Year of New Beer: Cézanne, McKenzie Brew House (PA

Written By: Dion on 03/23/2016

I have no idea what a "Rustic Farmhouse Ale" is supposed to be. After finishing this bottle, I don't really care. Blonde, saison, and Brett beers are blended and aged in bourbon, rye, wine, and brandy barrels, and the result is nothing short of spectacular. The nose is tart with lemon, green apple, and a touch of red wine vinegar. Hints of oak, caramel, and dark fruit linger below. The tongue is treated to much the same, as traditional saison elements of yeast and peppery spice are ushered aside by the prickly sour of unripened fruits and acidic tones. A light sweetness comes with warmth, displaying the complexities of the barrels. Damp earth and dry grass are intermingled with vinous, berry-like notes. Finishes dry with little to no alcohol presence. Bottled just shy of two years, I may have caught this at just the right time.