Magic Hat Saint Saltan
Magic Hat Brewing’s Saint Saltan is their take on a Gose — an unfiltered wheat beer that’s brewed with the addition of coriander and salt. Now, I’m pretty sure I’ve never had a Gose, let alone a beer with salt added to the brewing process. I’ve had some oyster stouts in the past that have had a saline-like character to them, but nothing that’s just had salt added outright. This should be interesting — hopefully as interesting as the label artwork which looks like it too was crafted out of salt.
After enjoying the first couple of sips from this 4.6% ABV brew, I can safely say that it isn’t salty. Sure it’s got a bit of a salt presence to it, but it only proves to compliment the touch of sour character that also persists. Thankfully, it is an interesting — in a good way — experience that reminds me of a really lightly herbed gruit.
Appearance
Saint Saltan pours a pale straw in color with a small amount of white foam. It doesn’t look unfiltered as it’s fairly transparent.
Aroma
Lightly toasted bread, grains, a good helping of coriander (but not over the top), a hint of salt and a touch of sourness in the background.
Taste
The flavor of this beer is pretty much right in line with the aroma, but with a more pronounced salt component. The beer isn’t salty like a nice plate of frites, but you can definitely pick it up amongst the lightly toasted malt, wheat and coriander that comprise the majority of the flavor. There’s a light amount of sweetness to balance out a late-forming and soft level of sourness that lingers for a bit in the finish. The crisp mouthfeel and lighter body give the beer a drinkable and refreshing quality.
Overall
Saint Saltan is an interesting and tasty little beer. I’m not sure that the salt thing is my personal cup of tea, but I can see a bottle or two of this Gose making its way into my fridge every now and again as a one-in-a-while sort of treat. I can see it being pretty refreshing when served cold on a hot Summer afternoon.
Rating: 3.5/5
This is a review of a promotional sample from the brewery.
