Council Brewing Co. Béatitude Raspberry Tart Saison Saison at 4.5% ABV (C$19.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 1-Jul-2016, reviewed 3-Aug-2016)
Appearance: hazy pinkish pale amber with two fingers of growing fluffy light pink head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, minimal patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: doughy yeast, tart raspberry, horseblankety funk, lemon, light oak. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high tart. (7/10) Medium-light body, lively carbonation, crisp lightly tart and funky finish. (4/5)
Upon decapping, I was greeted by the now-familiar (well, if you’ve tried Council beers before) doughy aroma of baker’s yeast, underneath which lurked a tart raspberry and light funk. I was then treated to one of the most bizarre beer displays I’ve ever seen, in which the fluffy light pink head receded upward from the fluid meniscus first, leaving the top layer of foam completely intact across the glass, as its interior eroded in ever-larger caverns. I was so enthralled I forgot to photograph it, and by the time I thought to grab my camera it was gone, replaced by a persistent thin cap. It’s not an unpleasant example of the style, and the raspberry seems pretty authentic, but I’m finding it hard to get behind that yeast. I really think a yeast with a cleaner character would improve these beers immensely. (13/20)
6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
