Harpoon Saison Various
There’s nothing I love more than a refreshing Saison on a warm Summer afternoon. Harpoon Brewery may have slightly mistimed the release of their latest 100 Barrel Series brew by a few weeks, but their Saison Various more than makes up for it with plenty of flavor. This limited release, however, isn’t just your standard Saison.
Saison Varioius is the result of four different Saison recipes (crafted by four different Harpoon employees) blended to create a beer that is varied in aroma and taste. From the peppery yeast to a welcome bit of barnyard funk to an appropriate amount of refreshing hop bitterness, the beer delivers a wide range of influences – without confusing the taste buds in the slightest. It may not knock the crown off of my favorite examples of this style, but Saison Various was impressive nonetheless.
Appearance
Saison Varoius pours a vibrant straw yellow in color with a rocky, voluminous stack of white foam.
Aroma
This beer smells damn good with vinous notes, yeast, pepper, a subtle barnyard character, grass, distant spices and a light, herbal quality.
Taste
As good as this beer smells, the flavors are a little more subdued, but no less complex (if that makes any sense). A good bit of a barnyard character arrives with a subtle hint of spices, citrusy hop presence, peppery yeast and vinous notes. There’s a low to moderate hop bitterness that lingers gently in the slightly drying finish. Saison Various has a welcome bit of earthiness to accompany its overall light body and refreshing nature.
Overall
This is one tasty brew, but the flavor doesn’t quite live up to the expectations that the aroma set upon first sniff. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as this happens quite a bit with many beers. I really like the herbal and vinous notes that Saison Various brings to the palate. This is another strong addition to the 100 Barrel Series.
Rating: 4/5
This is a review of a promotional sample from the brewery.
