Forager Saint Francis Witbier with dandelions

Forager Saint Francis Witbier with dandelions. 5.8% ABV, 13 IBU. Forager Brewing, Rochester, MN.

Hazy, golden-toned, slim white head.

In the nose: big citrus, Belgian yeast, some spice. Quite delightful.

In the mouth: Juicy stuff. Plump and flavor citrus flavor, orange zest, with a side of coriander. (But what's this about a "secret spice blend"?) Smooth and highly drinkable. And then there's dandelions, which are not prominent in the flavor, if they appear at all. But, they add to the mystery.
Beautiful interpretation of a wit. Divine.

When held to the light this ale shimmers whitish gold. Aromas of orange zest and coriander pop out of the Belgian ale. Gentle spices dance on a mild wheat based malt body. Our secret spice blend makes this classic Belgian white ale smooth and refreshing.

Stone Stochasticity Hibiscusity Ale

Stone Stochasticity Project Hibiscusicity, Belgian-style ale brewed with hibiscus flower and orange peel. 7.4 % Alc./Vol.

Appearance: hazy, blood red coloring, bright white head, slim, but staying.

Aroma:  plump fruit and bold floral notes. Loud citrus notes; huge, even. Big, big, big.

Taste: Bitter hops notes up front, swallowed up by citrus and floral notes. Grapefruit shines high in this, too. This is what makes Stone Stone. Not small or timid or subtle in the slightest. Bring it on! Full-bodied, full-flavored, long, fruity finish. Good balance, for a bomb! (Hibiscus bomb! Orange peel bomb! )

So, the back of the bottle is verbose, as always. One full paragraph to go in depth with all manner of pomposity involving the nature and origin of the Stochasticity line. Another paragraph about this particular beer: blah, blah, blah…."this robust Belgian-style ale is brewed with wheat, hibiscus, and orange peel, bringing forthfloral and citrus notes against a brilliant pink hue." Hop varieties: Magnum & Sterling, Malt varieties: Pale malt and wheat malt, Special ingredients: Orange peel and hibiscus flower.

This is an interesting novelty, and a unique experience. An occasional treat is all it would be for me, though. Can't really see myself craving one. The novelty does wear away, but it's fun while it lasts.

New Belgium/Dieu du Ciel Heavenly Feijoa Tripel

New Belgium/ Brasserie Dieu du Ciel Lips of Faith Heavenly Feijoa Tripel, Ale Brewed with Feijoa and Hibiscus. 9% Alc. by Vol. (Is that a mouthful or what?)

I have no idea what feijoa is. At all. I barely know what hibiscus is. So, let's drink the beer and find out, okay?

It's a clear, dark amber/copper color, slim ring of foam atop.

Aroma is fresh, fruity and flowery. Who'da thunk it? Peach, apple, pear, herbal and malty. Light and lovely.

On the tongue, more fruit, more flowers, meeting the high alcohol. A harsh sweetness hits hard, masking the malt. Maybe there's a tripel lurking below, but these other flavors clash too much, making something completely new, and not altogether nice. I'm still wrestling with it, while looking at the label artwork, and how it imagines that all bicyclists go to heaven when the rapture comes, their vehicles borne away on angelic wings, while the motorists are stalled and suffer a hellish fate.

Now, here comes the gobbledygook" "Oh, my God, it's not only a reaction for drinking one of die de ciel's beers, but a figurative transaction of the Montreal brewer's name. Just ask our brewmaster, he's in heaven when drinking this collaborative tripel, inspired by Dieu de Ciel's love of hibiscus and Belgians love of the obscure, hence our addition of tart feijoa fruit, Cheers!"

Okay, I'm getting that tart jolt, that cherry-, or rapsberry-like twang on the palate. It's an interesting mix, and potentially an enjoyable one, but it's working on me…yet. I'll give it some time….It's well-balanced, for sure. It mixes well in the mouth, the fruit and the flower sit well together, but they overshadow whatever tripel is below, and I've just never found tripel to be a style that should be trifled with and trussed up and fructified.

Okay, it's finally working, and find that it's actually pretty fun and enjoyable. It's getting sourer and sourer, nice bitterness rising up. I'm liking this more and more. I'm crossing over. It's good, refreshingly sour and fruity, and utterly delicious.

Magic Hat Pistil

Magic Hat Pistil. Remember when I covered the dandelion saison from Dave's BrewFarm? And wondered about how many times such a brew had been done, thinking only of at least one Belgian version? Well, what do you know, here's another, called Pistil, and with a label designed by a clone of Peter Max.

Hazy yellow, slim white head.

Mild aromatics, lightly floral, vegetal, minor hops. Nothing special.

Taste: soft, malty, smooth. Light bodied, mellow hop presence, sweet malt character. Can I taste the dandelion? Can't say that I can. Don't know if you ever could, and wonder what might be the point?
Is there wheat in this, I wonder, for it feels so. Not much info at all on the bottle, except these words: "stop and smell the petals." Also, "3/4 pint of beer brewed with dandelion." Also, 4.5% aBV.

This is not a bad beer, it's smooth, quenching, refreshing, and very consumable. Nice wheaty texture. Good drinkin'.  Nice summertime tosser-backer.

Dave's BrewFarm Hibiscus Lager

BrewFarm, hurrah!

After two month's absence, I made it out to the LaBrewatory today, thanks to Jason, Angie and the whole Braunwarth clan, and the spacious van. Took home 4 growlers this time, and a case of delicious Matacabras, and a lovely new BrewFarm snifter. First one opened, the Hibiscus Lager, and here come the notes...


Hibiscus Lager.  From a growler just brought back from the BrewFarm mere hours ago. I'm cracking this one right now, and pouring into my new BrewFarm snifter, which was "christened" about six hours ago, nine times over. Let's drink some Hibiscus lager, okay?

Semi- clear, amber-to-crimson appearance, generous snowy-white from holds court on top. Looks fantastic.

Aromatics: very delicate, light and flowery. Extraordinarily subtle and beautiful. Not much beyond that, but not much else needed.

Taste: starts in on the mouth fruity and malty, medium bodied, and very smooth and refreshing. Quite a flavorful, consumable lager, with so much sweet subtleties going on, I both don't know where to begin, and wonder when to stop. Not a lot needs to be said, but these light, distinctive subtleties make all the difference. And when I float in an adjective like "beautiful", I'm not screwing around. I don't trot that out for nothing' jack. Ditto for "pretty". I hold that in reserve for special occasions, and I don't toss it out lightly, for fear of ridicule, am I right? Am I right? That guy over there knows what I'm talkin' about!

This is kind of exception for all the times I say I "don't like lagers." Although, I think the hops used aren't typically used in lagers, and while Pils is for sure, is Ashbourne Mild…and I don't know why I'm even treading this ground, because nothing at the BrewFarm is typical, ever.

The hibiscus is mainly found in the aroma, but the other delights of this lager are just the result of the marriage of the parts, which are, again, unique and unheard of. As much as one must respect tradition, I doff my headgear to Farmer Dave for his non-stop investigations into new realms and recipes. Here's a lovely lager with so much flavor you're never bored, you're never just drinking, you're never just tossing it back for thirst, or the sake of getting drunk.

Three more left in the growlers I brought back from this BrewFarm visit, the first in over two months, and there's one more lager among them. Think I'll crack that tomorrow.

Here's the technical info:

"Botanical Series. 6.1 % ABV. --A new twist in the series using lager yeast coupled with Pils and Ashbourne Mild malts. Mount Hood and Nugget hops, and a late addition of Hibiscus flowers."