Name: Barrique Saison Citron Soleil
Brewer: Craftwork Brewery (New Zealand)
Style: Wild Specialty Beer (Base Style: Saison)
ABV: 7%
Review Year: 2021
Barrique Saison Citron Soleil is a Saison brewed with lemon zest, coriander seed, and white pepper by Craftwork Brewery in Oamaru, New Zealand. This special beer is part of their Anniversaire series and was fermented using Belle Saison yeast before being conditioned in red wine puncheons for half a year for additional fruit and wild yeast fermentation.
STYLE GUIDELINES
This beer is being evaluated as a Wild Specialty Beer (28C) with Saison (25B) as the base style in the context of the 2015 Beer Style Guidelines of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). The said guidelines were used since we reviewed this beer before 29 December 2021, the date of publishing of the 2021 update. The most current version can be found on the BJCP website.
TASTING NOTES
Clear deep gold; very thin head. The nose featured mainly assertive lemon zest, orange marmalade, and coriander. Secondary aromas resembling cantaloupe, floral, peppers, oak, and subtle yet acidity. Light-medium-bodied; moderately high carbonation; subtle astringency. Flavor melded moderate lemon zest with soft orange marmalade. These were backed by low oaky, floral, and herbal accents. Tartness dominated the balance as bitterness and sweetness were both at low levels. This beer concluded with cantaloupe, lemon peel, plums, and oak.
THE VERDICT
Barrique Saison Citron Soleil, which was brewed with lemon zest, coriander seed and white pepper and conditioned in wine barrels, is a dry, refreshing yet flavorful Saison that traded bitterness for delicate acidity. Perceived tartness was not offensive, and, coupled with the zesty lemon accents, appeared to have enhanced the thirst-quenching quality of this beer. Wood, coriander, and white pepper were distinct yet harmonious with the base. Excellent.
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Craftwork Brewery
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