Bold Dog K.I.S.S.
I wasn’t at all familiar with Bold Dog Beer Co. or the Brew Yards collective o which the company is a part until a box of beer showed up last week. Since then, I have been enjoying the samples the group has graciously shared with me. Of the three beers, I decided to start with K.I.S.S., a 7.4% ABV (60 IBU) saison-style brew as the weather on the day I cracked it open screamed for this type of beer.
When it comes to Saisons, I’m a bit of a traditionalist, but I’m also not afraid to try brews like this particular example. K.I.S.S. uses pilsner malt within its base, as well as the Citra hop variety. The result is a saison that is quite drying and lightly funky. While the yeast swells within the aroma, providing hints of funk, bubblegum and banana, it tends to take a step back for a bit once the beer hits the tastebuds.
That’s when the pilsner malt and Citra hops take control. Sure, the yeasty funk lingers long into the lasting finish, but it’s the crackers and grain of the malt, as well as the leafy hop notes and bitterness that take control for the remainder of the trip.
K.I.S.S., part of the brewery’s Keep It Simple Series, is anything but a simple beer. It’s not overly complex, mind you. The aroma and flavor are dynamic and deliver an interesting overall experience especially between the yeast and that pilsner malt. I enjoyed the brew for the most part, but found it personally a bit too drying, almost a tad chalky. That said, it’s certainly a different take on a favorite style and I’m always willing to challenge the tastebuds with a unique interpretation like this.
This is a review of a promotional sample.