Beer – #394 – 8 Wired – Chardonnay Barrel Aged Saeson

Is the season for Saison it seems, and I’ve enjoyed the ones I’ve had recently, and might just try this one 8 Wired Chardonnay Barrel Aged Saeson.

For 8 Wired Brewing Brewed at Renaissance Brewing and no points for guessing that this is in the style that is Saison and they’re based in Blenheim, New Zealand.

In a funky bottle that is of 500 ml (1pt 9fl oz), containing a 7% ABV beer , working out to 210 calories a serve, and that would be 2.76 standard drink units (the label says 2.9). This one pops in at 25 IBU on the scale of things – low Pilsner, Porter or Pale ale kind of bitter.

Selfie from a distance

Ale aged in chardonnay barrels with Brettanomyces

A saison brewed to what I would expect old world ales to have tasted like, with a new world hop twist. Aged in chardonnay barrels with added brettanomyces for a year, then dry hopped with NZ hops.

Of course at this point I realise that I’m not a big fan of Chardonnay style wine, but I’ve never let that get in the way of trying something out.

So no surprises that the aroma is wine sour but it’s pleasant. Pale yellow pour with no head to mention, aroma is much more pronounced in the glass.

It’s fairly fruity to the taste, almost cider like, and it has a familiar dry oak finish.

It’s not the best saison beer that I’ve had, however it’s pretty good, and manages somehow to keep it together without letting any particular note get the upper-hand.

So decently sour/bitter, with some nice soft middle notes and a slightly dry finish. Sometimes the barrel thing does not work so well (like with the Behemoth Saison I had the other day, which a whisper tells me that the brewer admits is a swing and a miss).

The beer I had last night was a bit ‘flat’ or under carbonated as is this, so for which I can infer that it’s either a thing, or I’m on a poor run of form.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8.5 a of its things from the thing. I do like the 8 Wired Grand Cru though, and probably that over this, I should go a taste-off between them, said the poor man with big ideas, sponsorship accepted :-). I’ve enjoyed drinking that beer, a lot, it has a lot of character and things to keep you engaged, the taste profile does;t change that much and you end up enjoying the last gasp as much as the first supp, and on reflection quaffed when I should have sipped.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? I began to enjoy it more as it warmed up a bit, so I may have started it too cold, I might invest in a thermometer.
Would I have another? I’d prefer the 8 wired Grand Cru if I had a choice
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would yes, this is a nice beer that allows you pause for thought.

Listening to the New album “Ultraviolence”, by Lana Del Rey.

I have to say about this that it’s different and I though a bit about Annie Lennox or some Madonna (he said not giving away his age), there are soaring lyrics and vocals and great production values, it’s nice and got a thumbs up from MrsPdubyah.

SAISON

Fruity esters dominate the aroma. Clarity is good with a large foamy head on top. The addition of several spices and herbs create a complex fruity or citrusy flavor. Light to medium bodied with very high carbonation. Alcohol level is medium to high.