Ding Points: 80.00

Pour: 80.00, Nose: 80.00, Palate: 80.00, Mouth: 80.00, Global: 80.00

Tasting Notes:

750 mL, (plastic, meh) corked & caged bottle in the usual Brewmaster’s Collaboration Series presentation. This one comes with the added moniker on the label of being associated with Philly BEER Week.

This is the fifth in the Collaboration Series. Pour is a bright orange with some cloudiness. The head is small but nevertheless fairly well formed and the retention is absolutely tremendous.

De Proef, Broederlijke Liefde

The nose is strong. Funk is fully formed with a few floral notes.

Tastes are particularly floral even for a saison. The label refers to this and suggests the combination of Styrian Golding and Target hops bring the flowers. The Brett manifests itself more in the nose than in the taste for me, but there is still a strong delivery of manure, farmhouse and horse-blanket across the board. It does not deliver any sour notes as such, but the funk is certainly a prominent feature.

A sweet finish with some rounded floral notes that bring elderflower to mind. Hay like as well – lots of hay! This beer brings plenty to the table with floral elements, sweetness and a decent funk all being present. It’s a little TOO busy for me though, I prefer a cleaner, simpler Saison. That’s not to say this is a bad beer, in fact on the contray it’s very good, but it just doesn’t suit the taste profile I am generally looking for from a beer of this style. Having said that this might be a good beer to introduce Saisons for the uninitiated; lots of flavor, funk and floral elements, it really has it all going on.

Quite complex, but approachable and drinkable. This beer is a bit ‘all over the place’ and in that regard it feels a little Fantôme like, in as much as it is a little crazy,; take that as a high compliment. A touch slick, the beer drinks its 8.00 % quite easily. You are definitely left with a fairly dry aftertaste along with a considerable feeling of floral elements. These floral are the dominating factors without question.

Tasty if somewhat busy beer, and frankly lots of better value beers in the style.

Other: Part of the Brewmaster’s Collaboration this one with Brian O’Reilly of Sly Fox. 8.0% ABV. OG 1066 (16.5 plato) and 37 IBU’s. $15.99 for the bottle.