Hop City Brewing Co. Payday Saison at 6.2% ABV | 40 IBU (C$3.56 at NLC Stavanger, 473 ml, bottle date 24-Feb-2017, acquired 9-May-2017, reviewed 13-May-2017)
Appearance: hazy pale amber with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: floral, spices, citrus, earth. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, lively to moderate carbonation, short duration moderate bitter slightly spicy finish. (3/5)
I wasn’t expecting a whole lot from this, so I wasn’t exactly disappointed. It falls into a lot of the traps that so many would-be Saisons do: too prominent an ABV (though technically within spec), too sweet (in the front and in the finish), too heavy, and slightly under-carbonated for the style. Most importantly, it’s not particularly refreshing, which I consider a central requirement for a Saison. To be fair, it’s not terrible, especially for the price – but it’s not particularly memorable, either. (12/20)
6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
