Brewer's Art Saison L'Ombre - The Brewer's Art

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A goblet served on-tap at the brewpub in Baltimore.

A: The saison is a dark ruby-orange combination of hues. Dark and nearly opaque, the saison falls in the middle of the spectrum, darker than not. A small head, barely a ring, came along for the ride.

S: The nose is mostly caramel, syrupy and sweet. The yeast adds a few buggers, mostly fruit, into the mix. The floral aspects of the ale aren't as powerful as in the taste.

T: More darker malts driving the saison noir. The caramel is strong but doesn't stand alone as much as in the nose. Chocolate and coffee flavors follow even though the ale doesn't seem dark enough to support them. Belgian yeast adds a fruity sweet presence, no mustiness here. The ale is brewed with 'edible flowers and herbs.' Those flavors are evident if you allow a sip to warm in your mouth, releasing floral notes. More chocolate and caramel return for the finish.

M: A well-rounded, complex taste that has enough going to keep it interesting. The floral aspects, as fleeting as they are, are clear winners. The array of dark malts is nice too.

D: I stayed with one pint but I wouldn't mind settling in with a few more glasses.

Serving type: on-tap

02-18-2011 02:43:46 | More by akorsak

ianjsullivan

Maryland

3.65/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer was served light-brown with little head, and it did not leave great lacing.

S: Smoke, roasted malt, sour fruit, and bread.

T: Sour fruit rules much of the beer, though small roasted smoke was also part of the mix. It added another dimension to the beer.


M: Medium to light bodied and dry.

D: This beer is blended well; the alcohol is not obvious. It was dry and refreshing, with slight smoke.

Overall: This is a different type of winter seasonal beer. It is a dark saisons (brewed with edible flowers and herbs according to Brewer's Art). There is some nice floral notes in this beer, and a slight bit of smoke. However, the sour fruit notes takes over mostly. I am a big fan of saisons, and while this is not a bad one, it is not excellent either. If you are looking for a refreshing beer with some complex (or you are interested in a saison with some smoke) notes, give this beer a try.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2011 22:41:38 | More by ianjsullivan