La Grange - Rahr & Sons Brewing Company

abeerwiseguy

Texas

3.88/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a limited release Rahr & Sons beer in the Saison or Farmhouse Ale style. Not sure of the origin of the style (Beer Advocate does not list this under country of origin in the Beer Styles portion of their site).

Poured a yellow golden color with two fingers of whitish foam from a 22 oz bottle.
Aromas of citrusy fruit like lemons and a somewhat spicy and earthy smell greets the nose.

Tastes were of fruity esters with noticeable lemon and some peppery tartness with a very clean finish balanced by some not unwelcome bitterness and medium to low carbonation.
The mouth feel was just right with lots of different flavors with a light body and crisp, clean finish

Overall a very good beer and good example of this style.

I have concerns that Rahr is evidently not serious enough about giving its consumers the information they need to be responsible drinkers. ABV was not to be found on the bottle. I looked on several other year round offerings by Rahar and even went to their website for this limited release Saison but did not find the info. While we are ALL thankful for today’s microbreweries pushing the experimental envelope on beer styles, this also means that the ABV in many offerings is getting up to the level that demands attention by even the most casual consumer. Deschutes, Stone, North Coast, and most other Breweries now list ABV on bottles and cans. Rahr should also.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 22:58:35 | More by abeerwiseguy

womencantsail

California

3.68/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazed yellow color with a white head. Nose of sweet bread, some yeast, citrus peel. A touch of floral hops, some light spice, and a bit of fruit. There is some nice malt character on the palate. Bready malts with a touch of toast and yeast. A nice fruit profile of apple, pear, and banana. Lightly spicy with a hint of pepper. Not super hoppy, but a good floral and light citrus flavor.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 16:12:36 | More by womencantsail

Etan

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a Libbey tall tulip. Sent as an extra by Lokieman.

A: Pours a bright yellowish orange with a nice spongy, bone-white head. Retention is ok but it leaves very little lacing.

S: Soapy yeast, a little bit of barnyard hay, coriander, sweet pale malt. A little too soapy.

T: Assertive, sugary fruity esters jump out at the palate immediately. Juicy peach, bubblegum, pineapple, coriander, vanilla bean, white cake, lemon, a bit of funky yeast. Esters glide into smooth pale malt and graininess. Taste finishes with a noticeable bite of hop bitterness. Very sweet, too sweet as the bottle drains.

M: Decent soft mouthfeel, but I'm expecting that bottle-conditioned liveliness from the carbonation that isn't really there.

O: This is a tasty farmhouse, but there are a few noticeable flaws that detract from the overall experience, namely the over-the-top sweetness and mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 01:48:31 | More by Etan

sitarist

Ohio

3.35/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours hazy, and golden with a frothy white head. The head quickly falls to a thin ring that leaves a few spots of lacing.

Scents of apple, pear, baby powder, and a musty aroma. It has an off burnt aroma...sulfur.

The fruity esters, musty yeast, and sulfur carries over into the flavor.

Dry with a medium body, and just enough carbonation to tickle my tongue.

A decent saison that is easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 03:28:13 | More by sitarist

tronester

Oklahoma

3.73/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy golden, with a big fat white head. Smells earthy and funky, is this a beer that has been dosed with bugs? The taste solves that question, a fruity, tart, bread-like flavor dominates. No sourness here. Mouthfeel is rich. Quite a good saison, I would get this again.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 18:13:05 | More by tronester

htomsirveaux

Texas

3.58/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz. bottle tried 12 Dec 2011. Served in the 0.5 L Adambrau becker.

Large thick off white head. Lightly carbonated. Hazy golden amber in color. Aroma is tart and yeasty, with a hint of gooseberries. Starts similar, yeasty and fruity. Becomes fruitier and a bit sweeter as it warms. Medium body, fairly warming ethanol. Drier finish with a fruity tart aftertaste.

One of the better beers I've had from Rahr.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 03:54:30 | More by htomsirveaux

HardTarget

Texas

4.3/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Straw yellow glass hold a thin cover of white foam, that leaves a few traces of lace..

Smell: Lemon peel and Belgian yeast, the light fruit, almost banana peel esters that I always associate with the Saison style, so on target.

Taste: Almost funky yeast bite that gives a very European character to the grainy based sweetness. Bready balanced by a sharp hop leaf bitter makes for a good balance.

Mouthfeel: Bubbly, but holds short of fizzy, perhaps helped by a slight heft in the body. Not heavy, and no chew, but upper side of medium.

Overall: A tonic quality that is cleansing but not bitter. I like my Saisons a little milder in alcohol, not sure if La Grange is on that side or just hiding it well. A very nice offering from a true Texan Brewery.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 00:30:33 | More by HardTarget

syrupjoe

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a moderately hazy medium-golden color with two finger milky head.

Nose: Barny funk, orange marmalade, lemon, bread, yeast tingles the nostrils.

Taste: Quite sweet, lemon, mango, grape, candy sweetness.

Moderate to low carbonation. Sweet, slightly flabby finish.

Overall this beer has a great nose and flavor profile, but is distractingly sweet. Attenuate it a bit more and I think it would be a great brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 03:42:00 | More by syrupjoe

SuperSpy

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A nice cloudy golden color. A beautiful white, foamy head. Excellent lacing. A very good looking beer.

Earthy, musty funk. a slight hint of lemon and old earthy hops.

Bitter lemon peel. Sweet and tart light fruits. A bitter, tart, and earthy finish. Light body and carbonation. Perfect for the style.

A light, refreshing, drinkable beer. I really enjoyed this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 21:41:04 | More by SuperSpy

gatornation

Minnesota

3.7/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

received as an extra from a 22 oz bomber

A - pours a hazy straw color with a 1 finger head that recedes to a fresh white collar that stays with great lacing..this is a great looking saison , great color ,lacing,collar

S- lemon funk and earth smells

T- was crisp lemon peel with tart fruit like apples and citrus mix ina bitter funk and some citrus hops

M- was tart and bitter with earthy funk it had good carbonation and was fresh tasting

O- a good farmhouse saison , tart and bitter with earthy funk, nicely done would drink another of this one

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 03:57:10 | More by gatornation

bonkers

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to texasfan549, poured into a snifter, hazy yellow pour, Big white head. The aroma is citrusy light funk. The flavor is pretty standard for a saison, citrus, slightly tart, easy finish. The body is light, good carbonation, easy drinking. A solid saison, and any beer with a John Deere B on the label can't be all bad.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 01:31:50 | More by bonkers

oline73

Maryland

3.23/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a Chimay goblet.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy golden orange with a half finger of white head that fades to a ring around the edge of the glass.

Smell: Sweet and mildly tart with strong herbal yeast notes along with some citrus.

Taste: Some sweetness along with the herbal notes from the smell. There are some mildly tart citrus notes and then a strong bitterness that takes over completely.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with strong, tingly carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: The bitterness in the taste was too distracting. This could be really good if it was toned down.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 01:46:03 | More by oline73

DavidST

Texas

3.3/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a pint glass. This pours a slightly hazy pale golden color with a small white head. The smells are somewhat citrus, Orange, lemon, eat with a little malt. The feel is medium. The taste is okay, a little over ripe lemon bitter taste, some sweet yeast esters, although something seems off, slightly disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 02:41:47 | More by DavidST

TenHornsProud

Colorado

3.78/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy, yeasty pale orange with a big, fine white head. The bottle conditioning is a nice touch.

Floral apricot peach, apple, honey, small spice from the yeast.

Taste is up front apple, sweet, honey, lemon zest which fades into a bitter finish with some malty character. Subdued but really well balanced.

Lighter body with high carbonation are right on for the beer, though, a bit too sweet up front.

A nice attempt that is close to being great but needs some tweaking.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 00:16:19 | More by TenHornsProud

gtermi

Texas

3.93/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I love going to the Rahr brewery and just relax. Well on I went on Wednesday and they had this in bottles to let people taste. It was very nice and delicious. The didnt get me put about 4 oz, but it poured a nice golden color with a thick head. The smell had a lot of fruitiness and sweetness. The taste is very nice with a lot of fruitiness, some spices and tons of sweetness. The mouthfeel wasnt great, but was still very solid. Easy to drink, but a little too much carbonation. Overall this beer is solid, but not great. I wouldnt ever seek it out, but its always nice to try a new beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 06:23:30 | More by gtermi

TexIndy

Texas

3.98/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bomber into a Duvel tulip. No bottling info but this is a new release so it's fresh. Part of the To Thee Series. Was a hazy golden color with lots of carb streams. It had about a finger of foamy, white head that settled into a thick collar and partial foam cap. Good sheeting with lots sticking.

The aroma was earthy with sweet from the fruits and sugars with moderate spices. Not bad but just below the top tier in saison aromas IMHO. Taste follows the aroma with sweet backbone tempered with the spices. Was a bit on the sweet side though to be in top tier. Still, very refreshing and pretty damn good when you consider this is Rahr's first Belgian I believe. Mouthfeel was medium with good carbonation and slightly dry aftertaste. Had a little bit of an off taste right at the end though.

Overall, a good, solid Saison and considering how few we get here in TX a very welcome one. It's not up there with the best in class but it still well worth the try. Avail here in TX obviously. Rotation - not sure if this a one time or not. I'm really into Saisons these days so I'll grab a few more for this end of summer season and see about next year.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2011 01:16:05 | More by TexIndy

zdk9

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- It's a little dark in here, so probably not the most accurate for color rating- but the beer looks fairly dark yellow moving into orange territory. About a finger of head that moves on quickly, and some spotty lacing.

S- A nice strong aroma. The aroma of the beer wafted over after opening the bottle before I poured it. Lots of spice, lime zest, and as the beer warms- more grains- pumpernickel bread and maybe dried country grass

T- A very grainy, spicy, husky taste. I get notes of kasha, caraway seeds, quinoa. A heft of bitterness on the back corners of my mouth that's pretty earthy with a borderline pithiness. There's also sweet orange, key lime pie, and some fusel alcohol flavor without really the heat.

M- A sweetness that sticks around surprisingly long. The carbonation works for this beer, though it is less than I'd expect from a saison.

O- A great big saison- lots of spice and complexity with a full palette of malt, hops, and yeast flavors.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2011 06:58:32 | More by zdk9

champ103

Texas

3.58/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Pours a cloudy, but bright and vibrant golden/orange color. A two finger white head forms with good retention. Sticky lace is left behind.
S: Musky and earthy yeast up front. Light fruity esters of lemons and banana. Some spice. Very enjoyable.
T: Follows the up front. Musky, earthy, basement like funky. Fruity ester follow again with a lingering grapefruit bitterness.
M/D: A medium body that seems little watery. It needs to be more crisp and dry. Though very enjoyable to drink.

Simple, and enjoyable. If there was a bit more body and crispness, I think that would bring everything together perfectly. Though as is, still a good representation of the style. Very much worth a try, but just shy of being special.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 00:15:14 | More by champ103

EgadBananas

Louisiana

2.98/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Thanks to HopsSchnapps for this local!

Pours a nice hazy, golden orange color. Nice frothy white head adorns. Aroma is chock full of fruity esters and BIG bready yeast notes. Those fruity esters and big bready yeast notes carry over into the taste. It's fairly one dimensional in that respect. It's missing the spicy, peppery notes for one. The feel is a bit too creamy and heavy for a saison.

It's a decent saison in the end. Still drinkable, but a bit more dynamic flavor profile and a crisp, more refreshing feel would make it much better.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2011 23:00:52 | More by EgadBananas

Mora2000

Texas

3.68/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Gotta love a beer which appears to have John Deere Model B on the label. The beer pours a hazy orange-yellow color with a large white head. The aroma is full of Belgian yeast with some slightly sour orange notes. The flavor is full of orange and lemon citrus notes, as well as some pepper and others spices, yeast and wheat. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. For a brewery that typically doesn't brew Belgian beers, I was impressed with this effort.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 20:04:15 | More by Mora2000

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.35/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bomber pours a fairly hazed, medium gold color with a rapidly diminishing off-white head. Little lacing around the collar. Nothing spectacular to look at, especially when many a saison are gorgeous to gaze upon.

Lots of apple fruitiness in the nose with some sharp grains. Hops are there, grassy and somewhat raw...the beer smells like all the components dont come together just right.

Taste shows a bit more cohesion, but the hops and alcohol kind of poke out a bit harshly. The grainy sweetness and the light bitterness are more like oil and water than melding smoothly from one to the other, if that makes any sense. Saison yeast flexes its farmhouse muscles, but lacks finesse and overall smoothness. Its a decent start...but I would like to see a drop in sweetness, less alcohol, smoother hop profile and a lighter body. All that complaining, but I wont have much problem polishing off the bomber myself! Id be more receptive to a sixer format than having to shell out 7 or 8 bucks for a bomber.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 00:37:55 | More by twiggamortis420

GregSVT

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

22oz bomber into a snifter

A: Pours a hazy golden yellow with a nice white head that fades to a ring and leaves some lacing on the glass. About right for a Saison.

S: The nose is mostly that belgian yeast aroma of floral esters and spicy clove with a hint of lemon zest in the background. Not the best smelling Saison but it isn't terrible.

T: Big sweet flavors of belgian yeast and malt hit you first and are follwed by some clove and a bit of hops on the finish. Not much lemon or apples like a Saison should have. This could probably score better as a Belgian Strong Golden Ale or one of the other Belgian styles.

M: The feel is on the thicker side of medium and creamy. Just a tad bit dry which is also not very Saison like...

O: While this is a tasty Belgian beer it's not the best Saison I've had. I will say it's one of the best Rahr beers I've had though. Their To Thee series is really impressing me with each release.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2011 07:21:29 | More by GregSVT

Sinewave

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I have yet to be let down by the "To Thee" series. I ran in to this one by suprise. Love the label.

Pours foggy, frosty yellow with an orange hue. Thin, fizzy white cap.

Green grapes and hay fill the air on top pop. Clove and white pepper...oh my!

This is big and sweet. Thick, honey glazed grain and fruit. Green grapes, green apples, and pears. Spicy clove. The finish is a touch bitter, but still mainly sweet. Although I personally feel there's enough grassy, earthy balance to make it a pretty good attempt at a saison.

This has to be one of the thickest saisons I've ever had. Not that it's terribly thick, but it's close to medium and very slick. There seems to be a lack of carbonation though. I think a few more bubbles would help this one out a bit.

I feel this is a pretty good take on a American made saison.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 23:00:13 | More by Sinewave

texasclimber

Texas

3.2/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bomber poured into a black star co-op pint glass

A- pours a cloudy golden straw color with a thick eggshell colored head that dissipates quickly. Very nice carbonation.

S- lightly fruity esters with green apple, citrus, and a hint of sweetness from the belgian yeast. smell is obvious and strong initially however dissipates as the beer warms up (odd)

T- this saison is definitely sweet! Being that saisons are typically a little dryer than this one i was quite shocked. As for flavors, there's definitely a strong orange peel and clove-like characteristic. I agree with the first reviewer there's a strong aftertaste thats "difficult to pinpoint"

M- very nice mouthfeel for a saison, carbonation for this beer is really spot on.

O- for a saison, i feel like this was a little off base. as a craft beer it wasn't an unpleasant experience however it was a little sweeter than i was hoping for. All in all not horrible but not the best representation of a saison.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2011 00:00:31 | More by texasclimber

fatmcb1

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bomber poured into an oversized wine glass

Pours a golden color with one finger of off white head. Very sticky along the glass.

Fruit, citrusy esters are most dominant up front. Sweet malt comes through. There is also distinctive Belgian yeast. The overall scent is a bit light.

This is much sweeter than expected from the nose. Carmel malt and sugar mingle with citrus. The Belgian flavor is subdued. There is a strong aftertaste that is difficult to pinpoint.

There is plenty of carbonation, leaving a nice rich mouthfeel.

This is the 2nd release in "thee" series. I enjoyed Pecker Wrecker more, though this isn't a horrible first shot at a saison.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2011 05:38:21 | More by fatmcb1