Heavy Seas - Red Sky At Night (Saison Ale) - Heavy Seas Beer

Ricochet

Ohio

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Amber and cloudy. Good head and lasting lace.
S: Butterscotch, and a bit of pumpkin.
M: Thick alcohol back slap, malty bock beer foam, butterscotch remainder.
T: Butterscotch disc but not sweet. Boozy, almost like a cream ale. Prune as well.

O: A tasty beer beverage, very high powered.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 05:41:31 | More by Ricochet

kylehay2004

Florida

3.48/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Single finger head on a murky golden with slight amber hues body. Excellent retention and some lacing. A lot of musty pale malt and Belgian yeast with light clove and little in the way of citrus. Flavor is good but not great, keeping it simple with mild lemon tartness, hint of orange peel, Belgian yeast and herbal hop character. The mouthfeel is full for the style and semi dry finish with moderate carbonation. I think Heavy Seas makes a lot of easy to drink beers which arent bad but lack creativity overall. I like most everything I have had, I just wouldnt call many of their beers memorable or complex.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 01:24:48 | More by kylehay2004

tdm168

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - light golden yellow with a half of an inch of soft, dense, white head that has good retention

S - funky, a bit musty

T - fruity, funky, white grapes, apples, faint spices

M - light bodied, warm, crisp, well carbonated

This isn't a bad beer, but the balance just isn't there. The flavors are there, but they just couldn't hold my interest. In the end, there are better saisons out there, but this is worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 08:10:32 | More by tdm168

RodneyFarva

Spain

3.73/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a Grimbergen goblet. best by 1/13

a: pours a very clear golden yellow, 1/2 inch white head dissipating to a thin film.

s: alcohol, pineapple, citrus, wheat, and some spices. very nice. smelling a good bit like a belgian pale ale.

t: spices and wheat up front, a hoppy bite in the middle, and alcohol warmness at the end. pretty high carbonation cuts that ending sweetness a bit.

o: very nice. i really enjoyed this, though I think it would have been improved (and closer to style) if it was drier rather than fairly sweet. still, out of the Heavy Seas mixed 12-pack, this was my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 00:40:11 | More by RodneyFarva

KajII

North Carolina

3.38/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

[Best served in a Tulip glass]

The pour was a crystal clear medium orange with a slight yellow hue and an average sized (1-2 finger) fluffy white head that had decent longevity, receding down to a large foamy puddle of residue producing some good sticky lacing.

The aroma had a strong wheat presence along with a light straw malt, a herbal hop and a soapy yeast with notes of banana, pear, caramel and a bit of a peppery spice.

The taste was mildly sweet and yeasty with notes of caramel and other fruit esters early on and then become mildly sweet and acidic with a healthy dose of fruit and spices and a decent alcohol presence at the end. The flavor lingered for a little while having kind of boozy appeal.

Mouthfeel was a few shades beyond light in body with a nice dry texture and a lively carbonation.

Overall a great representation of the style. Spicy, fruity and strong, just wonderful...

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 16:07:54 | More by KajII

Immortale25

Florida

2.55/5  rDev -30.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured into an Evolution Brewing pint glass. Notches on the label say DEC 11.

A- Pours a light amber color with a 1/4 inch head that immediately dissipates and becomes just a patch of surface foam. Pretty much zero lacing.

S- Smells sweet and musty, like overly fermented honey. A bit of spice and what seems to be a strange attempt at a Belgian yeast aroma. Just comes off as spastic and unorganized.

T- Fruity with a bit of wheat that's overpowered by alcohol and syrupy sweetness. Some malt but not enough to balance. Unlike any saison I've had, and I don't mean that as a compliment.

M- Sticky and stinging. Low carbonation. What a dud.

O- I don't know what they were going for, but they missed the mark. Another big disappointment from Heavy Seas.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 03:42:28 | More by Immortale25

JohnnyChicago

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a tulip.

A: Pours amber with a nice fluffy off-white head. Good lacing,

S: Tamed phenols and spice notes along with some crisp cracker malt and spicy hops.

T: Same here; it has all the makings of a good saison, but the yeast notes, which should be rich and spicy, are dumbed down and boring.

D: Easy to drink, that's for sure. Crisp and refreshing. Alcohol is well covered as well.

Overall: Waaayyy to clean for a saison. These beers should'nt be headache machines, but that doesn't mean you should ferment them through in the low 60s either. They need to let this beer develop a little more natural complexity before it can compete with the best of American saisons (Southampton, GI, etc.).

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 00:14:06 | More by JohnnyChicago

Starkk00

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Server from a bottle and poured into a pint glass. Very thin head and not much lacing and not very carbonated.

A - Golden Yellow very slightly hazed.

S - Faint fruit (banana), Belgian yeast, candy sucre.

T - Slight fruit, slight candy and spice and a tiny bit of wheat.

M - Quite refreshing for a Belgian Saison.

O - Again quite refreshing and tasty for a Belgian Saison. I would definitely drink again. Initially server a little too cold (40F), once it warmed up it was much more smooth in the taste, mouth and overall.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 20:03:19 | More by Starkk00

Rickythejeweler

Maryland

4.18/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Slightly cloudy yellow-light orange, thin fluffy head, little lacing, few carbonation bubbles.

S - Grain, pepper, yeast.

T - Belgian yeast, light fruits, light pepper, light banana, candi sugar, grains, light pepper, wheat malt finish.

M- Medium-full bodied, heavy for a saison, but I like it. Slightly dry finish.

O - I love this recipe, the candi sugar and wheat malts take this beer to its max, I really enjoyed it!

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 22:28:48 | More by Rickythejeweler

DannyDan

Michigan

3.93/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A. Pours out a copper hue with a whitehead. There is some lacing on the side and not much retention here.
S. Lemons, bananas and rye is what I get in the aroma.
T. The taste is a nice mix of lemons, bananas, rye and cloves along with some other spices and a hint of hops.
M. A smooth, crisp, clean beer.
O. A very tasty beer that is easy to drink that is not too bitter or too sweet.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 07:06:48 | More by DannyDan

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a bottle from my local six pack shop. Best by date shows a "Dec 2011" so I drank it just in time!

A - Pours a nice golden pale color with a half inch of sticky white head.

S - Mostly tart lemon and some fruity banana. Also has some weird wheat or rye smell to it as well which I never smelled in a Saison ale.

T - Well it's definitely rye since it has a very spicy semi-dry finish but it works well to counter the tart lemon of the style. It also features some of the banana flavors giving it a sweet mid palate flavor that was pretty nice.

M - Light to medium I found it very easy to drink.

Overall I was surprised to find this was a summer release because to me age (4-5 month) kept it the same if not improved the flavor. If I find if fresh next summer I will have to compare but it's still drinking fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 01:18:46 | More by DrDemento456

stckhndlr

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Clear golden ale color with a 1/2 finger head and nice carbonation bubbles flowing from the sides of the glass. No lacing however.

S- Light crisp citrus and hops with what seems to smell like a hint of pineapple.

T- Citrus fruit and a touch of alcohol on the finish which eventually gives way to hops that just linger on your tongue to draw you back.

M- Higher carbonation but crisp and clean finish.

O- Nice summer beer that can be drunk anytime.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 13:58:28 | More by stckhndlr

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.88/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a cervoise glass. Best before November 2011. Timely.

A: Pale, but with lots of bubbles, especially on the side. Clearish but with noticeable sediment. Finger of white head fades after an average length of time.

S: Beery, with a faint metallic note I don't recall from earlier bottles. A bit sweet as well, fruity and pleasant.

T: Quite nice! A bit of tartness underlies the ostensibly soft, sweet main flavours and is especially noticeable on the endtaste. Fruit and yeast. Smackworthy.

M: Light, bright, carbonated, tart, lightly dry.

O: Good saison. Accessible to novices, with just enough odd sourness to keep it interesting. Drinkable and enjoyable. Vaguely recommended. Have had several, so probably won't have again.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2011 01:40:44 | More by AgentMunky

Valmor88

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Copper to yellow cloudy color with dense white head.

S: Banana and clove aroma - very floral.

T: Spicy and fruity with clove. Definite banana flavor. Earthy tones mixed in.

M: Medium bodied and medium carbonation. Crisp, carbonated finish.

O: Not my favorite saison, but still quite good. I really enjoyed the spices and flavor elements, although something is missing from this beer that holds it back from being really great.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 05:40:22 | More by Valmor88

Hopfenpeter

Maryland

3.7/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer poured a clear gold with hints of orange. Very little bubbly head, which dissipates fast leaving a light coating.
The smell is mostly of malt with hints of pepper.
The taste is quite nice, with spice, clove and pepper notes up front. The malty notes dominate the middle, but also reveal some faint fruit notes like banana and peach. At the end some bitter hops take charge ofva nice balance.
A nice beer, one that I am glad I tried.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 01:38:19 | More by Hopfenpeter

gestyr

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Stella chalice.
Expiration date 12/2011

A: Pours a crystal clear orange gold with a head that dissipates quickly into a light coating. A constant stream of bubbles rises through the glass.

S: Spices, some pepper, malt

T: malt, some spiciness, alcohol

M: medium bodied with an alcohol afterburn


O: A good solid beer. Refreshing and interesting. I would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 22:34:40 | More by gestyr

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Not a bad beer, but it doesn't seem much like a saison- more like a light tripel. I like my saison's with a peppery bite to them and a bit dryer than this beer, but hey, whatever it is it's pleasant. Pours golden with a moderate head that fades to a thin ring fairly quickly, but the beer puts up a continuous stream of bubbles. You do get some spice and pepper in the aroma, followed by some grassiness and sweetness. Fairly sweet with some clove notes and perhaps even a little banana. Slightly hot in the mouth, but otherwise fairly smooth.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 22:11:07 | More by Georgiabeer

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a bright orangish color with a thick foamy white head that remains for most of the beer.

The scent is very fruity, notes of roasted malt, and some spice.

The taste is also of roasted malt,very fruity and alcoholic.

Medium bodied, very smooth, moderate carbonation.

This was a very nice beer, very easy to drink, nice flavor. It sort of reminds me of Fruit Stripe Gum in beer form. This is something I would definitely drink again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2011 18:34:37 | More by BeerCon5

TheStig

Virginia

3.65/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up for Talk Like A Pirate Day.

Nice copper color topped with a two finger head.

Scents that first came to note were mulling spices, nutmeg, clove and a hint of cinnamon.

The nutmeg carries over to the taste, where it mingles nicely with the hops, apple and the aforementioned cinnamon.

Quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 20:40:48 | More by TheStig

ColdPoncho

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Theres this freaking calendar at the bottom of the label so you know when it was made, but nothing is marked! What's the point?

A - clear copper body, minimal white foam.

S - Malty and fruity, bit of roast and spice.

T - Malty and fruity, a little bit nutty. Little bit of spice. This is a lot more like a Belgian Pale Ale than it is like a saison, if you ask me!

M - medium, punchy spice and carbonation.

O - it's the wrong style, but it's not a bad beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 23:36:41 | More by ColdPoncho

fo5s

District of Columbia

3.08/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle served in a tumbler. No dating noted. Notes from mid-September.

A- slightly gentle pour yields a minimal head. Carbonation is noticeable though. Light amber with good clarity.

S- wheaty, yeasty, smooth.

T- nor far from the smell. A touch musty, creamy/floral from the yeast.

M- creamy, a bit flat/soft

O- not impressed...I really wanted to like this one and it couldn't stand up to the task. I'd previously had this on cask and been very impressed, but the bottled version left a lot to be desired.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 21:46:18 | More by fo5s

ckollias

Maryland

3.58/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed this 12oz bottle out of a large snifter glass.

A: Golden-amber brew that pours a thick, frothy, 1-finger, white head that quickly dissipates into a wispy lace leaving a decent trail down the glass.

S: Strong yeast ester aroma followed by spicy cloviness. Finishes with a mild hop scent.

T: Flavor is very similar to the smell with a yeast ester flavor with spicy sweet cloviness. There are also hints of fruits in the background. Barely can taste the alcohol.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation

O: Interesting saison brew. A little too sweet for me, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. I was surprised to see this beer had 7.5% abv. Alcohol was brilliantly masked by the sweet malt.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 21:11:41 | More by ckollias

barleyroad

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

cloudy gold in appearance. Has a nice foam that lingers. The aroma is good to average. The feel on the mouth is clean with very little lingering, nice. overall taste is ok, there is a spice to the taste, not for everyone. Over-Overall this is a good quality beer that goes well with soft pretzel with good yellow mustard.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2011 23:25:45 | More by barleyroad

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A clear golden beer with a average size head.
Pretty lame carbonation.

Aroma is of malts and peppery spice.

Taste is tart and spicy with some malts thrown in for good measure. Has a sweetness about itself as well as a booziness finish.

In the mouth it feels thin and tart with a dry finish.

This is a one and done for me. I'm not a real big fan of saisons to begin with and it would take some real effort to drink another.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2011 14:25:01 | More by micromaniac129

superspak

Michigan

3.58/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle into tulip, best by Dec 2011. Pours orangish golden amber color with 1-2 fingers of a fairly dense light khaki head with good retention that reduces to a fairly thick lacing cap. A small bit of lacing clings to the glass as well. Aromas of dark fruits, candi sugar, banana, clove, spices, and a bit of alcohol. Decent and interesting aromas here, with good strength as well. Taste of lots of dark fruits, clove, banana, molasses, bread, and spices; with a bit of caramel and alcohol noticed on the finish. Fairly dry finish, but there are a bit of lingering notes of dark fruits, bread, molasses, and spices. Alcohol is slightly present in the taste, and there is a decent amount of warming on the finish. Medium carbonation and body with a bit of a creamy mouthfeel. Quite drinkable despite the alcohol presence as well. Overall, this is a solid saison that is like a wheat beer in some aspects.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2011 03:43:52 | More by superspak