Four Seasons Spring ’17

Mother Earth Brew Co.

Four Seasons Spring ’17

Fruit Beer
Seasonal
California
United States

Judges Ratings 96

Aroma: 22 / 24
Flavor: 38 / 40
Appearance: 6 / 6
Mouthfeel: 10 / 10
Overall Impression: 18 / 20

Description

Every Spring we have the pleasure, and in this case especially, the honor of collaborating with one of craft beer’s most revered brewers of Belgian and fruit-based specialty beers, The Bruery. The process was simple: focus on things we each do well, and find a way to hybridize a classic style. Nothing is more steeped in tradition than the Saison, and with a hoppy twist, we put something together that honors the past while displaying the possibilities of stylistic change.
In addition to a respectable hop schedule, and traditional French origin yeast, we also added 200# of pureed kumquats. That’s a pound and a half per barrel. This is truly a fusion of styles and ideas from forward thinking, like minded brewers.

Beverage Profile

ABV: 6.50%
IBUs: 20
Served at: (45 – 50°)
Hops: Citra, Amarillo, Sorachi Ace
Malts: 2-Row, Munich, Flaked Oats, Wheat

Judges Review

Randy Scorby picture

By Randy Scorby

Judges Ratings 96

Aroma: 22 / 24 / 24
Flavor: 38 / 40 / 40
Appearance: 6 / 6 / 6
Mouthfeel: 10 / 10 / 10
Overall Impression: 18 / 20 / 20

This Spring Collaboration Ale by Mother Earth Brewing & The Bruery is being evaluated as a Fruit Beer (Category 29A) from the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines.

This beer is marketed as a dry hopped saison brewed with kumquats, and it delivers with a solid representation of the base beer combined with a well-integrated character from the kumquats. It pours a light gold color with near brilliant clarity, and a creamy white head that lasts throughout. The aroma greets the drinker with a moderate black pepper phenol quickly followed by a light orange citrus character. A moderate and slight rich bready maltiness and crackers seasoned with black pepper emerge closely behind. The flavor follows aroma with a bump up in orange character and slight reduction in the black pepper, with a bready, crackery maltiness keeping pace. A moderate hop bitterness emerges mid-palate and lingers through light residual sweetness to help create a pleasant dryness in the finish. This is a very pleasant beer with a fairly even balance between all of the components, with the kumquats kicking out an enjoyable citrus character. This beer may be promoted as a spring ale but can certainly be enjoyed year-round.

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