With the weather suddenly turning warmer this past weekend, it was high time to try one of the recently purchased beers that have been in the basement for a couple of weeks. I know the warm weather will fade before Spring truly arrives, but what better way to celebrate some heavy duty yard work on such a wonderful weekend?
St Landelin La Devine from Les Brasseurs de Gayant is a French Bière de Garde. Based on the limited data on the company’s web site, the beer is shipped after a “…prolonged storage period…” I’m not sure how long that may be, but the wife and I enjoyed a couple of glasses on the deck.
Appearance
La Devine pours a pale yellow in color with a small white head that faded rather quickly.
Aroma
It doesn’t have a real powerful nose, but there is a subtle yeasty funkiness to it. Light toasted malt and grass like characters are also present.
Taste
This one reminded me a bit of Saison Dupont, yet not quite as refined and with a bit more funk to it. It’s definitely what I expected for a Bière de Garde — slightly funky, hay/grasslike notes and rather smooth.
Overall
I can think of a few beers I’d buy before this one, but as a first time experience goes, it was a pleasing and drinkable beer. It definitely hit the spot as far as being a well deserved brew.
Rating: 3/5
