Adelbert’s Brewery - Philosophizer

This farmhouse-style saison presents an attractive hazed orange hue topped with a robust head of off-white foam. The spicy and yeasty notes jumped out at us right away, with clove, coriander and an unmistakably Belgian phenolic quality. Look for an engaging honeyed and caramelized malt character lurking beneath, while a dose of spicy Saaz noble hops and a touch of orange peel add further complexity. In the flavor, those spicy, herbal phenolic notes take center stage again, joined by secondary citrus zest impressions. The malt backbone offers a sturdy support of lightly toasty bread, mild caramel, and a touch of residual sweetness, easily countered by the spicy hops which keep this saison nicely dry from start to finish. Winner of gold medals at the 2013 Craft Beer Awards and 2014 Best of Craft Beer Awards, this Belgian-style saison makes a delicious and refreshing treat on a warm day all by itself, but there are rewarding food pairings, too. The brewery recommends rich fish dishes, grilled chicken, and earthy cheeses like brie and camembert. The effervescence and spiciness of saison can stand up to dishes with a little heat to them, so curries and Pad Thai could be more adventurous options. Cheers!

Adelbert’s Brewery was founded in 2011, with the first beer flowing out in early 2012. The brewery itself was started by Scott Hovey, who was a longtime homebrewer prior to going pro, and is a graduate of the Master Brewers Association of the Americas’ Malting and Brewing Science Course. The brewery is named in tribute to his brother, George Adelbert Hovey (1953–2000). “Del,” as he was known, is commemorated with a different brief story about him attached to each of the brewery’s beers. As Scott puts the ethos, “[I’m] immortalizing my brother through my different beers.”

Many of Adelbert’s beers are Belgian-inspired, bottle-conditioned ales, and the brewery puts an extra emphasis on ingredient sourcing and process. The majority of their barley is floor-malted and sourced from the Czech Republic, from a malting house just outside of Prague that dates back to the 1300s. Their specialty malts are purchased from Belgium, and they employ the labor-intensive, decoction-mash technique for their beers. In addition to styles like IPA, porter, and stout, they produce an array of Belgian styles such as saison, witbier, dubbel, tripel, and quadrupel, as well as some sours and even a bière de champagne. Their taproom resides on premises at the brewery and features numerous taps, games, and a food truck known as The Hot Box Diner. For more info, give them a ring at 512-662-1462 or visit www.adelbertsbeer.com.