Ding Points: 86.00

Pour: 80.00, Nose: 80.00, Palate: 90.00, Mouth: 80.00, Global: 90.00

Tasting Notes:

22 oz bottle. Lemon, hazed pour with a minimal head.

Nose and tastes have more hoppy bitterness and less sweetness and spice that I was expecting. Hops generate a small degree of bitterness that I wasn’t expecting. The nose gives a fairly large does of citrus, but the fruit is missing in the tastes, and is placed by a grapefruit like bitterness. There’s a pleasing soapy hop character that comes through in the back end which works well.

Green Flash Brewing Co., Summer Saison

For me, the white pepper, peel and other spice notes are really quite restrained and they are replaced by a surprisingly bold bitterness. I suppose that’s the orange peel coming through, but either way I am very impressed with the presence of this beer, and delighted by the absence (or need) for large alcohol notes in the mix. An unusual beast in as much as a beer with this depth of flavor and presence is unusual for an American beer with this ABV.

A nice lively mouthfeel, too, and it complements the light, grassy elements too. Carbonation is quite high. There’s a bit more orange that comes into play as the beer warms and this too is a nice touch.

I’m absolutely delighted (as well as shocked) by the modest ABV. This is a full-flavored beer with a decent amount of bitterness. So, apparently American brewers CAN brew flavorful beer with sensible ABV’s – who knew!?

Other: ABV is in the mid 4’s (4.5 %), Saison/Farmhouse Ale