a beautiful cloudy bright orange yellow with a thick off white 2 finger head. Smells of raspberries and Belgium yeast. Aroma is lighter than I expected. First sip is super sweet to the point of being too sweet. As it warms some tartness appears but still too sweet for my taste. There’s candy notes and a banana flavor here too, but it is old banana. Each sip I keep thinking too damn sweet. Not enough yeast to think this will get more tart, sour, or better over time. Disappointed. Best part about this beer is the cool green cap featuring a black and pink pig.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 23:35:43 | More by ATLbeerDog

iadler

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

On-tap at Watershed.

A- Pours a light orange with a pink hue and two finger head that leaves no lacing.

S- Subtle belgian funk, clove, banana, raspberry, floral hops and biscuity malt

T- Belgian funk, clove, banana, raspberry, floral notes and some biscuity malt at the end. Fairly sweet for a saison.

M- High carbonation and medium body. The carbonation reminded me of seltzer water, way too much and which had a sharp mouthfeel. Finishes dry.

O- I like the idea of the Raspberry Saison, however, I thought this wasn't executed that well. Pretty sweet and the carbonation was just way too high to make it very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2011 01:05:42 | More by iadler