Brouwerij De Ranke Saison de Dottignies Belgian Strong Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV ($11.59 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750ml, best before 19-Sep-2018)
Pours hazy pale to medium amber with a one finger of light beige head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate lacing. (4/5) Nose is pithy citrus, yeast, cloves, barnyard funk, faint banana. (8/10) Taste is mild sweet, moderate bitter, mild funk. (8/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, dry bitter funky finish. (4/5)
A pleasant, slightly funky dry saison. Fruit is muted and restrained, as is the sweetness. For the price, though, it could stand to be a bit more interesting – as it stands, it’s a decent beer at a premium price. I think it’s slightly better than the sum of its parts, though, so I’m bumping up the overall a bit. (18/20)
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
