Rob's Hopped Up Saison

Saison is one of our favorite styles. Fantome's Saison in particular goes on my list of top three beers I have ever had the privilege to drink. Accordingly, Rob and I decided to brew an extract saison two months ago. The brew day was full of fun, including a tasting that brought out half a dozen different Saison's from Rob's recent LiquidSolutions order plus several bombers of my 12% abv cider that tastes like an apple champagne. Thus, it was no surprise that we threw in the aroma hops (cascade), bittering hops (saaz) and lemon zest with an hour left for boil.... Well, train wreck right? No, not exactly. The end result is something quite interesting. Pours a vibrant amber blond orange with a minimal head that resides to a beautiful pattern of film across the top of the beer. The smell is dominated by a very pleasant earthy, bready aroma, befriended with hints of lemon, orange zest, slight metallic notes (most likely the over hopped notes) and some floral, earthy yeast. Taste follows suite, dominated by the fresh cut grass, hay, floral hops with vibrant notes of fresh baked bread and balanced by fruity flavors of fresh red apples, pine apple and some tropical hints of mango. Well done Rob.