Jervis Bay Brewing ‘Surreal’ Saison

Rating:

“Saison is a style originating in French-speaking Belgium that was traditionally brewed to take advantage of the seasonal harvest. True to form, ours is composed from barley, wheat and oats, but what makes a saison unique isn’t grains or hops, it’s the yeast. Adapted for high-temperature fermentation, it expresses notes of banana, clove and white pepper. It also has an insatiable appetite for sugar and devours almost all of it, resulting in a super-dry finish to this unique beer. Get your party saison started, but be careful! Its delicate body conceals an inner strength”

Glassware: Stemmed tulip.

Appearance: 100% clear straw golden body with a well kept head perched on top. Nice wavy lace sticks to the glass as it subsides.

Aroma: Displaying those classic yeasty notes of banana runts, clove and peppery spice, candied lemon, Angostura bitters, Sprite, ground coriander, orange/rind and wet grass or hay. The latter certainly works in to the grainy and wheaty malt that fills out nicely.

Flavour: It lands with a heady floral character and tonnes of yeasty Belgian spice and banana. Candied citrus, orange peel and herbs are thrown in amongst a rustic funk. Wheat grains and straw/hay and some honey sweetness then shift in to a slightly dry and musty finish with plenty of yeasty funk on the tail.

Mouthfeel: Light, spritzy, mild-medium body. 5.9% ABV is kinda inconclusive.

Overall: A pretty ballsy beer to take on in your first year of operation but big ups to them. And even better… they’ve done a reasonable job. Very tidy!