So last night I had my first Black Oak Summer Saison ever. I don't know how it ended up being so long, but there you have it. I enjoyed my pint at Volo, but felt it was lacking a little something to edge it into greatness. Oddly enough that 'something' appears to be a bottle, as the beer I just poured myself from the sixer is a remarkably solid interpretation of an old-style saison. It lacks the bells and whistles of many saisons on the market, but also clocks in at a far more quaffable ABV, and I could drink several of these on a hot day, which was the original intention of the first saison makers.
Its an awesome beer, and you should all pick some up at the brewery. I think when one of our brewers makes something special we should all pile in and support it in the hope that it will encourage them to increase production of the good stuff and become more adventurous with their other offerings and the market in general.Pours a clouded gold with a voluminus white head, that gradually dies to a heavy film, leaving streaks of lace with every sip. The aroma is restrained, but well balanced, with hints of hay underneath layers of orange zest, wheat, and funky yeast. This is not a saison that hits you over the head with a burst of funk, but it displays a subtlety missing in some other versions.
The taste reflects this. Upfront a pleasant spiciness (pepper and coriander mix) tingles the tongue, before giving way to wheat, orange earth and a light funkiness. The whole package is elevated by the finish, where the spices reassert themselves in a pleasantly warming fashion that belies the light alcohol percentage of this brew. Talking of the alcohol, its far more in line with the traditional saison than other versions that have appeared in recent years, and that's something I appreciate. Its an exceptionally easy to drink saison, and the lighter ABV actually makes it a good choice for a thirst quencher on a hot summer day, which can't be said of some of its arrivals who weigh in at twice the percentage. For its style is practically perfect in this area.
The body is also very style-appropiate, exhibiting a lightness, with spritzy carbonation and a drying character. Black Oak have done a great job on this beer. I first had it on tap last night and felt that everything was a bit dialled back in that tame Ontario way I keep coming across, but the bottled version is far superior and rectifies the faults I found in my beer last night. Highly recommended.