Dave's BrewFarm, Hurrah!(Rye Knot Saison)

One of my all-time favorite episodes of The Simpsons is "Selma's Choice" from season four, 1993, wherein Marge's sister learns to curb her maternal longing after a series of traumatic and psychedelic misadventures at a theme park based on the Duff Beer brand, and learns to love a lizard. We meet the Seven Duffs, including Queasy, Remorseful, and Surly. (When Omar Ansari first told me he would name his brewery Surly, I thought of this instantly.) Homer was excited to visit Duff Gardens as well, but his affection for a moldy hoagie turned his health in a downward spiral. He was certain to prevail through illness, until finally collapsing with a triumphant, then defeated, "Duff Gardens, hurrah!"
Whenever I think of heading out to Wilson, Wisconsin for Farmer Dave's ever-changing panoply of ales and lagers, I mimic Homer's determined cry, without the faltering finish.

Sunday afternoon, I made the trip with Jason, Jonathan, and Chelsea. Not just beer, but puppies! And tilopia! (Succelent, tender African fish grilled up by Farmer Steve.)Comraderie and good cheer! Of the eight offerings, I had seven of them, skipping the Wheatless Wonder, and dipping into Svengali twice. Went home with a case of Matacabras, enough to last me...a month, maybe? And four growlers. Only intended to swap the two I got last time (back in late November, but just couldn't resist. There were six available. Here's the first of those four that I cracked open, Rye Not Saison, a Belgian-style farmhouse ale, with Rye malt.

"French saison yeast coupled with both pale, German Rye, and Cara Red malts. Well-hopped with Palisade, Aurora, and Vanguard varieties." 6.1% a.b.v.

Clouded amber appearance, nice, lasting, lacy head, bone white.

Zesty, spicy aromatics, peppery, citrus fruit, orange and apricot. Rye malt comes through, a bit bready, big yeast and malt.

Taste: Bold saison hère. Big malt, fresh and flavorful, zesty citrus taste. Spicy rye malt adds an added tingle to the tongue. And then it's smooth and malty and tasty. "Well-hopped", says Dave, and it does a tantalizing fandango on the tongue, but doesn't stick out too much.

Getting very clouded and yeasty at the end of the liter. But, I like that.

Malt-tastic, yeast-errific, and yummalicious, or something like that "