Haverhill Brewing L’Esprit Saison
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(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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We’ve had a spotty weekend here in New England, with Hurricane Bill sending passing showers on Saturday and cloudy skies on Sunday. But this morning was quite sunny and I took advantage of the lull by getting behind a lawn mower, a weed whacker, and a shovel. (One at a time, not all at once.)
After sweating out everything but my soul, I decided to replenish my fortitude by heading to our local brewery and brewpub, The Tap. They’ve got a deck overlooking the river, and it seemed fitting to enjoy what remained of the sun for a spell — instead of laboring beneath it.
My wife and I had just entered The Tap when we were hailed from the bar by BeerADay.net reader and Twitter follower, Bob Simonds — AKA, @elric14. We joined him for a beer — or THE beer, as it were — before retiring to the deck for an early dinner.
Bob recommended I try one of the newest additions to the Haverhill Brewery selections, L’Esprit Saison, so I ordered it up while he enjoyed “BAd Company”, a 9% ABV and 94 IBU Double IPA brewed for a recent BeerAdvocate beer diner hosted at The Tap (hence the capital “BA” in “BAd Company”).
“There are no spices added to this Saison. We fermented at 87 degrees, 20 degrees higher than most ales, allowing the yeast to impart the complex flavors and aroma. It is still light in body with a refreshing dry finish and high carbonation.”
The beer was served cold in a full pint glass, looking ruddy orange. As it warmed and as I drank, the delicious citrus and hay-like malt aromas became more clear. Eventually a clove-like spice emerged in the scent, and I pointed to my half-empty glass and told my wife, “This is a tasty Saison!”
L’Esprit is indeed quite refreshing, with lemony citrus and light, grainy wheat. It’s lightly tart, but grounded by spicy yeast and a mild hop bitterness that comes across most clearly in the dry aftertaste. There’s alcohol in this beer — 6.8% ABV — but you can’t taste it. (L’Esprit Saison also rivals many tame IPAs for bitterness, clocking in at 38 IBU.)
It was a treat to drink with a reader, especially when the beer is from our local Haverhill Brewery. Bob, I’m glad you suggested the Saison!
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