Seventh Meeting

This week, we have an interesting mix of patrons. Joe and Brent have 'headaches' so they can't make it, and joining us for the first time is Noob Tom J. We also have Mike, Belfry, Colin, Tom, and the host, Derek. Derek chose a quaffable summer beer this week because of the weather, so we'll be sipping on Saison. Welcome, this is our farmhouse.

The first one is corked and caged. Saison Dupont is the 7th highest rated Saison on BA, and it's 6.5% alcohol. It smells really funky, but the taste is clearly Belgian. It's highly carbonated and you can taste the Belgian Candi sugars, and it finishes crisply.

BPA: 3.32

Next we have another corked and caged delight. Colin brought Ommegang Hennepin, which is the 6th ranked Saison on BA and weighs in at 7.7% ABV. It pours a fairly light yellow, and smells more like a tripel. Mike says it's way less subdued, but Derek is totally wrong in his opinion that it smells funkier than the last. "Less of the farm, more of the city,"- Derek is kind of making sense now. Tom J- "This leaves a film in the back of my throat." Tom B- "That's what she said." Let's rate this:

BPA: 2.93

Brasserie Dupont's Foret is our next pour, brought to you and I by Noob Belfry. Right off the bat, is smells like cheeeeeese. Matt Cooper has been kicked out of school for less. It's funky and tastes like the wet straw above which Baby Jesus was swaddled.

BPA: 3.05

We have our first repeat. Boulevard's Tank 7 Farmhouse is our first repeat tasting, as Noob Belfry didn't show proper knowledge of the blog. However, it was on behalf of Noob Tom J, who's even Noobier than Belfry. However, we're not disappointed, as it will give us a chance to compare it against other Saisons, and to give it a BPA. It pours a little cloudier than the last couple, and it smells a lot hoppier than the last few. It's good, but it doesn't taste anything like the last few. It seems more of an American take on the style.

BPA: 3.17

Our next stop on the saison tour is Les Biere des Collines. As far as we know, it's not on BA yet, and if it is, we've misspelled the name on multiple attempts. It pours the same color as a barleywine. It's 6.5%, but tastes like alcohol. It's very strange; it tastes like apples a little bit, and there's a little funk, but this is certainly unlike any beer I've ever had. I don't like the mouthfeel, and Derek doesn't like it at all. Let it be known: Noob Belfry feels his tastebuds have been adulterated by multiple Tom J flatulences.

BPA: 2.27

Our final taste comes from Brother Derek, in the form of Jolly Pumpkin Bam Noire, which comes in at a surprising 4.3% ABV. This one pours a dark crimson, and looks like it should taste like a dubbel. There's a definite spicy smell. Meeeeerrrry Christmas, it tastes like gingerbread! It's another strange one, with hop presence and a rather thin mouthfeel.

BPA: 2.38


Well that will do it for the night. This style got probably the lowest rankings that we've had, which is kind of a surprise. We were joined by Noob Mike's new pooch, Gabe. Well, we're not really drunk, so we'll get on with some Belgians the next couple of weeks to remedy that situation.

Gabe has leap-frogged Mike in the Noob hierarchy