7.5

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

Dark brown colour with big fluffy head. Aroma has lots of Brett funk and some vinous, red fruits. Tastes nicely dry. Old wine. Dried fruits. Dried sour cherries. Christmas cake.

6

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

"Dark farmhouse ale" (whatever that may mean) hopped with Centennial, from Oklahoma's leading craft brewery; 500 cl bottle from Bierhalle Deconinck (if I remember correctly). Initially very thick and foamy, audibly crackling but quickly collapsing head, medium thick eventually with holes in the middle but generally well-retaining if strongly thinned in the end, ruddy mocha-beige in colour and barely lacing; initially clear, very dark chocolate brown robe, almost blackish, but with a ruby red glow piercing through; hazy and more mahogany-brownish at its edges with the sediment added. Strong, almost vaguely 'oud bruin'-like bouquet of soggy brown bread, stewed plum, ripe blackberries and bitter poisonous berries, initially very strong phenolic effects (clinical and indeed the dreaded 'band aid' pushing to the foreground) but fading afterwards, nutmeg, tea, hint of marmite, plant soil, black cherries, old musty coffee grounds, touch gingerbread, forest floor, red wine must, minerals, wild apple. Estery onset, 'wild' fruitiness reminiscent of red plum, blackberry and other forest fruit, red apple and a dash of fresh fig, restrained in sweetness with a more pronounced sourish undertone, very lively carbonated - with the carbonation, apart from adding its usual minerally effect, also accentuating the sourness; full, supple body but indeed coarsened a bit by (over)carbonation. Dark, grey rye bread-like malt core, old walnuts, caramelly edge but remaining on the dry side, even gaining a roasty, old coffee grounds-like bitterness in the end, but not to stout- or porter-like proportions; the finish is more coloured by overly strong phenolic effects (clove, nutmeg, eucalyptus - and indeed strong 'band aid' again) as well as a 'dirty', earthy effect mingling with a peppery hoppiness, providing late but resinous, leafy bitterness, amplifying the already present roasted malt bitterness. Bitterness overpowers sourness here - the latter remaining very mild and fruity all the way through; in my view, this beer could perhaps do with a tad more sweetness to even things out. Overcarbonated too, and overly phenolic, with that very unpleasant clinical effect to it; I had many and much better Prairies than this one, but that said, it is certainly an interesting beer, like a strong 'oud bruin' with added 'Americanized' hop bitterness to it, albeit in a very earthy way, lacking in aromatics. I wonder if I should have left it mature for much longer - who knows what can come out of this bottle in, say, five more years... At this age, however: unbalanced, wry, technically flawed, unpleasantly (clinically) phenolic and a bit of a mess, to be honest; especially that band aid effect bothered me from beginning to end. I don't think I have ever been this disappointed in Prairie.

7

Ik hou meestal niet van wilde gist in combinatie met heel donker bier. Smaakt flink naar turf en vingerverf, daarnaast zoet en zuur. Wel interessant maar niet per se heel lekker.

EB from 2016

8

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

Tap at Craft Beer Co Clerkenwell. Nice, light vinous tartness, feels a touch sour. Pleasantly interesting. Aroma has funk, and herbs. Taste is lightly toasted, dark fruit, funk. Good stuff.

7.6

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle. Gusher. Color: Almost black, light brown head. Aroma: Floral hop, leather, yeast. Taste: Floral hop, wild yeast with pretty strong leather notes. Subtle cocoa and peppery notes, herbal hints. Moderate sweet and medium bitter. Long lasting finish with dry bittery palate. Pretty smooth and dry, slightly powdery mouthfeel. Very slightly sourish hints. Over medium body, just below average carbonation. Nice, pretty unusual Saison style.

7

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Draught@CBC Blue Session 2016. Black colour, minor head. Aroma is fruity, floral, some citrus and mild chocolaty and yeasty notes to it. Flavour is citrus, fruity, some yeasty and mild toasted sweetish notes. Nicely balanced and wellworking dark saison.

6.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5

500ml bottle bought at Vinmonopolet Hamar. Solid tan-coloured foamy head fading over a dark brown coloured body. Clingy lacing. Aromatic with juniper and pine. Comprehensive taste profile of wood, brett, pine needles and juniper, slightly vinous impression. Sweet and tart ending. Fine bodied. Refreshing, just a little bit unvaried. (Shared with friends, Ottestad 04.03.2017).

7.3

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

Bottle from Gambrinus. Pours a deep brown to black with a huge tan head that lingers. Lots of woody, earthy brett in the nose. Dark cacao, tart fig and more wood. Good carbonation with a cola-like mouthfeel. Long, lingering dry bretty finish with some light tartness.

7

Bardzo bretowy aromat, troche ipowy smak, farmhousowo przyprawowe klimaty, bardzo ciekawe, inne, fajne