Irrational Brewing Company Autonomic Mind – Saison at 6.5% ABV (C$5.04 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-May-2024, reviewed 15-May-2024)
Appearance: clear straw with a short, short-lived loose white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pineapple, peppercorns. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, short mildly warming finish. (4/5)
Look, I like strong beer as much as the next guy – hell, probably more than most – but with very few exceptions, that’s not a characteristic of a good Saison. With this style, I’m looking for light, crisp, dry and refreshing. And yes, a low ABV is part of that. And while this one isn’t overly aggressive, it’s still largely lacking the earthy complexity that makes the style shine. In fact, the use of pineapple and peppercorn adjuncts here, instead of boosting the natural flavours, overwhelms them with the simplistic analogs. It’s not unlike comparing a Kettle Sour to a true Wild: yes, they’re both sour, but the former’s a kazoo and the latter’s a philharmonic. A Saison might not have the depth of character of a Wild, but it should be similar – and this isn’t, not very. (14/20)
This will be my 5,823rd unique Untappd check-in.
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
