Odonata is the new face of microbrew in Sacramento as I have previously mentioned... (see previous Odonata post) Their flagship brew is the Saison, and for over a month now the draft version of this beer has been available at various places around Northern CA and has been really good. However, the real premier of this beer is now underway as the bottles have hit the shelves. The saison style is notorious for being finished in the bottle and now I feel as if I am finally getting the finished product from Odonata in their Saison. In one very general statement I can say that this version is perfection. Read on...Brewed by: Odonata Beer Co., Sacramento, CA
ABV: 6.4%
Through various social networking outlets I found out that the bottles would be on the shelves Tuesday, June 8th... I mentally marked my calendar and as soon as work was done on Tuesday, I headed over to Corti Brothers grocery, a very good place for good beers, and purchased a bottle. I let it sit in my fridge for a day and now having consumed it, I have the data necessary to give my opinion.
Right away I notice that this version is much more carbonated than it's draft counterpart. The aroma is amazingly complex and has a clove like spice with a citrusy tang. This I would find out is indicative of the flavor. The body of this beer is lighter than expected given the slightly heavier draft version and has a crisper bite on the palate. A very balanced sweetness combined with a sharp hop flavor that is subtle , rounds out the initial character. However, this beer showcases one thing and one thing rightfully... the yeast!!! The Dupont yeast strain has really been given a chance to shine in the bottle. It is so much the character of the beer that I could swear this beer was made by Brasserie Dupont with one caveat... This beer may be better than Dupont. Without a side by side comparison I can't be absolute on that, but given what I can taste here, this beer is crisper and cleaner tasting overall. This is still a rustic, downhome beer... but the bottle conditioning has refined it to such a degree that one could crack this open on the farm or in a five star restaurant and be completely satisfied. Hands down, in my subjective opinion, this is my favorite Saison. Objectively, this beer is damn good and deserves to be in ones fridge as a staple brew. Sacramento has it's new pinnacle of brewing and I can only hope it is a perpetual and prosperous endeavor. Cheers !!!
Darn good beer-- for sure! The blind taster awaits us. . .
ReplyDeleteNo new posts in almost a month! WTF?
ReplyDeleteSo we find ourselves in the burgeoning days of 2011 and the Sac Beer Log has rested silently since June of last year. I suppose you haven't had any beer since then?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the rumor mill tells me that you are weeks or days away from a major seven year vertical tasting of Anchor Brewing's "Our Special Ale". I expect a thorough and complete write up.