Session # 147 | Stillwater | Cellar Door | 6.6% ABV
Saison/Farmhouse Ale | Baltimore, MD | Rating: 88/100
One year ago: Rogue Hazelnut Nectar
I love it when new and upcoming breweries pop up in my area. It always provides a chance to get another perspective on various beer styles and to maybe even see something new. With today’s brewery, called Stillwater Artisanal Ales, owner/brewer Brian Strumke has taken the classic Saison and added his own touch with a bit of white sage. Though I’ll admit right up front that I wouldn’t have called this flavor out if it weren’t printed on the bottle, I can say it definitely helped pull out the spice character of the Saison yeast. Looking like a hazy summer afternoon, Cellar Door appeared with a gang of carbonation screaming to the top of the glass. The aroma was typical of a Saison with banana and clove being at the forefront. It was quickly followed up by a nice bit of spice and a Big League Chew floral component. Once it hits the palate the first thing you realize is just how spicy and dry this beer is. The same banana, spice, and floral characters carry down the back of your throat and into your olfactory simultaneously. There is a touch of grassy hop character on the back end to wrap it all up. If you prefer your Saisons dry and spicy, you should have no problem downing this entire bottle. At 6.6% this is almost a session beer. A very good one at that…
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This beer can be found in these states.
Listening To: Pavement “Gold Soundz”
Let us know your thoughts by rating and commenting on this video.
Posted by Barleywhiner on February 23, 2011 at 8:35 AM
I was excited to see these beers show up in town. I liked this one a lot more than the Stateside. The sage wasn’t too prominent. The Stateside seemed a little flabby, maybe under attenuated.
Posted by thehopry on February 23, 2011 at 11:18 AM
Did you see them here in town? I don’t think I have yet. Of course it’s been a couple weeks since I hit a store, so…
Posted by Barleywhiner on February 24, 2011 at 9:38 AM
I picked it up at the Lee’s Summit Gomer’s. I think the Missouri Lukas has it as well.
Posted by Jon on February 23, 2011 at 10:44 AM
I almost picked this up Sunday. (Went for a bottle of Morke instead.) Looks like I may need to go back and get one as I love dry and spicy saisons.
Posted by thehopry on February 23, 2011 at 11:16 AM
This one certainly fits that bill. Let me know what you think after you try it.
Posted by theReaper16 on February 24, 2011 at 12:53 AM
I got a shout-out in this episode. Sweet!
I haven’t tried this beer yet, but I do have a bottle of it. I also have a bottle of Stillwater’s Stateside Saison, their A Saison Darkly, a bottle of their Existant, and two bottles of their collaboration with De Struise, Outblack. The Outblack isn’t a saison/farmhouse ale, but the others are.