From Smuttynose's Big Beer Series, the Smuttynose Farmhouse Ale is one of our most anticipated limited beers each year. Smuttynose's interpretation of a Saison, it's normally out during the heat of summer, when it is one of the few big beers that can really quench your thirst during a heatwave. This year, though, it came out a little later than usual in mid-September. While it's a little cooler out lately, this beer is no less delicious!
A quick historical note, Saison was traditionally served to Belgian farmhands in Wallonia during the summer. It was kept low-alcohol and dry to be thirst quenching. Modern interpretations have often kicked up the alcohol a bit.
The Farmhouse Ale pours a golden coppery color with just a slight bit of haze. This is one you're going to want to pour carefully, because the white head is huge and doesn't go away any time soon! To get the picture in this review it took about 10 minutes of repeated gentle pours followed by time spent waiting for the head to die down. The color is a bit darker than a traditional Saison, but then again this beer has a much higher alcohol by volume than a traditional Saison at 7.5% abv.
The smell is apparent as soon as you pour it and that great head explodes, spicy Belgian yeast notes and sweet malt dominate. You don't get much hop aroma in the nose. There is no alcohol apparent, even as it warms.
The taste combines candy sweet, but not cloying, malt and black pepper from the yeast. It's a great pairing that works to balance both sides. The carbonation is strong and you get a second foam-up in your mouth, which makes for quite the interesting mouthfeel! While it's sweet up front, you get a very dry feeling in your mouth at the end. This works to help the beer as it brings it back to it's traditional, thirst-quenching dry and low-alcohol roots.
In the end the Smuttynose Farmhouse Ale is a perfect late summer beer. The higher alcohol makes it perfect for slightly cooler evenings, while the crisp, refreshing and spicy Belgian yeast makes it good for warmer days.
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