Judge’s Review: 87 Rating – KEREL Saison by Verbeek-Back-De Cock Brewery

Saison | Year-Round | Belgium

By Michael Heniff

Judges Rating: 87
Aroma: 20
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 36
Mouthfeel: 8
Overall Impression: 17

KEREL Saison by Verbeek-Back-De Cock Brewery is a Saison and is being evaluated as a Saison (category 25B in the 2021 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines).  Saisons are typically well-carbonated and well-attenuated ales with a complex balance between phenolics, esters, and hops. 
KEREL Saison pours golden in color with a light haze and a finely beaded white head. The aroma pairs peppery phenolics against light citrusy esters and a hint of herbal hops. The flavor displays prominent peppery phenolics, a light citrusy ester but without hops, and a moderate grainy maltiness provides a backdrop to the phenolics and esters. The beer finishes moderately bittered with a light pils malt and moderate peppery phenolics.
KEREL Saison is a very good saison. The phenolics are prominent and the esters provide balance. However, the malt intensity is higher than typical examples and the beer lacks the high, palate-cleansing carbonation.