Primitivo Saison

Brewery: Whitestone Brewery
Style: Wild Specialty Beer (28C)
Package: 750ml Bottle
Purchased: February 2019, Whichcraft
Packaged Date: N/A
Consumed Date: 5/4/19

Details from the Brewer

ABV: 7%
IBU: 22

Saison aged in local red wine barrels with hibiscus flowers and red rose buds and petals.
 

Review

Aroma – 8/12

A slight sweetness hops out of the glass first, and is joined by a moderate floral note.  Hints of strawberry and raspberry are present.  A noticeable acidity is also present, with a bit of sharpness.  Mild notes of oak are also present.  No hop character, with a faint alcohol warmth.

Appearance – 2/3

Pours a light amber liquid with a distinct reddish hue.   A thin head is composed of ivory small bubbles.  It fades quickly with below average retention.  Clarity is decent with a noticeable chill haze.

Flavor – 12/20

A moderate acidity strikes the tongue, and is joined by a delicate floral character.  A faint sweetness compliments the depth of floral character.  The hibiscus is present without being overpowering.  Towards the midtaste, the floral notes fade as the acidity develops.  A slight musty funk is present with a bit of peppery spice.  This blends into a low oaky flavor in the finish.  Some minerality is present in the aftertaste, along with some floral notes.  Low bitterness and hop character.

Mouthfeel – 4/5

A moderate high carbonation prickles the sides of the mouth.  Medium bodied throughout the taste.  Slight astringency on the finish.  A noticeable alcohol heat warms the throat.

Overall Impression – 6/10

This is an interesting wild saison.  The acidity is restrained, yet a bit one noted.  The usage of hibiscus and rose is noticable, but does a good job not overpowering the beer.  The base saison fermentation character is a bit more subdued than  I would like.  Increasing that would help provide more dimensions to the beer.

Rating – 32/50

This beer does a great job coming off as a rose beer hybrid.  It’s the first sour that I’ve had from Whitestone, and I enjoyed it.  I think there’s some room for improvement, but we’ll see where the future takes their program.  I feel like there is an extra “and” in their description.  No points off for that though.