La Ferme Urbaine

Farmhouse ales tend to be relatively easy drinkers, but some really swing for the fences. This is one such Saison, and while the effort is commendable, the beer is sharply unbalanced and tough to drink. I would love to see what the brewery does with this in future passes because I honestly believe there’s a good beer in here somewhere!

As advertised, the beer pours a hazy gold with a low white head. The aroma has an initial funk/sulfur note to it that isn’t unpleasant, and a low level of bread with a touch of banana ester for good measure.

The flavor is complex: Orange, pear, and bubble gum are present initially, but are quickly overtaken by a sharp, grating bite and medium-high bitterness. The lingering grain flavor is more husky than malty, and the beer feels astringent and tight in the mouth. All of these characteristics are amped up by the medium-high level of carbonation.

The bottom line is that drinking this beer is work — ironic, given the style’s history of being a knock-off-work kind of beer! There are much better examples out there, but this one may be worth a revisit somewhere down the line. The pieces are all there, they’re just out of balance.