Perennial Artisan Ales Stefan
Perennial Artisan Ales Stefan is a Dark Rye Farmhouse Ale conditioned with Brettanomyces, 7.1% ABV. This beer is a collaboration brewed with Solemn Oath back in 2014. Thanks to Raymond for hauling this pre-aged bottle shop find back from Virginia!
Stefan pours with a dark cola color with notes of red dark fruits and a beautiful dark tan head. The aroma is pleasant if not plentiful, mostly some mild/generic chocolate and a touch of Brett funkiness. Not surprised to feel a large amount of carbonation after the cap popped off in the manner it did and the slightly heady pour, even if it is a tad much at this point it fits the style. The first flavor that comes out of the beer is some generic dark fruit flavors, very prune like. The Brett is clearly adding some flavor to this with a dry earthiness, as opposed to the tart sourness the yeast can sometimes add. A touch of chocolate flavor makes it’s way into the taste as well. The rye seems to have aged out of this beer, assuming it was there to begin with.
The Dark/Black Saison is by no means my favorite style (in fact this might be the first one I haven’t drain poured) but I did enjoy this one fairly well. Clearly there are still bottles around to be had, so if this is your kind of thing… go for it!
