Stillwater Artisanal Ales might not be a name you’re used to hearing in the beer world, but that is all starting to change. Considering it began mass brewing in January of 2010, the success of the beer I am reviewing this week is quite surprising. The verbiage on the label describes the history behind the beer better than I ever could:
Stateside Saison pays homage to old world tradition while celebrating new world innovation. Naturally brewed with the finest European malts & fresh aromatic hops from the United States & New Zealand. It’s then fermented using a classic farmhouse ale yeast and bottle conditioned to enhance stability. The outcome is a beer of unique design and exquisite taste, showcasing some of the best attributes of modern-day craft brewing.
The bottle opened with a huge pop! (Just with a bottle cap, no cork) and sprayed out a little bit. The beer itself poured into my Duvel Tulip with a huge white head that almost billowed over the top of the glass and laced nicely. Hazy yellow in color. Substantial amount of funk in the smell of this one. Also, I’m picking up the alcohol a bit, along with grassy hops, and yeast for sure. The taste is light, with a bit of yeast up front. Which gives way to a slight bitterness and a dry finish. Hardly any alcohol sensation, which is surprising considering the smell. The huge amount of carbonation leaves a nice tingle on the palate. Very drinkable offering, this one. Very good representation of the saison style in my opinion. Complex, but not overly dominated by one aspect. I can’t wait for Stillwater to concoct more delicious offerings like this one for me to have at!
