The Beers of Perennial Artisan Ales
I had the pleasure of visiting Perennial Artisan Ales in St. Louis earlier this month. With life and madness, this is the first time I've had to sit down and write about them. This cold and snowy day helps motivate me to stay inside and write! Most of the brews seemed like a nod to a faraway summer. This spot was pretty Belgian-style heavy. My three tastes here are Belgian/sour. I also had a full snifter of the heavenly Abraxas Imperial Stout.
They had 5 oz pours, so I was able to try a few brews. They had a $3/pint special that night, just a dollar more than the small pour, but I wanted to try more than a couple.
Saison de Lis
Farmhouse ale with chamomile. | ABV: 5.0%
Look and Smell: This cloudy, pale, straw-colored brew had a creamy white head. It smelled sour and herbal.
Taste: It was very, very lemony. That lemon was refreshing and hit the spot. It was creamy, but that lemon acid cut right through it. The chamomile came through. Combined with the lemon and slight sweetness from the malt, it had the same make up of a good tea. With all of that, the acid dried it up for a crisp and dry aftertaste.
Southside Blonde
Belgian-style blonde ale. | ABV: 5.5%
Look and Smell: This brew was a transparent yellow. It didn't smell like anything over the bar. The head was a light ring of white bubbles.
Taste: It was light. It had a very light hop that I couldn't pinpoint. It had a malty sweetness. It was would be an o.k. summertime brew. It didn't have the richness or even yeasty qualities I normally go for in a Belgian ale.
Aria
Belgian-style with brettanomyces. | ABV: 7.2%
Look and Smell: This gold brew had a light head made up of big white bubbles. It smelled like a sour candy (syrupy and sour).
Taste: This was a classic Belgian (with a slight tartness). It had the Belgian yeast breadiness. It tasted like malty sugar candy. It was thick and substantial. It was what I look for in a Belgian-style abbey-type brew.
They had 5 oz pours, so I was able to try a few brews. They had a $3/pint special that night, just a dollar more than the small pour, but I wanted to try more than a couple.
Saison de LisFarmhouse ale with chamomile. | ABV: 5.0%
Look and Smell: This cloudy, pale, straw-colored brew had a creamy white head. It smelled sour and herbal.
Taste: It was very, very lemony. That lemon was refreshing and hit the spot. It was creamy, but that lemon acid cut right through it. The chamomile came through. Combined with the lemon and slight sweetness from the malt, it had the same make up of a good tea. With all of that, the acid dried it up for a crisp and dry aftertaste.
Southside BlondeBelgian-style blonde ale. | ABV: 5.5%
Look and Smell: This brew was a transparent yellow. It didn't smell like anything over the bar. The head was a light ring of white bubbles.
Taste: It was light. It had a very light hop that I couldn't pinpoint. It had a malty sweetness. It was would be an o.k. summertime brew. It didn't have the richness or even yeasty qualities I normally go for in a Belgian ale.
Belgian-style with brettanomyces. | ABV: 7.2%
Look and Smell: This gold brew had a light head made up of big white bubbles. It smelled like a sour candy (syrupy and sour).
Taste: This was a classic Belgian (with a slight tartness). It had the Belgian yeast breadiness. It tasted like malty sugar candy. It was thick and substantial. It was what I look for in a Belgian-style abbey-type brew.
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