Name: Farmhouse Rye Ale
Brewer: Palm Tree Abbey (Philippines)
Style: Alternative Grain Beer (Base Style: Saison)
ABV: 7%
Review Year: 2021
Farmhouse Rye Ale is one of the latest releases from Palm Tree Abbey (Manila, Philippines). As the name suggests, this beer is a “farmhouse ale” augmented with rye.
STYLE GUIDELINES
This beer is being evaluated as an Alternative Grain Beer (31A) with the Saison (25B) as the base style in the context of the 2015 Beer Style Guidelines of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). The most current version of the guidelines can be found on the BJCP website.
TASTING NOTES
Pale gold with slight haziness; white head with good retention. The initial nose unveiled moderately strong fruity esters akin to peach and lychee with some spiciness. As the beer settled, these aromas became more noticeable and were joined by a light grainy scent. Medium-full-bodied, medium-high carbonation; soft mouthfeel. A moderate ripe peach flavor (sans the acidity) and an equally intense spicy-wheaty flavor were noted; subtle orange citrus in the background. Medium-low bitterness, but hop presence was difficult to detect on its own. Off-dry finish. The aftertaste lingered with impressions of spice, wheat, and bitterness. No bubblegum, leathery, and funky qualities.
THE VERDICT
Farmhouse Rye Ale is not a traditional Saison, but it still presented itself as a bold yet enjoyable beer. The guys from Palm Tree Abbey have a knack for adding twists to the traditional beer styles, and they have done it again. For one, Farmhouse Rye Ale has more pronounced fruity esters compared to your classic Saison. This is due mainly to the warm primary fermentation this beer had undergone. Likewise, with rye as an alternative grain, this beer showcased a body relatively fuller than the usual Saison and has a more pronounced spicy character. However, a much drier finish could still be pursued. Despite the deviations, Farmhouse Rye Ale, all in all, is a very good and harmonious presentation of the traditional and whatnot.
Related Reviews:
Recommended Reading:
The Difference Between Saison and Farmhouse Ale (The Beer Connoisseur, 2019)
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