It is supposedly Springtime, and when I saw this brew on the shelf I thought to myself, “that seems like a nice Springtime brew” with Marigolds* in bloom. However, Mother nature can be a cruel taskmaster and there has been nothing spring like about this spring so far. And so it goes with this brew as well.
If we have learned one thing in all this brew reviewing, we have learned that RA’s dog has a serious digestive tract problem. But if we have learned two things from all this beer reviewing, one of them is that a beer named Marigold by any other name would still taste like the beer in the can named Marigold right now, before the name change that is.**
This brew poured a merry golden with a bright weiss head. A bread malt with some indiscernible aromas in there too. Concerning but not disconcerting. The first taste is not a Springtime ale at all, but a winter spiced brew with malt. The wrong saison I would say. First quaff doesn’t rate super suds status, or even an honourable mention. More like dishonourable unmentionables. Perhaps I need to acquire a taste for it?***
I persevered for the sake of the review. Winter spices, plus a pepper like finish now showing up. Cliffords tell us that this brew has a “fruity bubble gum character with citrus and light spices.” Well I didn’t detect any Hubba-Bubba or get a cartoon in the wrapper either. Then to make matters worse I got some pepper in my throat from my salt and pepper pistachios, so I take a swig and lo and behold, more pepper in my throat from my beer. My eyes were watering and not tears of joy.
Belgian strong ales are by their very nature complex, and just like a Raptors away game, you never know what to expect. Unfortunately I was expecting Spring flowers and I got Wintertime blues.
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