Comes on all Belgian, with fierce fizz, "that" smell and then...
Well... it is entirely pleasant but it must be the lightest dubbel I've ever tasted. The malt is light but takes away much of the expected acidity, leaving not much in the glass as it progresses. It says Brown Ale on the bottle and it's better than any other brown ale I've had but not about to become a Belgian go to.
I enjoyed a few halves of this local brew at the FOSL St George's Day/Shakespeare shindig. Somehow, even though it was playing the same mix up game as Epic Saison, it was a whole lot easier to love. The Mosaic hop flavour was more of a adornment than a theme and the base was a marvelously satisfying malty beast of a beer. One to repeat if the chance is there.
Looking through their list of specials I see I have enjoyed their IPA, Leveret, on a previous occasion. I must go and visit the brewery soonest.
Linctus! So full of sweetness in the mouth at first, all those fruits that I don't know the names of because I don't like eating fruit that much. Acidity is there but not uncompromising, leaves a very slight bitter twist at the end which promotes another sip. There's a mild spiciness over the back of the tongue but not peppery. It's kind of muffler of the road in a likeable dependable way. Went well with Shepherds Pie...
Wild Beer are local to me. They were the first UK craft brewer that enthused me for something that was not Real Ale. Their Whiskey Beast barrel aged stout was a thing of extraordinary beauty.
I really want to like Epic Saison more than I actually do. It tastes as though someone has topped up my glass of Saison Dupont with some Sierra Nevada pale ale. The early sips are bewildering, but by mid way through the glass I'm accustomed to the mix. As it is I think it's interesting, but not a keeper. I'm happier with each of the flavours on their own, rather than mixed, but it is in no way unpleasant.
