Widmer Brothers Dark Saison
Alcohol by Volume: 5.5%
Look for this beer and more at Full Throttle Bottles in Georgetown.

Intro: Each year, Widmer chooses a different style for their Brewmasters’ Release. For 2012, say hello to the Dark Saison. A traditional saison is brewed primarily with pale or pilsner malt, but Widmer also uses some caramel and chocolate malt in order to add some color and complexity. I love that larger regional breweries continue to experiment with different styles.

Description: Pours a clear, dark amber with thin head. It is darker than your average example of the style; just don’t expect it to be black. Bubble gum Belgian yeast comes through in the aroma with a little bit of sweet malt. The fruity esters and peppery phenolics you’d expect in a saison are there, and a base of bready malt supports it all. It’s lightly sweet up front, and moderate tart sour fruit comes through. It finishes fairly dry with very assertive carbonation. Overall, this is an interesting beer to try, but it I’m not crazy for it. The tartness is a bit much for me, and I don’t find it refreshing. But, there is nothing off with it and it is pleasant enough. If you are a fan of saisons it is worth checking out to make a decision for yourself.

Verdict: Worth a taste

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Commercial Description/Press Release:

INSPIRED BY THE CLASSIC FRENCH FARMHOUSE ALE, OUR INTERPRETATION OF THE SAISON STYLE GETS ITS DARK COLOR AND DEEP RUBY HUE FROM A HINT OF CARAMEL AND DARK CHOCOLATE MALTS. WHILE THE BEER IS DARKER THAN MANY EXAMPLES OF THE STYLE, THE CITRUS SPICE OF SAAZ HOPS PROVIDES A PERFECT BALANCE OF COMPLEX FRUITY ESTERS WITH EARTHY AND SPICY NOTES. DARK SAISON FINISHES SLIGHTLY TART WITH A DRYING, CLEAN, AND PEPPER-LIKE FINISH

In the interest of full disclosure to satisfy the FTC’s law, this review was of a sample bottle received from the brewery.