Profiled by Maria Devan
The saison is like a beer pleasantry. Have you ever been to the confectioners shop? You can find there a small perfect box with hard lemon candies in it. They are perfectly yellow and have a light dusting of sugar . They look perfect but not delicate.
Meriwether is a collaboration between Perennial Artisan Ales and The Commons Brewery.
The pour is alive with bubbles. Not just one stream! They keep coming and the head is very creamy and stands quite a long time. Lemon yellow and hazy. Nose is bright with lemon, grasses and spice . A healthy sugar on this nose and a scrumptious malt underneath that little bit of extra sweetness. Some barnyard to give tartness . I thought I smelled wheat at first. Golden malt. Drinks with lots of wonderful hop herbal and lemon. Spice and a touch of earthy sweet funk. Herbal pepper and bubbly carbonation finish the beer with a firm hops bitter to linger. It does not finish all the way dry. Just a touch of sweetness on this one to finish malty. A subtle crackery finish with lots of spice.
The saison often appears as a contradiction. Hearty yet delicate, sweet but dry, I think that is why so may have girls names. This one is so lemony it’s bon vivant! It’s also a little bold with funk. TGIF everyone!
4
Welcome to the PGA beer rating system: one beer “Don’t bother.” Two: Eh, if someone gives it to you, drink. Three: very good, go ahead and seek it out, but be aware there is at least one problem. Four: seek it out. Five: pretty much “perfecto.”
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Maria Devan lives in Ithaca, NY and is a great beer writer. That’s Maria in the middle. The other two are not, but they are lucky to have her as a friend.