Ovila Saison (Collaboration)

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Chico, California
and
Abbey of New Clairvaux
Vina, California

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Big, rocky head. Deep gold-copper. Hazy. Lots of bubbles, steady stream.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Citrus–orange peel. Pineapple, tangerine, coriander. Peppery, earthy, big and fruity.

TASTE: 7.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Apricot, honey, pepper notes. Fruit cocktail, pear (so, fruity). Some citrus hop flavor.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Sweet up-front, ends with a grainy/cereal finish. Slight hop bitterness to finish.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Big, chewy, a bit boozy. Fizzy on the tongue, dry and smooth.

OVERALL: 2/3: More like a tripel than a true saison. More fruity than earthy. Americanized? Or just playing it safe? Either way, it's good, but falls short of the saison we'd hoped for.

TOTAL: 15/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: It's not raw enough, lacking the earthy qualities that make, say, Saison Dupont so good. Tasty, smooth and dry, but we've had better saisons.

Ben: It has the fruity notes of a Belgian but lacks the deep earthy, spicy notes it needs. More like a Duvel than a Dupont.

Life and Limb (Collaboration)

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Chico, California
and
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Milton, Delaware

APPEARANCE: 3/3
Deep red-brown, almond head that lasts, rings the glass. Beautiful! The head is still there!

AROMA: 3.75/4
Woody, oak. Licorice, whiskey, chocolate, sweet cream, burnt toast, vanilla. Complex, NICE.

TASTE: 9/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.5/4: Hop bitter and roasted malt dominant. Nutty, woody, smoky. Licorice, whiskey, coffee notes. Well-balanced, complex.
Aftertaste: 2.75/3: Bitter–roast, hop. Alcohol. Sour tang.
Mouth-Feel: 2.75/3: Alcohol warming–smooth. Dry, nice oaky flavors. Bouncy on tongue, alcohol is superbly masked.

OVERALL: 2.75/3: A really really REALLY good beer. Lots going on. Silky smooth, a great blend of sweet and roasty. Sophisticated, really brilliant.

TOTAL: 18.5/20–Keep 'Em Coming

NOTES:
Matt: Dark, mysterious and absolutely brilliant. I feel classier for having drunk it, and privileged to have even tried it. God bless America!

Ben: Is it a stout? A porter? Neither? Both? Whatever it is, it's sweet awesomeness to be sipped by a roaring fire at Christmas. Pair it with ice cream (or just drink it on its own).

Stillwater Artisinal Ales Cellar Door American Farmhouse Ale

Dog Brewing Company
Westminster, MD

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Pretty gold, very hazy. Creamy head, fine bubbles. Head lasts and lasts.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Fruity, dry. A bit sour. Floral, peppery notes, chamomile, banana. No appreciable hop aroma.

TASTE: 7.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Lemongrass, orange peel, ginger, honey. Bready, subtle licorice. No real hop flavor.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Subtle hop bitterness at finish, a hint of sage.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Nice body, full, effervescent. A little boozy.

OVERALL: 2.25/3: Interesting, complex (as expected, given the style). Bright. A nice Belgian Saison/Farmhouse. The subtle sage notes make for a spicy finish.

TOTAL: 15/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Not a bad Farmhouse Ale. I'm always intrigued by the style, they're always complex and unpredictable. This one was just okay, in my opinion.
Ben: A bright, fruity, floral beer. Strong Belgian notes. Nice! A tad boozy, but overall a nice example of the style. Maybe more hop? I'd buy it again, and pair it with Thanksgiving turkey.

Note: I must say, the label for this beer was damned near unreadable.