Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Pretty Things - Jack D'Or

Saison "Americaine", 6.4% ABV


Appearance: Pale, like pinewood. Poured a nice, foamy head, but the head receded quickly and there is no residual lacing. Carbonation is very visible, and it's crystal clear in the glass.

Smell: Lemon zest, great breadiness and barnyard funk from the yeast, a bit of coriander.

Taste: Some nice complexity. There is earthy straw, the lemon and coriander from the nose, and some spice/pepper, possibly again from the yeast.

Mouthfeel: Nice light-medium body, and a very dry finish.

Overall: Two things I love about this beer -- 1) it drinks well at any temperature, and 2) the flavor profile. I nursed this one over the course of the evening because I kept getting distracted by various things, and every time I came back for a sip it was still delicious (this is sadly not the case for a lot of beers, excepting of course the ones that are meant to be drank at warmer temperatures.) I really liked that it smelled and drank like a saison typical of the style (with barnyard characteristics and clear spicy notes from the Belgian yeast) but also had some bold touches -- perhaps this is why they called it "Americaine?" -- like the hit of coriander and lemon zest. It's very drinkable and I'd drink it at any time of the year, though the dry finish lends itself particularly well to being a refreshing spring/summer beer.

4/5

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